In celebration of the 150th anniversary of Epiphone, the final round of Gibson Certified Vintage rare offerings for 2023 include a 1961 Epiphone E230TD Casino, 1961 Epiphone Coronet, 1962 Epiphone FT-79N Texan, 1967 Epiphone EB-232 Rivoli Bass, and a 1969 Epiphone FT-110 Frontier.
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This curated batch of vintage Epiphone instruments includes some of the most iconic and storied models in the company’s history; models which, over the decades, have found favor with legendary artists such as Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Noel Gallagher, and many others.
The Epiphone Casino and Texan, in particular, are some of the most-heard guitars in the history of popular music, and no collection of iconic vintage guitars would be complete without one of each.
The stellar quintet is rounded out with the raucous solidbody attitude of the Coronet, the beautiful Western motifs of the Frontier, and the low-end authority of the Rivoli Bass. Classics all, available to own via the Gibson Certified Vintage program.
The Gibson Les Paul Standard is quite simply the most iconic guitar ever built, and Gibson Certified Vintage has one rare Gibson 1960 Les Paul Standard guitar in Cherry Sunburst finish.
Beloved and nicknamed “Sunny†by Kirk Hammett, guitarist of Metallica, this vintage Gibson instrument was made and shipped in the year 1960, with serial number #0 1490.
The guitar was sold by its original owner’s widow to a prominent collector in the 1980s and was famously photographed and featured in the legendary 1996 book on vintage Les Paul Standards titled The Beauty of the Burst.
Eventually, the guitar changed hands and was bought by Hammett, who used it extensively until 2022.
“Sunny†features transitional specifications, with 1959 parts and cosmetics joined by a typical 1960 SlimTaper neck profile, a desert island combination for many players.
The maple top’s extensive side-to-side figuring is a rare and desirable trait that significantly increases its value compared to more plain vintage examples, while the original Cherry Sunburst finish retains a rich red color around the perimeter.
With original fret wire and no major modifications, this guitar is presented in the kind of condition collectors dream of.
The names associated with the Epiphone Casino are a who’s who of iconic players, from Howlin’ Wolf, Keith Richards, and some cats from Liverpool called The Beatles to modern luminaries like Noel Gallagher, Josh Homme, and Gary Clark, Jr. A true hollow body, the Casino’s light weight and timeless signature chime is unmistakable.
This 1961 E230TD Casino comes from the first year of production and is a true original with the “Bikini Badge†headstock plaque, unique to 1961 production.
It features all of the Casino’s earliest appointments, including black P-90 covers, a single-ply tortoise pickguard, and dot inlays. This Casino is in excellent overall condition, showing only light play wear and lacquer checking throughout.
There are no modifications, and the guitar was never drilled for a second strap button. Its original case is lost to time, so it includes a highly protective SKB hardshell case.
Although the Coronet was introduced by Epiphone in 1959 as a reliable entry-level instrument, it wasn’t long before influential players across generations, including Steve Marriott, Johnny Marr, Del Shannon, and Ace Frehley sought out its signature Cherry finish, double-cut accessibility, and P-90-driven tone.
This instrument is in all-original condition with some light bumps and dings throughout. The top bass side of the pickguard has cracked at the screw hole, and the original Cherry finish has begun to fade on the top and the back of the neck.
There are no modifications to this 1961 Coronet, and since its original case has been lost to time, it ships with a modern EpiLite case.
Nearly everyone can instantly recall the sound of the opening chords to The Beatles’ “Yesterday,†and that is the sound of the Epiphone Texan. This beloved slope-shoulder dreadnought acoustic has also been played by Graham Nash, Noel Gallagher, Ben Gibbard, and Peter Frampton, among others--a testament to its sonic pedigree.
This 1962 model comes from the Gibson Vault in all-original, excellent condition with a Natural finish and slight playwear throughout. It features the earlier, short, Kalamazoo-style headstock and was never drilled for a second strap button.
Any collector will love the included original hang tags and original gray hardshell case with blue interior.
There are no modifications to this instrument.
Made on the same production line, the semi-hollow EB-232 Rivoli served as Epiphone’s version of the Gibson EB-2 Bass and features the same specs as its counterpart with some minor aesthetic changes.
The Rivoli came loaded with a Gibson Sidewinder pickup that puts out a whopping 32k ohms and a push-button “baritone†switch that cuts some of the bass frequencies.
Discovered in the Gibson Vault, this 1967 EB-232 Rivoli is in very good overall condition. There is a slight warp on the pickguard and small dings and lacquer checking throughout.
There are no modifications to this instrument, and it ships with its original gray hardshell case with blue interior.
The FT-110 has a long history with Epiphone, dating back to 1939. After Gibson President Ted McCarty purchased Epiphone in 1957, it was resurrected in 1958 as the square-shoulder FT-110 Frontier. As its namesake would imply, it became a place for sonic and design exploration throughout the 1960s.
Its dreadnought body and rope-and-cactus pickguard served as inspiration for the Gibson Hummingbird and Dove.
Over the course of its initial run, which ended in 1970, the Frontier evolved with an adjustable-saddle bridge, narrower nut width, and longer headstock.
This particular 1969 Frontier comes from the Gibson Garage Vault in all-original, excellent condition with a Sunburst finish and light play wear and lacquer checking.
It features the iconic rope-and-cactus pickguard, and the only modification is the addition of a second strap button at the heel. It includes its original black chipboard case with red interior. ■