pohatu771

Gibson produced some of these 59 reissues with wraparound bridges. I remember them in 2010 and some in 2014. The unusual burst pattern on the sides matches this. They are "reissues" because of the body and neck, but original 1959s did not have a wraparound bridge. As far as this being a "tailpiece and not a bridge," the compensated wraparound wasn't introduced until 1961. All wraparound bridges up to then were essentially the same as what we now call a stop bar tailpiece. You'll see the same on reissue Les Paul models.

I have actually been working on a new wiki (with actual wiki features) for a while. I keep bouncing between old models and new models, slowly closing the gap. The focus is the Gibson era, since the Statopoulos era is very well documented elsewhere, but I will add those eventually.

It is similar to an Epiphone headstock, but the tuners are way too low. This exact knockoff shape was pretty common on counterfeits about 15 years ago.

I think it's irresponsible to be giving false hope. We've seen a single bad photo of a the headstock. Unless we see a much nicer body attached to it, there is no reason to think this is anything except a common counterfeit. This isn't even a proper Epiphone headstock.

The guitar partially photographed is very fake. Gibson did briefly make the Songmaker series in St. John's, Newfoundland after acquiring Garrison Guitars.

Looking it over again, I'll extend that to about 1996. The original pickguard would have been a great indicator of which part of the early 90s it is from. I'd still bet it's 1990-1993, though. I'm very confident it is not a 1989.

Without a serial number, I can only estimate 1990-1993. The tuners are Ping.

AS is almost certainly Antique Sunburst. You could shock me and say it isn't a sunburst finish, but I'm pretty confident. For the washer, I probably need to see a photo. My first thought is simply a "maker mark," for lack of a more industrial term. How can you tell it is original, and not something added later on?

I just added another unusual Epiphone to my collection: A 1993 Montana Series EM-20. These were made (along with the EM-10 and EM-30) by Gibson Acoustic in Bozeman, and allegedly only 57 of this particular model were ever produced. At a glance, it looks like a typical import square-shoulder dreadnought, but then you start to see the details. The label is different than any other American-made Epiphone: Two-screw truss rod cover: "Made in USA" stamp The major departure from a typical dreadnought, though, is the back. There is very little information about these online, and Epiphonewiki is, once again, incorrect. Rather than the rosewood back and sides it states, the EM-20 has a laminate mahogany back, pressed into an arch like an election archtop. It has no back braces. I can't tell if the sides are laminate or solid. This guitar shares all construction with the 90s Gibson Gospel, with a different headstock, different color pickguard, and inverted binding, with black on the outside instead of ivory. This is actually the first Epiphone I own with a clipped dovewing headstock, despite being my ninth Epiphone guitar. The sound is different than my Texan or J-45; the bass is more defined while maintaining its volume. It's somewhere between the Texan and Cortez.

With most counterfeits, you're looking for details that show that is it is fake. With this one, I don't see anything that even suggests it is real. It is, perhaps, the worst factory-made fake I've ever seen. Pretty much every Gibson acoustic has had a serial number on the headstock for the past 60 years, though. This particular serial number is two digits too long to have come from Gibson Acoustic in Bozeman, however.

I've seen dozens of them. They definitely are available. You can even buy most of them directly from Epiphone right now.

It does. That might be the most common version of the silkscreen logo - and another detail accurate to a late 50s model.

I also have a 2001 J-45. According to Gibson, it is simply a J-45. The later J-45 Standards are slightly different and modernized, with inlaid logos and Grover tuners, while our J-45s are closer to a late 50s (non-adjustable) example with silkscreen block logo and Kluson-style tuners.

These "hand written" logos were made very briefly. I first saw one on a bass model, and a few of these Sheratons. I don't know if there is anyone specifically looking for one like this, but it is interesting.

I agree that the original EB-1 is ugly. They did make an Epiphone version in the 90s, though. Has there ever been a modern Gibson reissue?

If they're reissuing The Log, they should at least give it an Epiphone neck as it started off with.

An Original Collection Les Paul Special is $1700, and an SG Special is $1600. Those have the benefit of using the same mahogany that they use for most other models. Smaller batches of alder and walnut, plus what I'm assuming is still going to be a limited run, makes $2,000 about right. Offer all three of these with the same woods, and I'd be torn between the SG Special or the Theodore.

I spent some time with one yesterday. I really liked it. The body shape, and the incredibly light weight, make it different than an SG Special or Les Paul Special despite the similar electronics. I didn't have another Custom Shop VOS model to make a direct comparison, only Gibson USA standard versions, so I can't say what might have been influenced by the particular pickups or body woods, but It was a very fun guitar to play. I'm not in the position to buy a $5000 guitar, but if there was a $2000 Gibson USA version with standard gloss finish, I'd buy one in an instant.

Interesting to see the tops and braces labeled for their models. The one visible in the lower left of that sequence was used for the Hummingbird, Southern Jumbo, B-45-12, FJN Folksinger, as well as the Epiphone El Dorado and Bard (and presumably FT-98 Troubador, though it is not labeled).

I watched it once, and am now going through it in more detail to find Epiphone items. It is interesting that the video gives almost no attention to solidbody electric guitars, though. They show an SG a few times, but no specific mention of that type.

The serial number (ending in 8, not B) is 1964. Most Gibson flattops at the time had plastic bridges, the LG-1 included. Many of them (my own LG-0 and Epiphone Cortez included) have been replaced with a traditional made-of-wood bridge.

Just general release back in 2014. I did misremember; the Caballero was (laminate) mahogany. The old descriptions claim it has "accurate" bracing, but I've seen owners say it has X bracing.

I have spoken to a Gibson/Epiphone dealer rep about this - either an Inspired by Gibson LG-2, or a Masterbilt Cortez. I have a vintage Cortez and feel like it's the perfect acoustic guitar for a ton of people I know, but vintage is more expensive than most will ever pay. I always send them toward the Farida Old Town series, which are based on 1940s models. Regarding some of the points above, Epiphone did make a 1964 Caballero a few years ago, which was essentially an LG-2/Cortez by specs, since it had a spruce top and X braces. If Epiphone can make multiple J-45 models, they can make two similar guitars in different price points.

An old thread, but I'll respond anyway: For acoustic, it is my 1964 Epiphone Cortez. For electric, my 2021 Epiphone Casino. Ask me to pick between them and I won't know how to answer.

I don't know what I was reading, but in my mind you said it had a Flying V headstock. It's definitely not a Maurauder.