engagekage Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Hey Gibson community. I have a sort of conundrum. I recently came into possession of a Gibson Epiphone. After plenty of searching, the only information I was able to come up with was based off of the serial number, being 25275, dating to 1961, built in Kalamazoo. Now, that's all fine and dandy if I thought that is exactly what I have. So through my searches I have yet to find a Gibson exactly like my own. I have a weird feeling this might be a hodge podge of pieces and was wondering if you lovely folks could help me out in identifying what exactly it is I have. Since the photos of the Epiphone are too large for the site, put them here if you want to take a look. Gibson Epiphone pics Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StijnV Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Looks like a modfied Century model: http://www.vintageguitarandbass.com/epiphone/catalogues/1961_7.php Nice guitar ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Its an early 1940's Zephyr. Probably around the 1941-1942 era. The best way to begin identifying these old archtops is to look at the fingerboard inlays first , and then go from there. http://www.epiphonew...hp?title=Zephyr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dchale Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Its an early 1940's Zephyr. Probably around the 1941-1942 era. The best way to begin identifying these old archtops is to look at the fingerboard inlays first , and then go from there. http://www.epiphonew...hp?title=Zephyr Which would make it simply an Epiphone, not a Gibson Epiphone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Which would make it simply an Epiphone, not a Gibson Epiphone. Indeed. Though I have to take back what I said in my last post. Its somewhere in the 1942-1949 era. It seems like the pickup postitions were all over the board on this model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNick Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Nice find.. Congratulations. HNGD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungrycat Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Which would make it simply an Epiphone, not a Gibson Epiphone. Definitely. Those style knobs were like, the first thing to go when Gibson bought Epiphone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epi Rocks Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 WOW!!! Thats a beauty! H N G D Reminds me of my dads old Valencia F hole geet from decades age. Great find, congratulations. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Welcome to the forums EK, great bunch of geet geeks around here, I hope you like the place. That's a wonderful old archtop you've come across there, congrats and HNGD to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Definitely. Those style knobs were like, the first thing to go when Gibson bought Epiphone. Not exactly, HC. Epiphone used both the ridged bakelite knobs and the carousel knobs until around 1950 and then switched entirely to the carousels when they stopped using the Mastervoicer plates. When Gibson bought Epiphone in 1957, they continued to use the carousel knobs (and other parts they had left over) until about 1960 or so until the parts ran out. After that is when they began to use the plastic reflector style knobs (either black or gold) on all of the Epiphones. At that time they also stopped using things like the NY pickups and metal "bikini" plates (on most models). You also saw a lot of crossover guitars in that era. Interesting, albiet confusing, stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
engagekage Posted March 22, 2012 Author Share Posted March 22, 2012 Hey guys, just want to thank you for the attribution. I thought I was going crazy with the whole older body and serial number that I just assumed was Gibson. So once again, thanks and hope you all have a good one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Hey guys, just want to thank you for the attribution. I thought I was going crazy with the whole older body and serial number that I just assumed was Gibson. So once again, thanks and hope you all have a good one! Glad we could be of help. Enjoy your guitar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPDEN Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Yes, Congrats on that glorious piece of history! Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.