stratmansblues Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 I have acquired a vintage Epiphone Acoustic that looks like it from the 60s. There is no label inside the guitar so I don't know what the model is. The serial number stamped on the back of the neck is 810759. The pickguard looks non original. I have a non-original tkl that it came in. I thought it was a FT-30 but this guitar looks like it has a spruce top and the FT-30's were all mahogany. Here are some pictures. http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y127/musician18/Epiphone%20FT30/ Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 If it has a spruce top, which it appears to have, it is probably a FT45 Cortez. Similar in body shape and size, but with spruce. Here is a > > > Vintage Catalog < < < site. '61 or '62 possibly. I can't say for sure, but I think you are in the right decade. Might even be late 50's. Nice score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ship of fools Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Just looking at the guitar I think TommyK is right on the money as a Cortez, But I think closer to a 66-68 ( the adjustable bridge )might be a touch younger.ship Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el capitan Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 1968-70 Gibson upgraded the LGO to spruce top & white binding & this is the Epi equivalent IMO. At the same time they stopped using paper labels.So,if the FT30 is the Epi version of the LGO, you were right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratmansblues Posted May 3, 2011 Author Share Posted May 3, 2011 Took it to Gruhn and it is a 1969 FT-45 Cortez. Thanks for everyones help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el capitan Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 Cortez had white binding on back,black headstock and belly bridge, This is not a Cortez.Epi version of LGO or B15. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratmansblues Posted May 3, 2011 Author Share Posted May 3, 2011 Cortez had white binding on back,black headstock and belly bridge, This is not a Cortez.Epi version of LGO or B15. Frog at Elderly, George Gruhn, and Gibson said this is a 1969 Cortez. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el capitan Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 Google Epiphone Cortez & you'll see............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el capitan Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 Also Google Gibson B15.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 Nits and Lice. Guitars are built in relatively small batches. Bling, like binding and such, can be changed at a moment's notice. Remember in 1969, Gibson was on the ropes. They probably built them with whatever materials they had left. So, variability in details in not out of the question. Odd ball bridge?... Possibly they didn't have enough of the un-inverted bridges to go around as well. There are probably a lot of odd ball '69s out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratmansblues Posted May 6, 2011 Author Share Posted May 6, 2011 Well, whatever it is, it is on ebay now for sale. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120722031034 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el capitan Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 Nits and Lice. Guitars are built in relatively small batches. Bling, like binding and such, can be changed at a moment's notice. Remember in 1969, Gibson was on the ropes. They probably built them with whatever materials they had left. So, variability in details in not out of the question. Odd ball bridge?... Possibly they didn't have enough of the un-inverted bridges to go around as well. There are probably a lot of odd ball '69s out there. Good point-it's a B15 with an epiphone neck.I've seen Gibson & Epiphone hybrids from this period, Not nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meanstreak Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 no best offer option!? I was ready to put $100 down! \:D/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el capitan Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 Obviously a dealer-at least he mentioned the B15. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratmansblues Posted May 8, 2011 Author Share Posted May 8, 2011 For what its worth, I am not a dealer. I did a personal trade to get out of another guitar that I didn't care to keep. Seemed like a good trade, but now I regret that I did it, because I feel like I have a guitar that nobody wants. The guitar I traded out of was a Martin D-16GT. The Martin would have been much easier to move. I know there is a lot of speculation on this model, but when two reputable vintage dealers say it is a Cortez, then I would have to agree. Here is an excerpt from Gruhn Guitars regarding this guitar.. "Drew, George asked me to respond. I remember the guitar. Our repair guy looked at the finish under ultraviolet light and determined it to be original. The same repair guy wants to refret everything he sees, and if he didn't note that this one had been refretted, it probably hasn't been. Epiphone specifications could easily have changed toward the late 1960s, as Gibson. The Cortez was originally spec'd like the B-25, with an X-braced top. It's not all that surprising to find one with ladder bracing. The bridge looks like the bridge on some of the cheaper Gibsons of the same period. The guitar would be worth $800 after the repairs. I didn't look at the nut, but I'm guessing the slots have worn too wide, if not too deep. Regarding vintage value, vintage guitars still need to be playable to get top dollar. Walter Carter Gruhn Guitars " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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