I've mentioned before that I got an Epiphone HR. It was the equivalent of the Artist model with a carved spruce top and gold hardware. My best guess is that a Gibson employee got it and flipped it, which often happened. It was beautiful and a fabulous player. The feedback was hard to control.
I know have a Gibson HR Artist. It may be the laminate build, but the feedback is easier to manage. I had to replace the midrange pot, which had become non-functional.
Acoustically, the carved top did sound better. Amplified, I have no complaint with the Gibson.
The Kalamazoo Epiphone HR had masterful craftsmanship. It also, as I recall, has a 24.5" scale and a different pickup than the Gibson.
Howard shifted to the Fusion series. I don't know why. It could be that archtop sales were down. It could be that the Fusion was more practical due to greater amplification and tonal capabilities. Anyway, he dumped his original design. In his practical work he used a different highly customized Gibson anyway.
There are three instruments I regret letting go of back in the 1970s. The first is the Epiphone HR, a huge mistake. The second is my ES-345, only because I put so much time into that guitar, and the last is a 1920s L-5, which I did not like anyway because of the massive neck but would be worth a lot now.
This is my HR. It has been played so much it is refretted. The gassed out pickguard was replaced. There is a new pot in it (which was hassle to find). I don't know if it is the same one Howard is holding in this photo.
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Originally Posted by hidesert
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