Found! A brace of Blonde Korean Epiphones

[jazzbow]

Oh my oh my, if you scratch around you'll eventually find gold!

I've recently relocated to the Liverpool area with a new job and in my spare time I travel to all the large market towns, eat pies, drink beer and search out their music stores for any gems.

There are a few chain stores in this area but thankfully there are quite a few single shop businesses where I would prefer to spend my money. But most important of all some unusual things turn up.

In one such trip to the market town of Wigan there is a shop called Symphony Music. # 01942 665834
There is a good cross section of instruments, technology and they cater for lessons too.

The shop is set up well with plenty of room in the electric instrument section. The stock is reasonably priced with trade-ins popping up. The staff are friendly and approachable which goes a long way IMO.

So ole' Jazzbow went scratching around.......

How about this!


Can you see them in the corner?

Here's some close ups.


A nice Broadway, *BRAND NEW*. Notice the styrofoam under the bridge.


Oooo! A nice Emperor Regent, *BRAND NEW*. This too has the styrofoam under the bridge.

Both of these guitars were new old stock from the distributor here in the UK about 18 months ago. All I can say is I'm glad every student guitarist want Strats, Teles and Les Pauls, old geezers like me get to find instruments like these and have a jolly old time playing them on a cold Saturday afternoon. So cold that Richard, the guitar salesman, made me a brew. Happy days!

And then there was this too..


An early 'Epiphone by Gibson' Shereton. This is used but in good condition with all the original bits.


The scratch plate has lost some colour but, crucially, still retains the 'E'. The gold has faded but adds to the 'vibe'.


Here's a close up of the headstock. Nice colouring to the inlay. It has a 5 ply laminate constructed neck and is super slick. And check out that price! Bargain!!
If you're in the market for an ES 335 type on a budget then this is it, what are you gawping at????

So if you're looking for nice new jazz box then they still have the Broadway, just tell them Roy sent you!

Oh, and the Emperor Regent has gone.......

[Max405]

Did you buy the Emperor Regent?

[jazzbow]

Oh yeah baby!

[Max405]

NICE!!
Congrats. I just bought one too. Not as nice as yours for sure. I just needed something that I wouldn't mind taking out without fear of it getting damaged, or, disappearing...

I am glad for you.

Great, Great, Great find!

Joe D

[jazzbow]

NICE!!
Congrats. I just bought one too. Not as nice as yours for sure. I just needed something that I wouldn't mind taking out without fear of it getting damaged, or, disappearing...

I am glad for you.

Great, Great, Great find!

Joe D

I've just dated to February 2012, made in the Unsung factory in Korea.

Here's the link to help you with yours.... Epiphone Serial Number Decoding - The Unofficial Epiphone Wiki

This makes for interesting reading too if you have a Chinese made Epiphone!

Qingdao - The Unofficial Epiphone Wiki

[cotatigirl]

Hey all,
Thanks so much for the pics! I don't believe I have ever seen a headstock that read "Epiphone by Gibson" and it has the tree of life.....extra cool!
Regards,
Jan

[mr quick]

Wow, that Gibson/Epi headstock is hideous! On my 1990 Sheraton, it only says Gibson on the truss rod cover.

[Archie]

Hey all,
Thanks so much for the pics! I don't believe I have ever seen a headstock that read "Epiphone by Gibson" and it has the tree of life.....extra cool!
Regards,
Jan

Usually the early ones had it and it was for a very limited time. They are considered collectable by those into this brand model.

[marshall]

Great find! Congratulations.

[bohemian46]

Excellent "score".

[jazzbow]

Let me know when the pie-eating is going to be lads, I'll jump on a train and come home to The 'Pool for that!

Might even bring a guitar...no, what am I talking about, I'll go to Wigan and buy one!!

I tell you what MT, the pie and pudding oop' 'ere is special mate, not as good as pie, mash & liquor tho'!

If you come up make sure you bring some trousers with elasticated waists!

ho ho

[Jabberwocky]

Roy of The Rovers in Liverpool. The Kop or Goodison Park?

[jazzbow]

Roy of The Rovers in Liverpool. The Kop or Goodison Park?

Ha, never let on mate!

I come from Islington in Nawf London. You were either Tottenham or Arsenal, Moved to Scotland, you were either Rangers or Celtic! Now I'm in the NW it's either City or United.....

So I always say......

Leyton Orient.

Then I go into a spiel on supporting the team where you were raised!

I prefer darts and snooker......

And pie.

[mangotango]

Ha, never let on mate!

I come from Islington in Nawf London. You were either Tottenham or Arsenal, Moved to Scotland, you were either Rangers or Celtic! Now I'm in the NW it's either City or United.....

