New Coronet and Wilshire rumour, possibly USA?

[Matt4356]

Not sure how reliable a source it actually is but Instagram user Gueikian, who works for Gibson, responded to two questions about reissues of the coronet and the wilshire. Answering stay tuned to both.

Hopefully Gibson follow the recent path and add more to the made in USA line, I could pass on the casino but a wilshire? 

[iankinzel]

Epiphone's been teasing us with a new Wilshire/Crestwood-type model for a looooooong time now. Remember when they were supposed to be coming out with the three-pickup model in ivory white?

Not saying it won't happen, but there could be a lot of different things going on.

['Scales]

They were cool guitars. I still have a 1969 Epi solidbody of that shape and I'll bet they don't do the narrow nut width they did back then again!

[Matt4356]

So some more interesting details emerging on this one. Gibson don't appear to own the Coronet trademark in the US, Satellite have since 2016 and produce accurate spec reproductions, offered for a few years since epiphone wasn't offering them. 

Gibson is suing them them, so obviously want to make Coronets again.

New faces same regime.

[pohatu771]

Gibson applied for a trademark for "Coronet" on June 3 (88945982). As far as I can tell, that is the only guitar-related trademark to that name on file.

They were granted the Wilshire trademark in 2011, but Crestwood is actually held by LaPlaya, the distributor for Aria and Danelectro.

Edited July 11, 2020 by pohatu771

[Matt4356]

According to the owner of satellite amps, he acquired the trademark for the Coronet in 2016. If Gibson applied for a trademark and one exists, that's the lawsuit. He's pretty confident the law is on his side, as  he should be if what he is saying is true. He apparently offered Gibson the trademark at lower than court costs and they haven't responded. 

Don't forget to 'play authentic'

[Larsongs]

Always wanted one like Del Shannon's.....

[mgrasso]

Here you go

 

 

[Matt4356]

Nice to see, but needed the batwing headstock for me.

[mgrasso]

I agree. 

[pohatu771]

These are the first import, symmetrical, early 60s-style they've made. I'm not interested in the later versions (which they have made in past), but I like these.

I was really hoping for a USA model at the same price point as the current Les Paul Special Tributes (or maybe a bit more), but I'm strongly considering a Wilshire or Crestwood.

[Mark Phillips]

I always prefer the Batwing headstock. I had one of The originals and the mahogany made the guitar very light you could feel the vibration when playing it which was very cool. I am currently trying to find a '90s USA reissue with the Floyd Rose. I wish they would redo those with fancy Maple tops and routed from behind with no pick guards, and with Floyd Rose or Kahler tremolo's.

[Mark Phillips]

I also like the low frets, the 14" radius, and slim taper of the original necks. I would like to see the Coronet with a 24 fret neck, but definitely the Gibson scale length. My thinking is that these guitars should always have the glued in neck joints. These are just my opinions, I can envision a Prophecy version of the USA made Coronet with all of these specs. That would be something that I would consider the ultimate guitar.

[mihcmac]

I have the new Wilshire and Coronet that bought for a friend, they are based off of 58/59 models using the original Epiphone headstock, also they have a Killer medium C profile neck with a 12" radius. They weigh in at under 6 lbs and are very comfortable to play. Both came from the Music Zoo setup and ready to play right out of the box. Having owned an original 58, 63, 64 and the much later version of the Silver Fox with the batwing headstock, I prefer the original earlier versions. These new Wilshire's Coronet's and Crestwood's are absolutely killer, possibly some of the beast products Ep[iphone makes, at least in my opinion and very equal to the original product line..

[pohatu771]

They aren't based on a 1959. They have all the specs of a 1962, but with the headstock badge that was used until 1961. It's entirely possible that a few were made in a transitional period that match these exactly.

[mihcmac]

This is a 58 Coronet like the one I owned, the Wilshire and Crestwood, that came later, were based off of this guitar using the symmetrical body. 

In addition the fingerboard seemed very flat, possibly a 14" radius and a very slim taper neck.

Also note that this Coronet is the first Gibson produced Epiphone solid body and using this headstock with the Epiphone badge.

Below In 2009 Gibson built a USA Limited Edition Reissue of a 62 Epiphone Wilshire in Cherry and Alpine White.

These usually sell used for around 3k.

Edited February 22, 2021 by mihcmac