cixelsyd Posted December 30, 2008 Posted December 30, 2008 I just obtained an old Epiphone Texan FT79N, and was looking for a way to determine when it was built. I know it's an original Epi built pre-Gibson days ... Lots of cracks on the back, all kinds of nicks and gouges, finish is completely checked, but threw some strings on it and its the best sounding acoustic I've ever played !!
johnl Posted December 31, 2008 Posted December 31, 2008 If you've got a serial number, check it here: http://www.provide.net/~cfh/epiphone.html#serial And please link to some pictures if you can! (btw, if the label says 'Texan' or Kalamazoo, it's not pre-Gibson; they didn't start calling them Texans until after the buyout). Pre-Gibson FT-79 (courtesy Matt Umanov Guitars) Kalamazoo-era FT-79 Texan (courtesy Mandolin World Headquarters)
Nelson Posted December 31, 2008 Posted December 31, 2008 If you've got a serial number' date=' check it here:http://www.provide.net/~cfh/epiphone.html#serial And please link to some pictures if you can! (btw, if the label says 'Texan' or Kalamazoo, it's not pre-Gibson; they didn't start calling them Texans until after the buyout). Pre-Gibson FT-79 (courtesy Matt Umanov Guitars) Kalamazoo-era FT-79 Texan (courtesy Mandolin World Headquarters) and being that the original poster said his was a "FT-79N" that's going to be a guitar with a natural, not a sunburst, top...for some reason people sometimes think that "pre-Gibson" (pre-1957) means "pre-Asian-made"(pre-1971)..post the serial number and someone will tell you when it was made. Nelson
cixelsyd Posted December 31, 2008 Author Posted December 31, 2008 Searched the serial, it's made by Gibson in 1964 ... looks by the serial range that they made a pile of Epi's in 64. It is natural, and has been played so hard that the "E" has been worn off the pick guard. I'll try to snap a few shots to post, but looks exactly like the sunburst above ... with much more wear.
johnl Posted December 31, 2008 Posted December 31, 2008 You can sometimes find replacement foil "E"'s on eBay; there's this one seller who had a batch produced and sells them individually. Anyhow, I don't know that much about the Kalamazoo Epiphones (Nelson is the real expert, so hopefully he'll add more), but I believe 1965 and before are the preferred years, so nice score! And the trick with pics on this site is that you have to upload them to another site (like Photobucket or anyplace that displays them online) and then link them into your posting here using the image button.
cixelsyd Posted December 31, 2008 Author Posted December 31, 2008 johnl, Going to leave it as is ... a little ugly, but it'll match my playing that way. Pics to follow!
TommyK Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 johnl' date=' Going to leave it as is ... a little ugly, but it'll match my playing that way. Pics to follow![/quote'] My choice as well. If you take a well 'loved' guit tar with lots of miles and install a bright shiny new foil epsilon... it'll stick out like a sore thumb. BTW. My avatar is a Japanese era 'Texan'. FT145SB. Made... 1978-ish. Not even close the same animal as a FT79, 'Texan' or otherwise.
zombywoof Posted January 10, 2009 Posted January 10, 2009 Anyhow' date=' I don't know that much about the Kalamazoo Epiphones (Nelson is the real expert, so hopefully he'll add more), but I believe 1965 and before are the preferred years, so nice score! [/quote'] I am guessing the reason these would be preferred is that in 1966 Gibson moved all Eiphone production out of the Gibson plant to Eleanor Street. Not really sure though if there was any appreciable change in build quality.
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