~1969 Epiphone FT-345
This Epiphone FT-345 looks virtually UNPLAYED, despite the fact that it was apparently made in Japan in about 1969. In 1958 Gibson acquired the Epiphone trademark and equipment and decided that Epiphone would be re-established as a first-rate guitar manufacturer, so that Gibson’s parent company, CMI, could offer a product comparable in every way to Gibson....Gibson was (in effect) competing with itself, selling virtually identical models of guitar. All were built at the Gibson plant in Kalamazoo to the same high standards, in many cases by the same designers and craftsmen, but with different labels and model numbers. While this situation only lasted until 1969, when most Epiphone production shifted abroad, the Epiphone guitars produced during and immediately after this period look and perform almost exactly like their Gibson counterparts, and are therefore highly prized.
This particular guitar was produced in Japan shortly after this Kalamazoo era, but still under the direct supervision of Gibson and before Epiphone changed to its “modern” bolt-on neck and so forth some time before 1971. The point of all this is that the DNA of this guitar is 98% Gibson; it looks great, plays and sounds great, and is a truly excellent instrument. It has a gorgeous spruce top; full body binding, top and back; and high gloss mahogany back, sides, and neck. The bound 14/20-fret rosewood fret board with pearl dot markers leads up to the blackface headstock with its pearl logo inlay and its vintage open tuners. The bridge is also rosewood, with black pegs.
Cosmetically, there are only a few minute dings and bruises, probably not visible in the pictures. Structurally, there are no flaws or issues at all: no cracks, flat top, solid bridge and neck joint, everything working together to produce a wonderfully balanced and resonant sound. The guitar has just been professionally set up at 3/32” at the 12th fret low E, but obviously you can adjust the action to suit your playing style.
The case is a good quality light weight black gig bag. While I suspect that you will want to invest in a hard shell case in the future, it offers adequate protection for the moment. Together, this guitar and gig bag are a dynamite outfit for players of any level at a price most players can afford.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have tried to describe and illustrate this guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. Its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy it.
Thank you for your interest in this cool guitar.
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.