Vintage Guitars Info's Vintage Epiphone Guitars. General Information and Specs.
What is a Gibson Guitar worth? This is a very general question. It's a lot like asking 'What is my Ford Mustang worth?' There are a lot of things that can effect a guitar's value. This goes for. How Much Is My Guitar Worth? Instrument Appraisals. While Fret Not does not offer written appraisals I do have some pointers for those who are trying to find out what their instrument is worth. A little directed research on the internet may help to yield a good picture of an instruments value.
Epiphone vintage guitars general info and collecting.Private vintage guitar collector. Pictures, history for epiphone vintage guitars. Contact the Vintage Guitar Info Guy1965 Epiphone Sheraton (Route 66 Guitars)
Serial Numbers (How to Find the Year)
Guitar Model Information:
Archtop (full depth) Hollowbody Guitar Models
Thinline (Gibson-made) Hollowbody Guitar Models:
Flat top Guitar Models:
Solidbody (Gibson-made) Electric Guitar Models:
Introduction:
Epiphone was a family business established in 1873 as 'the House ofStathopoulo' by AnastasiosStathopoulo, a greek violin maker. In 1923 they incorporated and at this time made mostly high quality and fancy banjos. In 1928 the name was changed to 'Epiphone' after Epi Stathopoulo, president of the company and one of the founder's sons. In the 1930's, the company changed its emphasis to guitars. Epiphone was the only banjo company to successfullyswitch to guitar production.
1954 Epiphone catalog with a blond Emperor Zephyr Regent.
In 1952/1953 the C.G. Conn Company's (a band instrument manufacturer) Orphie got Epiphone distribution rightsmoved. Now most guitar production went to Philidelphia (although the labelsstill said New York). This was done partially as a 'strike break' move,as New York Epiphone workers were in conflict with the Stathopouliofamily. The Stathopoulo family regained control again in 1955, butfew if any instruments were made in 1956 and 1957.
The Chicago Musical Instrument company (CMI), which owned Gibson, boughtEpiphone in 1957. When CMI purchased Epiphone, they got all of Epiphone'scurrent stock of parts including bodies, necks, pickups, etc. Gibson usedthese 'New Yorker' parts in conjuction with their own parts when making Epiphones from 1958 to 1961. By 1961 Gibson has used up all the originalNew York-made Epiphone parts, and then used Gibson parts made in Kalamazoo.Instruments from 1958 to 1969 are commonly referred to as'Gibson/Epiphones'.
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Model Types.
In addition to the Zephyr and Zephyr Regent models, Epiphone applied thetwo terms to other models to signify electric or cutaway:
Zephyr = electric.
Regent = cutaway.
Contruction and Value.
High-end acoustic archtop Epiphones are constructed of high quality, solid woods. Electric archtop Epiphones are made from laminated woods. Because of this, electric archtop Epiphones are much less desirable, and are worth considerably less than fully acoustic archtop models.
Pre-1937 Epiphones are of very high quality and are generally much scarcerthan later models. They have a smaller body and less modern neck feel than later models, and are less collectable.
The most collectable models are those made from 1937 whenbody sizes were increased, up to the end of New York productions (1956).Most desirable are the professional grade models on which the companybuilt its reputation: Emperor, DeLuxe, Broadway and Triumph. These models, along with Gibsons, are considered by most to be the best vintage factory-made archtop guitars produced. Mid-rangeand low-end models are generally regarded as student model instruments.
Electric Archtop Epiphones.
New York-made electric archtops are interesting but generally are notas collectable as equivalent acoustic models. Acoustic models aresolid carved top and back whereas electrics are plywood. In addition,the electronics on New York Epiphones are not as sonically good ascompared to Gibson of the same period or to the later Gibson-madeEpiphones. Therefore, New York electric archtop Epiphones are worthconsiderably less than Gibsons of the same period.
1940 Epiphone ad: 'For those who prefer blonds'
Early Gibson Epiphones with New York pickups are of interest to collectors.Most hollowbody Epiphone electrics bring less than the equivalentGibson models. Double cutaway thinbody electrics are the most highly sought after electric archtop models. The Emperor (single cutaway) is the rarest of the thinlines (66 made). The Sheraton, especially the early version with blond finish, is also very collectable. Sheratons with New York pickups are worth the most, but not for sound. The Riviera, though equal in playability and sound, is not nearly as collectable. The Casino is collectable only because John Lennon played one.
It may seem like a contridiction in terms: New York pickups are sonicallyinferior to Gibson pickups, but models fitted with New York pickups from 1958 to 1960 are worth more than post-1960 models fitted with better Gibsonpickups. These Epiphone models made from 1958 to 1960like the Sheraton and Coronet are much more collectable (and valuable) withNew York pickups, even though everyone agrees the later models sound muchbetter fitted with Gibson pickups.
Solidbody Electric Epiphones.
Solidbody electric Epiphones with New York pickups are interesting tocollectors, but not for their sound. Later solidbody models with mini-humbucking pickups bring less money than Gibson equivalents with standard humbucking pickups. None are especially valuable, althoughEpiphone workmanship and playability is equivalent to Gibson of the sameperiod.
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Epiphone Model Numbers, 1953 to 1981
You can get an alvarez guitar anywhere from 180 dollars new to5000 dollars. The yairi line is very expensive and worth everypenny if you ask me. I own a md80 masterwork series that goes for850 dollars and i own a asg4 electric which was made in 2000 onlyit went for 380 dollars. I've found that alvarez guitars give you aquality for the price that you won't find with any other company.The guy that showed me alot the things that i know about guitarshad a yairi that was 20+ years old and I picked up my first alvarezwhen i was about sixteen I've had it ever since and it is still myfavorite guitar. If you are asking what your guitar is worth sen meyour serial number and model number to [email protected]
What is your Alvarez acoustic guitar worth?
Depending on the age and quality of your Alvarez acoustic guitar may be worth as little as $180 and as much as $5,000.
How much is my Alvarez Guitar worth Model number RC20SC and serial number 08090030?
How much is my Alvarez Guitar worth? Model RC20SC and Serial Number 08090030.
How much is an alvarez guitar model RD 10 worth?
Alvarez RD -10 guitar had an MSRP of $219.00 and is worth, depending on condition about $60.00.
How much is an electric Alvarez guitar worth?
How much is a alvarez acoustic guitar model 5013 worth?
How much is an alvarez model rd2012u guitar worth?
What is a Alvarez guitar worth with an model number 5082 and the serial number is 616355?
I have an 80's Alvarez model no. 5082 , acoustic and electric guitar , I was wondering what it was worth ?
What is an alvarez electric guitar worth?
How much is an Alvarez Yairi 1983 DY45N acoustic guitar worth?
How much is an 1974 Alvarez 5024 Dove Guitar worth?
How much is an alvarez 12 string guitar worth?
Many factors determine the value could be between $50.00 and $500.00
What is your Alvarez yairi DY 55 guitar worth?
there not worth very much now a days maybe 50-100 dollars depending one the condition it is in. but back in the day it was a great guitar. tobad!
How much is an Alvarez guitar model 5205 worth?
I just bought a used Alvarez Regent 5205 for $130 from the local guitar shop. As long as they didn't rip me off, they would most likely give you between $60-$90.
What is a amp for Alvarez regent guitar selling for used And what is a Alvarez Regent electric guitar worth?
Alvarez Regent is a series of guitars . You need the model number to determine the price. Range maybe from $50.00 to $200.00
How much is an alvarez guitar worth with model number 5056 and the serial number is 47973?
75 dollars. Which i am willing to offer to you. interested?