anrutherford Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 I recently inherited a Epiphone Emporer AN with serial 4103187 from my Grandfather. I am trying to do some research to find the current value, year manufactured, and any other information pertaining to this guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Welcome. OK, let me start by saying I am no expert on the big box Epi's, but the serial number says 1994, Korea. I did a little looking around and several things struck me about the guitar you have. Between the frequensator tailpiece, the pick guard and the controls, yours is different than any of the other '94s I could find. Most were Emperor IIs (Joe Pass). The few non Joe Pass guitars I could find were single floating pickup models, with the controls in the pick guard. So, I'm not sure what you have, making determining value difficult. I'm sure that there's another member that has more knowledge about these. But I will say, that is one beautiful guitar. You are a lucky guy to receive it. BTW, sorry about your Grandfather. Stand by, someone will be along shortly with an answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 It looks to be a Matsumoku made Emperor (F). The Korean emperors had a different body style and the blocky "Epiphone" logo on the headstock. Another giveaway is the fretboard inlays and the pickguard. The Koreans had block inlays with no abalone "V" and also had the new style pickguard that was slimmer thatn the older, Japanese models. Also, like mentioned, the frequensator and control knobs. The years were: 1975-1979 (Emperor S, Japanese Domestic Market) 1980-1983 or 84 (Emperor (F) Worldwide distro)) The S & F are pretty much the same guitar built for different markets with different (but consecutive) timelines. http://www.epiphonew...Emperor_.28F.29 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 It looks to be a Matsumoku made Emperor (F). The Korean emperors had a different body style and the blocky "Epiphone" logo on the headstock. Another giveaway is the fretboard inlays and the pickguard. The Koreans had block inlays with no abalone "V" and also had the new style pickguard that was slimmer thatn the older, Japanese models. Also, like mentioned, the frequensator and control knobs. The years were: 1975-1979 (Emperor S, Japanese Domestic Market) 1980-1983 or 84 (Emperor (F) Worldwide distro)) The S & F are pretty much the same guitar built for different markets with different (but consecutive) timelines. http://www.epiphonew...Emperor_.28F.29 So, is this another case of serial number misinformation? Japanese model would explain the differences in the tailpiece and pickguard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 So, is this another case of serial number misinformation? Japanese model would explain the differences in the tailpiece and pickguard. Honestly, I dont know much about serial numbers. There doesnt seem to be much reliability in older serials. Even some of the older, American serials got recycled at some point. I do know that I have a 1986 Korean/Samick catalog with the newer style Emperor and a 1982 Matsumoku catalog with the old style Emperors. I also have a 1977 JDM catalog with the Emperor S. Unfortunately, its mostly in Japanese Kanji, so I cant read the specs. EDIT: I also have another 1982 catalog, but I'm not sure if it is Samick or Matsu. It also has the old style Emperor in it. I suppose it is possible that they made the old style Emperor in Korea for one year, but I doubt it. I think this particular catalog is a mix of Japanese and Korean guitars, as this was the point that Epiphone started to phase most, But not all, guitars over to Korea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyg Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Yes that is a Matsumoku made Emperor. The "blotchy" brown label is correct as is the three piece neck and the serial number under the finish. The later Korean models serial was on a sticker on the back of the headstock and the guitar itself was quite different. The serials are easy to decode for these as they were only made between 1980 - 1984. The first number is the year and the second two are the month so yours was made in October 1984 and would have been one of the last. The UK price in 1983 was £375.00 including an Epiphone hard case (I know this because I missed the chance to buy one - doh). Depending on where in the world you are the used value will alter. The last one I saw in the UK sold for £850.00 which at that time would have equated to around $1600.00 dollars. However, that was sometime ago and it was in the more common Antique Sunburst finish (AS on the label). Yours is Antique Natural finish (AN on the label) and (in the UK) would be rarer although not necessarily more desirable. I've seen them on US eBay for around the $1200.00 mark but, like the Casino's and the Riviera's from the same period, they do seem to be quite rare. They are excellent guitars with a great sound, feel and very good pickups and in many ways are close to the quality of a Gibson L5 which they are very similar to. I don't honestly think you would have any trouble selling it but putting a firm price on it would be difficult. Start high and drop would be my recommendation. IMO they were the best non US made Emperor Epiphone ever made and if I could find one at a price I could afford I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Your Grandfather must have been a man of great taste. EDIT: I should have mentioned that I own an '83 Riviera from the same manufacturer and I would have to be in extremely desperate circumstances to even consider selling it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anrutherford Posted September 29, 2011 Author Share Posted September 29, 2011 Thanks for the replies, all the research I found was pointing me towards 1994 Korean and I knew that wasn't the case based on what my Grandfather had told me about the guitar. He was a man of taste, his guitar collection was massive made of mostly Martins and a few Gibsons. I do know that this guitar was owned by Reece Peterson, who was a bluegrass musician in this area in the 80's, I probably won't sell it, was trying to figure out exactly what I had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Thanks, Jonnyg. Just to clarify, that is a full-depth Emperor (F). There was also an Emperor (T) thinline that ran along side the (F). