Epiphone FT-79NT Texan Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1969), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 541165, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck; spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, original black chipboard case.
The "Guitar of Yesterday" the Epiphone Texan will forever be remembered as Paul McCartney's 1960's instrument of choice for writing, recording and performing that particular tune, and many others besides. The FT-79 Texan is the 1960's Epi-logo version of the Gibson J-50 but with a longer 25 1/2" scale, which gives it a tighter, more powerful sound. The Texan was produced through the 1960's and was a very popular guitar, one of the Gibson-made epiphone line's success stories.
This particular Texan was built several years later than the actual Beatle guitar. The main differences are a thinner neck at the nut (in common with all late '60's Kalamazoo production) and a screwed-on pickguard without the "E" Epsilon logo. The Epiphone name is inlaid in pearl on the headstock, the fingerboard has pearl trapezoid block fingerboard inlay and the rosewood bridge is equipped with an adjustable plastic saddle in a metal cradle. This is a surprizingly good sounding guitar for this period; many Gibson flat top guitars from the late 1960's are disappointing compared to their bretheren frem earlier in the decade but this one has a very pleasing tone.
Overall length is 42 1/4 in. (107.3 cm.), 16 1/8 in. (41 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/4 in. (641 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.). This guitar appears virtially unplayed, with only the most minor handling wear and a couple of small dings keeping it from garnering a "near mint' condition rating. All original finish and hardware, no alterations or repairs. It is still strung with what appear to be period (possibly original) strings-we would normally change them but actually we like the dark, mellow sound of these! An excellent player and great value in a 1960's flat top, with the original SSC. Excellent + Condition.
