mustawanna Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 I have had this guitar for 33 years and was wondering when it was made and what it would be worth it has a sticker inside with FT145 on it the name ect is in mother of pearl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrRogerFisher Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 I have had this guitar for 33 years and was wondering when it was made and what it would be worth it has a sticker inside with FT145 on it the name ect is in mother of pearl Epiphone FT-145 were called Texans The originals made in Kalamazoo in the 1960s have a blue sticker inside with a 6-digit Serial Number, also stamped on the back on the headstock. You can use the number to find the manufacturing date and location through the Guitar Dater Project: Guitar Dater Prices range widely; a Kalamazoo model in excellent condition could run over $2000. Japanese models sell for maybe $500. Check e-bay, Elderly Music, etc. Others here might have more info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted June 5, 2014 Share Posted June 5, 2014 This looks like a Norlin era FT145. Made early 70's in Japan... only Japan. The label may say "Kalamazoo.." but it's only a name in Michigan where Epiphones once were made. If it has a blue label, it's the early run, with a potential for a loose neck block. This can be fixed. Due to the epsilon on the truss rod cover it would be a late blue label with, maybe, a better neck block. Value? Take a zero off. $200 would be a more than fair price for the guitar alone. More if it has a decent case. Serial numbers in this era were anything but serial. Physical description will get you to within a year or three of actual production. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted June 5, 2014 Share Posted June 5, 2014 Here's what to look for in the way of a loose neck block and the fix: http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/37812-repairing-a-norlin-era-ft-guitar-with-broken-neck/page__st__20__gopid__1527336#entry1527336 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustawanna Posted June 5, 2014 Author Share Posted June 5, 2014 thank you this has helped me a lot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 Here's a link to a thread on Epiphone history. It can be used as a benchmark for 'aging' some Epiphones. http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/54174-brief-epiphone-history/ Within it is a link to a page describing the rise and demise of Norlin and it's founder H. Norton Stevens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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