Epiphone Wilshire Solid Body Electric Guitar (1961)
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Item # 12557
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Epiphone Wilshire Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1961), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 28492, cherry lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
One of the rarer and more interesting solid-bodies to come out of Kalamazoo in the early 1960's, the early Epiphone Wilshire is an often overlooked P-90 tone machine. From 1960 up through late the 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!
The cherry-finished double cutaway Wilshire was the equivalent of the SG Special in the Epiphone line, but in some ways is a more deluxe guitar. The Wilshire is one of the very few solid-bodies combining the 1960's P-90 sound with a Tune-O-Matic bridge and stop tailpiece (SG Specials use the non-tunable bar bridge), which gives the guitar especially good playing characteristics. The lack of a vibrato was probably considered an omission in 1961, but later generations of players usually prefer this solid "stop tail" configuration.
By the end of 1963, these Epiphone solid-bodies were re-designed in a more Fender-like mode. The original (and now much better loved) style with the 3-and-3 headstock and symmetrical double cutaway body were phased out into obscurity at that time. One sonic distinction of the Wilshire is that the neck pickup is mounted quite far back on the face of the guitar, resulting in a rather distinctive tone both by itself and when mixed with the bridge unit. This 1961 Wilshire is fairly rare, a lightweight P-90 delivery service with a wide mahogany neck that has the typical early '60s slimmer depth profile and handles perfectly.
Overall length is 37 3/4 in. (95.9 cm.), 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/4 in. (3.2 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 light wear overall but is an excellent player with a killer sound. The finish has a lot of fade to the face, the back and neck retain stronger color in the cherry finish. There is broad checking and small dings, chips and scrapes overall, but no really heavy wear. There are dings and chips to the headstock edges, a few lightly touched up as in nearly every older Gibson made guitar. The upper fingerboard by the body has a few odd random spots of clear lacquer, source unknown.
There is one small tight split repaired on the front body edge back from he jack, well sealed and inconspicuous. The original pickups and all wiring are intact and unaltered; interestingly enough the matched set of original pots are dated to the 50th week of 1957, so they sat in stock at Gibson some time before being installed. All hardware on the guitar is original except for the pickguard, which is an except repro. The original is included but has started to suffer Celluloid deterioration so was removed to avoid damage to the finish. The parts and plating are in very nice shape, even the no-wire ABR-1 Bridge has only minor wear.
The frets appear original and have some light wear in the lower positions but retain good height and are quite playable. This guitar has NO neck, heel or body cracks (all common with these) and is super light and handy, a fine player and a fairly rare early 1960's Gibson-made solid-body. It resides in a later '70-80s hard case. Excellent - Condition.
One of the rarer and more interesting solid-bodies to come out of Kalamazoo in the early 1960's, the early Epiphone Wilshire is an often overlooked P-90 tone machine. From 1960 up through late the 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!
The cherry-finished double cutaway Wilshire was the equivalent of the SG Special in the Epiphone line, but in some ways is a more deluxe guitar. The Wilshire is one of the very few solid-bodies combining the 1960's P-90 sound with a Tune-O-Matic bridge and stop tailpiece (SG Specials use the non-tunable bar bridge), which gives the guitar especially good playing characteristics. The lack of a vibrato was probably considered an omission in 1961, but later generations of players usually prefer this solid "stop tail" configuration.
By the end of 1963, these Epiphone solid-bodies were re-designed in a more Fender-like mode. The original (and now much better loved) style with the 3-and-3 headstock and symmetrical double cutaway body were phased out into obscurity at that time. One sonic distinction of the Wilshire is that the neck pickup is mounted quite far back on the face of the guitar, resulting in a rather distinctive tone both by itself and when mixed with the bridge unit. This 1961 Wilshire is fairly rare, a lightweight P-90 delivery service with a wide mahogany neck that has the typical early '60s slimmer depth profile and handles perfectly.
Overall length is 37 3/4 in. (95.9 cm.), 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/4 in. (3.2 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 light wear overall but is an excellent player with a killer sound. The finish has a lot of fade to the face, the back and neck retain stronger color in the cherry finish. There is broad checking and small dings, chips and scrapes overall, but no really heavy wear. There are dings and chips to the headstock edges, a few lightly touched up as in nearly every older Gibson made guitar. The upper fingerboard by the body has a few odd random spots of clear lacquer, source unknown.
There is one small tight split repaired on the front body edge back from he jack, well sealed and inconspicuous. The original pickups and all wiring are intact and unaltered; interestingly enough the matched set of original pots are dated to the 50th week of 1957, so they sat in stock at Gibson some time before being installed. All hardware on the guitar is original except for the pickguard, which is an except repro. The original is included but has started to suffer Celluloid deterioration so was removed to avoid damage to the finish. The parts and plating are in very nice shape, even the no-wire ABR-1 Bridge has only minor wear.
The frets appear original and have some light wear in the lower positions but retain good height and are quite playable. This guitar has NO neck, heel or body cracks (all common with these) and is super light and handy, a fine player and a fairly rare early 1960's Gibson-made solid-body. It resides in a later '70-80s hard case. Excellent - Condition.