Epiphone Crestwood Custom Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1964), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, white lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original grey hard shell case.
A cool and early example of the second version of Epiphone's "SG Standard" equivalent, the Crestwood custom. Up through 1963 these Epi solid bodies were all symmetrical-bodied double cutaways with a Gibson-style 3-on-3 headstock; for the 1964 model year the entire line was re-modeled into this more Fender-esque design. The headstock gained the distinctive single-sided profile collectors have nicknamed the "Batwing" and the body's treble side horn was shortened. The re-styled line was somewhat more successful, but the Epiphone solid bodies 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 mid-1964, and carries the solid white finish that was a catalog option but in practice is rather less common than the regular cherry stain. All hardware is nickel-plated and includes two patent # mini-humbucking pickups, ABR-1 Tune-o-matic bridge, and the long Epiphone Trem-O-Tone vibrato with a rosewood block insert.
As is common with the white-finished examples, this example has original small Les Paul Custom "fretless wonder" frets on the bound oval-inlaid rosewood fingerboard. The neck is chunkier than post-1965 examples and this rates as one of the nicest of this model we have ever seen. It includes the original shaped grey-tolex covered case, originally issued for the earlier version of the Crestwood but obviously still in stock when this one was sold! This is a very light, handy and hot-sounding guitar with a particularly snarly tone when cranked up.
Overall length is 39 1/8 in. (99.4 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
100% original with just some very small spots of finish wear, most noticeably one scratch on the top and some chips to the headstock edges. A truly beautiful example of this rare Kalamazoo Epiphone solid body. Excellent + Condition.
