marlybean Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 i’m having a lot of difficulty dating this 12 string acoustic epiphone and was wondering if someone could help! i think i’ve narrowed it down to somewhere between 1975-1979, but i could be totally wrong. unsure how to/if you can insert images so i’ll just describe the label on the inside of the body model no. FT-165 BARD-12 serial no. 170147 the label is rectangular, tan coloured with greyish blue text, says ‘Norlin’ in the bottom left corner. says it’s made in japan, and below the serial + model no. it says “another quality product from norlin. lincolnwood, illinois 60646” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Have you tried the Epiphone forum? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Marlybean, That model of Epiphone was made in Japan for just an eight year period of time, between 1972 and 1980. Serial numbers of the MIJ acoustics are a mystery to me. I have tried my hand at figuring them out, but to no avail. Interpolating your numbers with those I have seen on other FT models from Japan, and my own FT-120, which I bought brand new in 1976, my guess is that yours was built in 1977. You don't see many FT-165's around. They are worth $300 in really minty condition, but most go for around $150 or so, by my observation. I hope this helps. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marlybean Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 3 hours ago, sparquelito said: Marlybean, That model of Epiphone was made in Japan for just an eight year period of time, between 1972 and 1980. Serial numbers of the MIJ acoustics are a mystery to me. I have tried my hand at figuring them out, but to no avail. Interpolating your numbers with those I have seen on other FT models from Japan, and my own FT-120, which I bought brand new in 1976, my guess is that yours was built in 1977. You don't see many FT-165's around. They are worth $300 in really minty condition, but most go for around $150 or so, by my observation. I hope this helps. 🙂 thank you so much! my uncle bought it, but i believe he bought it secondhand, as he was born in ‘76, but he’s a big guitar collector. i’ll ask him if he knows anything about it. i’ve also worked out how to attach images, so here’s a proper look at the label. ignore how filthy the inside is, it’s been sat in my grandparents house unused for the past 4 years! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Now THAT is an unusual sound hole label. Never seen one of that design! And, yes. It's dusty in there. But I have seen worse, trust me. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Okay, I did some more digging, and that particular style of sound hole label places its manufacture between 1977-1980. So I feel like we have it bracketed, and I'm still guessing 1977. 😗 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marlybean Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 thanks so much for your help, really appreciate it! it’s a beautiful guitar - can’t wait to get new strings on it and fix the bolts on the tuning pegs - it already sounds incredible with 8 year old strings on it so i can imagine it’ll sound even better once i’ve replaced them 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marlybean Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 A very exciting fix-up project, surely!! I love a 12-string, and I have owned just a few. Restringing them takes most of the day, but once the old strings are off, it's a great time to clean and polish the guitar overall, and to apply some F1 Oil to the fingerboard (before the new strings go on). 🫠 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 What a cool piece. And, welcome to the Gibson Forums. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.T. Posted March 6 Share Posted March 6 I believe it’s the same model that I had sometime back - 90s probably. I purchased it used and gave it a good workout over the years I had it. Unfortunately around 2000 - 2001 the bridge began to pull off and I didn’t know of anyone that could repair it. Sold it in a garage sale. Overall it was a reasonably nice guitar. Fairly comfortable to play for a 12 string - decent tone. Enjoy it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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