[Another Epiphone strat identification with a twist (Kahler Flyer Bridge)]

Thanks all for the information - it's been very informative.

 

Jind

[Another Epiphone strat identification with a twist (Kahler Flyer Bridge)]

This is an S-400 currently at a New England store. It has the same frets as yours.

 

Sheila

 

Did it mention the year where you saw this? Just wondering.

 

Thanks by the way,

 

Jind

[Another Epiphone strat identification with a twist (Kahler Flyer Bridge)]

I was just looking through the Wiki article on the S-series over at http://epi.p3net.net/wiki/index.php/S-400 and while going through the information there I think I may have figured out a bit more possibly. My Epiphone has a 21 fret fretboard but it looks like most of the ones from the later part of the 80's had 22 frets, but the information appears to be a bit conflicting as to what was offered. I was wondering if the price list showed any offering as to fret count? I wonder if that would help date it. but like jerrymac mentioned it very well may have been a special order so who knows.

 

Thanks again for helping me out,

 

Jind

[i.d. your Epiphone here -- serial # key, guitardater link + factory codes... a worldwide guide >part 3]

I posted this in another post, but I'll put it here as well as perhaps someone can glean a bit of info from it in the future as more guitars get reported. jerrymac and RobinTheHood have helped me identify a 1980's Epiphone that I had stored in the back of my closet and had completely forgotten about. From what jerrymac and RobinTheHood have been able to tell me it appears to be an S series (possibly a special order S-400 with a Kayler Flyer bridge) from somewhere between 1986 - 1989. As noted the serial number may not conform to the current data as it would have it as a 1985 but it appears the S series did not start production until 1986 and it appears not to follow the Samick 8 digit serial number as noted in the Premier guitar article about an S series.

 

For anyone interested the serial number is: 5086940 (picture of the headstock below) - it has a Kramer style headstock and the Kahler Flyer bridge with a H-S-S pickup configuration.

 

 

 

Maybe someone out there has a similar guitar and can glean something from this info.

 

Jind

[Another Epiphone strat identification with a twist (Kahler Flyer Bridge)]

According to Walter Carter's book' date=' the 1986 price list shows all the S series with a base price which includes the standard trem. The Bennder vibrola (usually found on the 400 & up) was and additional $30 (chrome) or $50 (black). As I noted before, the Kahler was an additional $80 (chrome) or $100 (black). I believe your correct, the guitar in question appears to be an S-400 with the Kahler upgrade. [/quote']

 

As noted in the original post, the serial number comes up as manufactured in 1985 - would that be for the 1986 market? So I guess the question is, is a 1986 model that happened to be built in 1985? Or is it a 1985 with the upgrades and was it even available as an option or model in 1985?

 

I really appreciate all the help - thank you once again,

 

Jind

[Another Epiphone strat identification with a twist (Kahler Flyer Bridge)]

Thanks for the reply's. I wish for the life of me that I could remember where and when I acquired this guitar - the only certainty is that I did not buy it new as I know all the guitars that I've bought at music stores. It does seem to be a bit of an oddity. As I noted it has been in the back of my closet for probably 15 years or so - honestly I had forgotten about it. I restrung it this afternoon and have been playing it for the past couple of hours - it has some issues with it's electronics; a slight crackling when switching pickup positions and perhaps a clunky jack, but I'm amazed that after so many years of non-use, it is in perfect intonation with new strings. The action is perfect (for me at least) as well. I feel like I've gotten a new guitar. I'm sure I will be doing some work on it in the near future as I was just looking at information on the Kahler Flyer bridge and upgrade info over at kahlerparts.com - it appears that you can upgrade the Flyer bridge to Pro specs pretty easily.

 

Did you know that you can turn your Flyer into a Pro by simply upgrading the saddle sets to the 2300 Series Saddles? All cams and saddles in our 2200 and 2300 series are interchangeable, including the 2230 Stud Mount and 2330 Flat mount Flyers. Feel free to upgrade your Flyers......go pro!

 

 

I'm really looking forward to seeing if anyone else has any information - once again, thanks for the information.

 

Jind

[Another Epiphone strat identification with a twist (Kahler Flyer Bridge)]

So a recent conversation on another forum reminded me of a guitar that I have literally had in the back of my closet for probably 15 years. It's been in a case, unused, and quite franky it's one of those things that I honestly can't remember how I came to possess. I had a serious medical issue several years back and my memory is not what it used to be. I think it may have been a friends that quit playing and asked me if I wanted it - but I could be wrong.

 

Anyways - like many other posts here it is one of those 80's Epiphone strat models that people have issues identifying, but this one is a bit different from all the others that I've found when searching for information on it. I've seen lots of people with S series or PRO series - I've seen images of a lot with standard strat type tremolo units and some with the Floyd rose II or Schaller units as well, but this one has a factory installed Kahler Flyer bridge - it clearly is a Kahler tremolo, not a pseudo copy. It has a H/S/S configuration and the headstock simply says "Epiphone' with no truss rod cover. I looked under the pickguard and it has all original components (it needs some work as the pots are extremely scratchy and the switch has dropouts) - the serial number lookup indicates that it was manufactured in Korea in 1985, but I truly have no idea beyond that quick lookup.

 

As I said - I've seen a bunch of Epiphone strats, but never one with a Kahler Flyer that was factory installed. Any assistance would be appreciated.

 

 

 

Here are a few pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

Any assistance would be appreciated.

 

Thanks,

 

Jind