Wonderful Epiphone FT-79 Texan from 1963 just in from the son of the original owner. The guitar has had some miles put on it but has been obviously cherished and well looked after. The Texan is possibly the best known of all Epiphone acoustic guitars, thanks largely to Paul McCartney use of a 1964 model with the Beatles. Featuring a Sunburst finished Spruce top, the slope shoulder Dreadnought has Mahogany back and sides with a Rosewood fingerboard.
Made in the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the Texan shares many similarities and parallels in it construction with its Parsons St stable mate, the Gibson J-45. The key exception being the Texans scale length of 25 1/2" opposed to the 24 3/4” scale of the J-45. Cosmetically the guitar is pure Epiphone with the famous elongated headstock with Pearl script Epiphone logo inlay and tight, perimeter defined Sunburst. The finish its self in excellent condition, there are the usual expected signs of use and a degree of lacquer checking throughout and even a few area of charming DIY touch up to the lower edge of the top. All giving the guitar the appeal of a well loved appeal of and gracefully aged instrument. The top is free from cracks as are the back and sides. There is evidence of a well executed previous neck reset and the fingerboard has been refretted and a new nut fitted. The pickguard still proudly displays the Epiphone Epsilon. The guitar has a Gibson designed plastic bridge with adjustable ceramic saddle. The action is currently set at 3/32” at the 12 fret with decent adjustability at the saddle. The guitar plays very well, strung with 12 gauge strings there is a comfortable action. The nut width is a transitional 1 10/16th”. The tuners are the original ‘Single line’ Kluson Deluxe with plastic buttons.
Tonally this Epiphone Texan sits somewhere between a period Gibson J-45 and a square shoulder Gibson dreadnought. There is a slightly less mid-focused drive than a J-45 but with a fuller sound than a Hummingbird or Dove. The longer scale length helps give the Texan a more focused sound with good low end clarity that suits a wide range of styles.
The guitar comes with the photographed hard shell case.
Made in the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the Texan shares many similarities and parallels in it construction with its Parsons St stable mate, the Gibson J-45. The key exception being the Texans scale length of 25 1/2" opposed to the 24 3/4” scale of the J-45. Cosmetically the guitar is pure Epiphone with the famous elongated headstock with Pearl script Epiphone logo inlay and tight, perimeter defined Sunburst. The finish its self in excellent condition, there are the usual expected signs of use and a degree of lacquer checking throughout and even a few area of charming DIY touch up to the lower edge of the top. All giving the guitar the appeal of a well loved appeal of and gracefully aged instrument. The top is free from cracks as are the back and sides. There is evidence of a well executed previous neck reset and the fingerboard has been refretted and a new nut fitted. The pickguard still proudly displays the Epiphone Epsilon. The guitar has a Gibson designed plastic bridge with adjustable ceramic saddle. The action is currently set at 3/32” at the 12 fret with decent adjustability at the saddle. The guitar plays very well, strung with 12 gauge strings there is a comfortable action. The nut width is a transitional 1 10/16th”. The tuners are the original ‘Single line’ Kluson Deluxe with plastic buttons.
Tonally this Epiphone Texan sits somewhere between a period Gibson J-45 and a square shoulder Gibson dreadnought. There is a slightly less mid-focused drive than a J-45 but with a fuller sound than a Hummingbird or Dove. The longer scale length helps give the Texan a more focused sound with good low end clarity that suits a wide range of styles.
The guitar comes with the photographed hard shell case.