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Description

Gibson introduced the B-25-12 in 1962 as a kind of junior partner to the dreadnought B-45-12 (introduced in 1961), with the same solid spruce top with X-bracing, and solid mahogany back, sides, and neck. It had full body binding, a simple one-stripe rosette, a rosewood bridge, a rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, a blackface headstock with a screened or decal logo and six-on-a-plate nickel tuners, and a tortoise pickguard. Its smaller dimensions (14 1/8” lower bout, with a 24 ¾” scale) made it easy to play and carry in the folk scene, and also enabled Gibson to use a single piece mahogany back with no center seam.

In 1963 Gibson introduced a rosewood strings-through bridge with no pins, superseded in 1965 with a conventional reverse-belly bridge and an added trapeze tailpiece. This smaller-format 12-string was a great success.

However, in 1958 Gibson also acquired the Epiphone trademark and equipment, lock, stock, and barrel, and as the Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars says, “It was 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 was shifted abroad, the Epiphone guitars produced during this period look and perform almost exactly like their Gibson counterparts, and are therefore highly prized by players and collectors alike.

The Kalamazoo era is when this particular guitar was made: the label designates it as an Epiphone FT-85 Serenader, but it is the spitting image of the Gibson B-25-12 described above, including the briefly used strings-through bridge design. The serial number (405550) suggests that in the somewhat unreliable Gibson/Epiphone “system” it was produced in 1966, but given the bridge I suspect it actually dates from 1965, if it matters. It has the tortoise pickguard which the Blue Book says was introduced with no logo in 1961, and the adjustable saddle, which the Blue Book says was introduced for this model in 1963. Regardless, you can tell at a glance—as well as with a chord or two—that the DNA of this guitar is 98% Gibson; it looks like a B-25-12, plays and sounds like a B-25-12, and is a truly cool little instrument—to me, much cooler than its Gibson step-brother.

I hope that you’re still with me—perhaps thinking that if it’s really like a 1966 Gibson, this thing’s worth serious consideration, and you’re right. The aged and seasoned woods are thoroughly opened up, and it sounds great, stronger than my larger Guild D-25-12, for example. Structurally, it is in very good condition, and the action has been set up at a very comfortable level (a hair over 3/32” at the 12th fret low E—specs for a 12-string). Note: I measured the action with the nasty old strings on it, cut them off, and discovered that I had no light 12-string sets. I will deduct $20 from the final bid so you can buy your favorites. The 6-on-a-strip tuners work fine and are probably the originals, since they are vintage Kluson Deluxes.

Cosmetically, it is also in very “authentic” shape: the original binding and tortoise pick guard look great, and the headstock has only the corner dings expected after almost fifty years. As I hope the pictures indicate, the finish is the same story, with only some finish crazing all over, plus a few dings and bruises. It is a remarkable example of 1960s American guitar-making at its best, and if crazing indeed “lets the sound out,” as my luthier says, then I guess that explains the unexpectedly big sound this little classic produces!

The case is an excellent hard shell case which happens to fit the unusual small body and extended 12-string headstock perfectly. It is in very good shape, inside and out, with all hardware working and a soft silver plush interior. It affords excellent protection for this quality vintage instrument.

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; cashiers and personal checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.

I have tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this vintage guitar, so 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 buying.

Good luck!

ALUMPSTER'S GUITARS

ALUMPSTER'S GUITARS

1966
Gibson/Epiphone
Very Good
Hard
9 Years
ALUMPSTER'S GUITARS
ARTHUR H LUMPKIN
803-731-0515
Online Only
7:50 AM
24/7 by e-mail: akmgj@bellsouth.net. I'm old; I don't sleep much.

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.