Epiphone SB-722 Olympic Single Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1967), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 001611, cherry lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original grey chipboard case.
The Olympic is the Epiphone brand equivalent to Gibson's Melody Maker, a budget-oriented but highly playable member of the Kalamazoo-made Epi fold. With physical and sonic characteristics slightly more Fender-like than most Gibson guitars the Olympic is a very comfortable, easy handling and surprisingly good sounding little guitar. This second-generation example features the standard Gibson dark cherry finish on an asymmetrical mahogany body and long slim neck, a Fender style single-line headstock and one single-coil Melody Maker pickup under a plastic cover at the bridge. It remains original except for a later Bigsby vibrato fitted in place of the original Maestro unit, not strictly correct but functionally a setup many players would prefer giving a brighter sound and more string tension over the bridge.
This guitar dates to 1967; the pots are dated to the middle of 1966. The (minimal) hardwater is chrome plated, the Kluson Deluxe tuners on the single-sided headstock are integral strip with plastic buttons. The neck is slimmer at the nut than earlier models but still has some meat to it compared to some. These asymmetrical-bodied Epiphone solids were phased in in late 1963, replacing the earlier more symmetrical design. The Olympic shared the same body as the higher end models after that point, with a top-mounted pickguard holding all the electrics to reduce the cost by limiting the routing required and speeding assembly.
Only 198 cherry-finished examples of this basic Epiphone model are recorded as having been shipped in 1967, way less than many would expect. This was a very small number for a budget guitar, especially when compared to the 1332 single pickup Melody Makers the Kalamazoo factory sent out the same year. While appointments are basic this is a neat and very functional 1960's Epiphone solidbody, cool looking, great playing as Gibson student instruments were designed to be. This one offers a surprisingly full and snarly tone from the light mahogany body and Melody Maker pickup, at least partially thanks to the Bigsby's string tension bar creating a much sharper string angle at the bridge than a stock model.
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm.) in depth at side. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 9/16 in. (40 mm.).
This is a slightly worn-in but still nice playing example of this rather unsung Epiphone rarity, played but not abused and dialed in for maximum fun. The finish shows some heavy checking and some flaking at the base of the body and neck pocket, souvenirs of time spent in the perpetually damp New Orleans region. Beyond this there is very little wear, just a few small dings, dents and scrapes. The cherry finish has faded very little and retains an excellent deep red hue overall.
The neck joint is very solid and there are no cracks or breaks on the instrument. It remains all original and complete except for the substitution of the Bigsby for the original Vibrola and one of the grub screws on the bridge. The frets have been crowned just a bit and the fingerboard shows hardly any wear. The guitar plays very well, an affordable and quite friendly vintage 1960s American guitar, housed in the original grey chipboard case. Overall Excellent - Condition.
