Epiphone Crestwood Custom Solid Body Electric Guitar (1962)
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Item # 10085
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Epiphone Crestwood Custom Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1962), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 42626, cherry lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original tan hard shell case.
This is a very cool and early example of the second variant of Gibson's Epiphone branded "SG Standard" equivalent, the Crestwood Custom. From 1960 up through late 1963 Epiphone solidbodies were built to this pattern with symmetrical double cutaway bodies and a Gibson-style 3-on-3 headstock. For the 1964 model year the entire line was re-modeled into a more Fender-esque design with a single-sided headstock and uneven cutaways. The re-styled line was somewhat more successful but all these the Epiphone solidbodies are fairly rare as they never gained the prestige or professional acceptance of their Gibson equivalents, despite being made alongside them in the same factory!
This Crestwood Custom dates to very early 1962 and carries the same cherry finish on the body and neck as the much more common SG. All hardware is nickel plated and includes two PAF mini-humbucking pickups, early no-wire ABR-1 Tune-o-matic bridge and the long Epiphone Trem-O-Tone vibrato with a rosewood block insert. The pickguard is an unusual "half-clear' design with a shaded center, sporting an Epiphone "E" logo. The knobs, switch and Kluson tuners are all shared with the Gibson branded SG.
The unbound rosewood fingerboard has unusual oval pearloid inlays specific to this model. The neck is a fairly flat profile typical of 1961 but a bit chunkier than some. At the time, this was the top of the Epiphone solidbody line as the fancier three-pickup Crestwood Deluxe had not yet been introduced. This is a very light, handy and very hot-sounding guitar with a particularly snarly tone when cranked up.
This guitar has been in a single family since new, purchased new in Paducah, Kentucky on March 28, 1962 for $340. The original time-payment contract is still with the guitar; it took 8 months to pay off the balance even after a deposit and trade-in allowance. (We'd love to know what was traded in!) The Epiphone was played for years in local country bands, not the most common environment for this model but it was well used and also well cared for. It came to us with the heavy Gibson flatwound strings the original owner preferred still fitted. This was a real "working" guitar, and gave the owner (and one hopes, his audience) decades of musical enjoyment. It is still a wonderful instrument, a bit worn in but obviously also well loved over nearly 6 decades.
Overall length is 37 1/2 in. (95.2 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This guitar shows general wear overall but no modifications and none of the all-to-common breaks at the heel or headstock. There is some light/moderate finish wear; the cherry finish still has faded to a more muted hue and has a nice dark patina. There are small dings, dents and scuffs overall but surprisingly little in the way of heavier finish wear. The back of the neck is heavily faded, but only worn through to the wood in a few spots.
The original Kluson Deluxe tuners have had new correct-style double-ring keystone buttons installed in place of the crumbled originals. All other hardware remains original including the mini-humbucking pickups, untouched wiring rig and even the oft-missing vibrato arm. The original Tune-O-Matic bridge has a lot of wear to the tops of the saddles which have been re-worked over time with some finagle to the slots; the worn saddles can easily be replaced with repros and re-cut if desired.
The frets are original with some light wear but are surprisingly well preserved considering the use the instrument has seen; the heavy flatwound strings probably helped in this regard. This is a great-sounding instrument and still an excellent player, with pickups that really sing. It still resides in the original red-lined, tan hard shell case with the original hangtag and time-purchase agreement still preserved inside. Very Good + Condition.
This is a very cool and early example of the second variant of Gibson's Epiphone branded "SG Standard" equivalent, the Crestwood Custom. From 1960 up through late 1963 Epiphone solidbodies were built to this pattern with symmetrical double cutaway bodies and a Gibson-style 3-on-3 headstock. For the 1964 model year the entire line was re-modeled into a more Fender-esque design with a single-sided headstock and uneven cutaways. The re-styled line was somewhat more successful but all these the Epiphone solidbodies are fairly rare as they never gained the prestige or professional acceptance of their Gibson equivalents, despite being made alongside them in the same factory!
This Crestwood Custom dates to very early 1962 and carries the same cherry finish on the body and neck as the much more common SG. All hardware is nickel plated and includes two PAF mini-humbucking pickups, early no-wire ABR-1 Tune-o-matic bridge and the long Epiphone Trem-O-Tone vibrato with a rosewood block insert. The pickguard is an unusual "half-clear' design with a shaded center, sporting an Epiphone "E" logo. The knobs, switch and Kluson tuners are all shared with the Gibson branded SG.
The unbound rosewood fingerboard has unusual oval pearloid inlays specific to this model. The neck is a fairly flat profile typical of 1961 but a bit chunkier than some. At the time, this was the top of the Epiphone solidbody line as the fancier three-pickup Crestwood Deluxe had not yet been introduced. This is a very light, handy and very hot-sounding guitar with a particularly snarly tone when cranked up.
This guitar has been in a single family since new, purchased new in Paducah, Kentucky on March 28, 1962 for $340. The original time-payment contract is still with the guitar; it took 8 months to pay off the balance even after a deposit and trade-in allowance. (We'd love to know what was traded in!) The Epiphone was played for years in local country bands, not the most common environment for this model but it was well used and also well cared for. It came to us with the heavy Gibson flatwound strings the original owner preferred still fitted. This was a real "working" guitar, and gave the owner (and one hopes, his audience) decades of musical enjoyment. It is still a wonderful instrument, a bit worn in but obviously also well loved over nearly 6 decades.
Overall length is 37 1/2 in. (95.2 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This guitar shows general wear overall but no modifications and none of the all-to-common breaks at the heel or headstock. There is some light/moderate finish wear; the cherry finish still has faded to a more muted hue and has a nice dark patina. There are small dings, dents and scuffs overall but surprisingly little in the way of heavier finish wear. The back of the neck is heavily faded, but only worn through to the wood in a few spots.
The original Kluson Deluxe tuners have had new correct-style double-ring keystone buttons installed in place of the crumbled originals. All other hardware remains original including the mini-humbucking pickups, untouched wiring rig and even the oft-missing vibrato arm. The original Tune-O-Matic bridge has a lot of wear to the tops of the saddles which have been re-worked over time with some finagle to the slots; the worn saddles can easily be replaced with repros and re-cut if desired.
The frets are original with some light wear but are surprisingly well preserved considering the use the instrument has seen; the heavy flatwound strings probably helped in this regard. This is a great-sounding instrument and still an excellent player, with pickups that really sing. It still resides in the original red-lined, tan hard shell case with the original hangtag and time-purchase agreement still preserved inside. Very Good + Condition.