Erroneously referred to over the years as “budget models” and “poor-man’s Gibsons,” the Epiphone electric guitars manufactured at the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, Mich., between 1959 and the early 1970s have long represented some of the greatest values around in quality American-made vintage instruments. That is, until the world discovered what a clever few guitarists had long understood — that these Epiphone electrics were not only a bargain, but also great playing and sounding guitars as well. That’s when the values of these early Epiphones started to escalate on the vintage market.
From the time of its introduction, the solid-body Epiphone Wilshire has been a favorite “undiscovered classic” among those in the know, but the fact that so few Epiphone Wilshire Model SB-432 guitars were ever produced — only 180 in 1962 — combined with its unerring quality, playability and tonal versatility, has sent its value soaring from its humble introductory price of $210 to upwards of $5,000 to $12,000 on today’s vintage market, depending upon year and condition.
Now, to commemorate the achievement of these great Kalamazoo models, Epiphone is proud to introduce the 1962 Epiphone Wilshire in Cherry, which is the first model in a new series of reissues known as the “Epiphone Historic Custom USA” collection. Made in Nashville, Tenn., in cooperation with Gibson Custom the 1962 Epiphone Wilshire in Cherry combines impeccable attention to detail and historic accuracy, and is limited to only 100 guitars worldwide.
Gibson’s Kissin’ Cousins
Arch rivals in the hotly contested battle of the 1930s and ’40s to top the market in archtop guitar sales, Epiphone and Gibson have enjoyed a familial relationship ever since Gibson purchased the New York-based manufacturer in 1957 and moved its operations to Kalamazoo. Having originally bought Epiphone to acquire an edge in the double bass market, Gibson discovered there were a great many benefits to having this sister brand to work with. On one hand, it gained access to many storied Epiphone models and designs. On the other, it provided a means of widening the parent company’s distribution reach by selling Epiphones through previously non-Gibson dealers. The production of Epiphone guitars designed and made in Kalamazoo commenced in 1959, with a range of instruments that provided unique shapes, pickup arrangements and tonal signatures not seen on comparable Gibson models of the day. Definitely underappreciated in their day, they nevertheless represented some of the highest quality and best sounding instruments of their generation … right alongside their cousins wearing the Gibson brand.
Undervalued, Yet Played by Legends
While few Epiphone models achieved the status of the Gibson guitars manufactured right alongside them, they did find their way into the hands of many notable artists. Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Paul Gilbert and Steve Marriot, among others, are but a few of the players who embraced the tone and build quality of these Kalamazoo-built Epiphone instruments. Of course, best known of all are John Lennon, George Harrison and Paul McCartney, who all played semi-acoustic Epiphone Casinos at one time or another during their days with The Beatles, helping to make the Casino perhaps Epiphone’s best know instrument of that era.
Solid Wood and Solid Tone
A long-time sleeper of this Epiphone range, the solid-body Wilshire model represented amazing quality and value throughout the ’60s. Originally intended as something of a rival to Fender’s Stratocaster, offering similar upper-fret access and curvaceous body lines, the Wilshire actually provided similar features and tones to that of Gibson’s own Les Paul Special, at a price closer to that of the more affordable Les Paul Junior.First released in 1960, the Wilshire featured two P-90 pickups, a three-on-a-side headstock, and a solid mahogany body and one-piece neck. It benefited, however, from Gibson’s fully intonable ABR-1 bridge and stop tailpiece, all in all offering a straightforward instrument with up-market features, at a relatively affordable price. All of these characteristics are represented with the utmost respect for detail and accuracy on the 1962 Epiphone Wilshire, including the recessed Epiphone headstock design, softly rounded body horns, and rounded early ’60s neck profile. Sonically, the mahogany body and P-90 pickup combination offers a blend of sweet resonance and cutting, textured tone that helps this model excel at everything from blues to rock to grunge.
The Wilshire Returns
With original examples virtually unobtainable today, the new 1962 Epiphone Wilshire offers a rare opportunity to acquire one of these seminal Epiphone electrics. This historic reissue includes an original style Epiphone hard case, a numbered Certificate of Authenticity in leatherette binder, vintage-style coiled guitar cord, commemorative picks, a commemorative T-shirt and a 1962-style thin leather strap. The Wilshire will be available at select retail locations beginning in March 2009, at a suggested retail price of $4,832 in the USA.
Full specifications include:
Made at: Gibson Custom, Nashville, Tenn., U.S.
Body Wood: 1-pc; Peruvian Mahogany
Neck Wood: 1-pc; Peruvian Mahogany
Headstock: 17 degree; 3-on-a-side tuner configuration
Neck Joint: Set; Glued-in
Fingerboard: Madagascar Rosewood
Scale Length: 24-3/4″
Nut Width: 1-11/16″
Fingerboard Radius: 12″
Frets: 22; medium/jumbo
Neck Profile: Original 1960s Rounded Neck Profile
Fingerboard Inlay: Pearloid Dots
Machine Heads: Vintage Kluson with plastic buttons
Hardware: Nickel
Pickups: Two “soapbar” P-90’s with adjustable pole pieces
Authentic unit base with 1960’s construction
Controls: 2-Volume; 2-Tone; 1 Three-way Selector Switch
CTS potentiometers
Switchcraft Toggle switch and output jack
Bridge: ABR-1
Tailpiece: Aluminum Tune-o-matic
Pickguard: Imitation Tortoise with foil “E” logo
Color: Vintage Cherry
Strings: Gibson Vintage Reissue (10s)
Includes: Hard Case
Numbered Certificate of Authenticity
Reissue Owners Manual
Commemorative T-Shirt
Commemorative Picks
Vintage Coiled Cord
Vintage Thin Leather Strap