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyg Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Thanks, Jonnyg. Just to clarify, that is a full-depth Emperor (F). There was also an Emperor (T) thinline that ran along side the (F). Yeah, I never actually saw a thinline in the flesh and I'm not sure they were ever available in the UK. Here's a nice picture of an 80's collection. There's two Sheraton's (note the two different tailpieces) and F & T model Emperors. I may have got this from a member here who bought the thinline. I don't think he'll mind me posting it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Wow. Those are great! What an awesome sight! Here is a Japan Market Emperor-S. Anyone know how to read Japanese? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellercasino Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Yes that is a Matsumoku made Emperor. The "blotchy" brown label is correct as is the three piece neck and the serial number under the finish. The later Korean models serial was on a sticker on the back of the headstock and the guitar itself was quite different. The serials are easy to decode for these as they were only made between 1980 - 1984. The first number is the year and the second two are the month so yours was made in October 1984 and would have been one of the last. The UK price in 1983 was £375.00 including an Epiphone hard case (I know this because I missed the chance to buy one - doh). Depending on where in tihe world you are the used value will alter. The last one I saw in the UK sold for £850.00 which at that time would have equated to around $1600.00 dollars. However, that was sometime ago and it was in the more common Antique Sunburst finish (AS on the label). Yours is Antique Natural finish (AN on the label) and (in the UK) would be rarer although not necessarily more desirable. I've seen them on US eBay for around the $1200.00 mark but, like the Casino's and the Riviera's from the same period, they do seem to be quite rare. They are excellent guitars with a great sound, feel and very good pickups and in many ways are close to the quality of a Gibson L5 which they are very similar to. I don't honestly think you would have any trouble selling it but putting a firm price on it would be difficult. Start high and drop would be my recommendation. IMO they were the best non US made Emperor Epiphone ever made and if I could find one at a price I could afford I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Your Grandfather must have been a man of great taste. EDIT: I should have mentioned that I own an '83 Riviera frjom the same manufacturer and I would have to be in extremely desperate circumstances to even consider selling it. Hi jonnyg. I was just reading this old post and it reminded me of a question I wanted to ask you,if you don't mind. You mention the new price of the emporer but do you recall the price of the Riviera, casino and Sheraton from around the same period? Thanks. Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyg Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 jonnyg. I was just reading this old post and it reminded me of a question I wanted to ask you,if you don't mind. You mention the new price of the emporer but do you recall the price of the Riviera, casino and Sheraton from around the same period? Thanks. Adrian I can only give you the prices those models were sold for from the shop I bought from at the time. The shop was the original 'Peter Cooks' in Hanwell West London when it was a real guitar shop owned by Peter Cook (the guitar builder) and not the box shifter it is today. At that time other dealers were generally a little more expensive. However the prices as of August 1983 were as follows Casino - £225.00 Riviera - £250.00 Sheraton - £310.00 Emperor - £375.00 all prices included a hard case. You could probably add around £20.00 for an average 'street' price at the time. To put those prices into perspective, around the same time we (the band I was with) also bought Gibson Les Paul Deluxe - £375.00 Tokai Breezysound (Tele) - £140.00 Tokai Springysound (Strat) - £185.00 Squier JV Series '62 Jazz Bass - £195.00 I still have the Riviera and the Jazz Bass and probably the receipts for it all somewhere. I'm still gutted that I never bought the Emperor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellercasino Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 I can only give you the prices those models were sold for from the shop I bought from at the time. The shop was the original 'Peter Cooks' in Hanwell West London when it was a real guitar shop owned by Peter Cook (the guitar builder) and not the box shifter it is today. At that time other dealers were generally a little more expensive. However the prices as of August 1983 were as follows Casino - £225.00 Riviera - £250.00 Sheraton - £310.00 Emperor - £375.00 all prices included a hard case. You could probably add around £20.00 for an average 'street' price at the time. To put those prices into perspective, around the same time we (the band I was with) also bought Gibson Les Paul Deluxe - £375.00 Tokai Breezysound (Tele) - £140.00 Tokai Springysound (Strat) - £185.00 Squier JV Series '62 Jazz Bass - £195.00 I still have the Riviera and the Jazz Bass and probably the receipts for it all somewhere. I'm still gutted that I never bought the Emperor. thanks for that jonnyg. It was really interesting to compare prices with other popular guitars of the time. A friend of mine bought a 83 les Paul deluxe in 1991 and paid 750 quid then so it shows how the prices rose very sharply at that time. If we knew now what these things were going to be worth and more to the point the much higher the quality was back then, compared with today's mass produced stuff we would have stocked up on them. Well I would have but I was still at school then lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Those Matsumoku Emperors are superb guitars. Quality-wise, they're very much like the Elitist Broadway, and not far off of the Gibson L-5CES they're modeled after. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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