So I always say......

Leyton Orient.

Then I go into a spiel on supporting the team where you were raised!

I prefer darts and snooker......

And pie.

WHAT?

You're not "in the the NW", you're on Merseyside. You're just Over The Water from ByfarthegreatesetteamtheWorldhaseverseen and also Everton, and yet you want to follow the exploits of a bunch of Mancs? Good grief man, do you want people to think that you're some kind of ......gloryhunter?

[jazzbow]

Good grief man, do you want people to think that you're some kind of ......gloryhunter?

I'm no glory hunter, growing up and living near Tottenham Hotspur I'm used to having no glory!

Besides a Leyton Orient season ticket for as little as £230 is better value than £710!

Last match win 3-0, that's one more than you! Pound for pound better value mate.......

Besides, Liverpool ain't in Essex.

Brentwood town FC season tickets start at £100! Think of the petrol money you'll save.

[OldGuitarPlayer]

Congrats on scoring the Emperor Regent! I bought a used one last month and it was made in 2005 at the Peerless factory in Korea. It's also in the natural finish. I love the neck on mine! If you can find one for a good price I'd say well done!

[ah.clem]

@Jazzbow - you're killing me! A new/old Regent and the possibility of chicken and mustard mash?!? Mind if I ask what the Regent went for (can't read the tag)? I'm off to Australia in a few days and the exchange rates are quite favorable... hoping to find a gem like you did. To be fair, the local pub does a fair job, but like most pubs in the US, it's more about the beer than the food. The pies are pretty nasty, even though the place is owned by two fellows from Liverpool. Perhaps a mum's recipe? <chuckle>

[mangotango]

I'm no glory hunter, growing up and living near Tottenham Hotspur I'm used to having no glory!

Besides a Leyton Orient season ticket for as little as £230 is better value than £710!

Last match win 3-0, that's one more than you! Pound for pound better value mate.......

Besides, Liverpool ain't in Essex.

Brentwood town FC season tickets start at £100! Think of the petrol money you'll save.

You're right, it isn't in Essex; I currently am, but like you, I've wandered. However, as regards the footy, I've stuck with what I was born and raised with......

I've been to watch Dagenham and Redbridge and Southend on occasions before today, but....you got to go where your loyalties lie.

So anyway, shouldn't you be watching the mighty Tranmere then, if you're on the Wirral?

[va3ux]

Wow, that Gibson/Epi headstock is hideous! On my 1990 Sheraton, it only says Gibson on the truss rod cover.

The "Epiphone By Gibson" appeared on Samick built guitars from 1986 - 1988.

[Broyale]

That headstock logo is hideous.
I like the Epiphone logo with the tree of life inlay on its own, no need to cram a Gibson logo on it as a consolation or quality assurance.

[jazzbow]

@Jazzbow - you're killing me! A new/old Regent and the possibility of chicken and mustard mash?!? Mind if I ask what the Regent went for (can't read the tag)?

Sure, £580/$896/€790. Compared to Guild AS150 and Gretsch G100ce it was a good price. I had considered the cheaper Gretsch New Yorker, Godin kingpin, Loar etc, but these are the shorter scale and I find I prefer the longer 25.5" scale. The Washburn J600 fits this bill and I had that in the back of my mind to try but the Emperor Regent came up and it was really comfortable in the hand. Even though it has the styrofoam under the bridge it still had a good acoustic tone.

It's got round wounds on but I shall change to flats when I have set it up.

I'm off to Australia in a few days and the exchange rates are quite favorable... hoping to find a gem like you did. To be fair, the local pub does a fair job, but like most pubs in the US, it's more about the beer than the food. The pies are pretty nasty, even though the place is owned by two fellows from Liverpool. Perhaps a mum's recipe? <chuckle>

Try some haggis if you can, never ask what it's made of though!

I'm sure you'll find some interesting things in music shops over in Aus. Have you heard of Maton guitars? the BB1200JH looks jazzy and the MS T Byrd is a semi-hollow Tele type with CC pickup!

But scratch around for a Maton Starline 4606. There's a limited edition of this 16" jazz box out there at the moment, but you might find an original at a flea market.

Good luck digger.

[jazzbow]

you got to go where your loyalties lie.

So anyway, shouldn't you be watching the mighty Tranmere then, if you're on the Wirral?

Well I'm slap bang in the middle of the Rugby league tri-angle so me local team is St Helens. Monday morning is always match day analysis in the brew room.

I still prefer darts and snooker. One of the few sports gifted to the human race where you can drink alcohol while playing!

[goldenwave77]

Oh my oh my, if you scratch around you'll eventually find gold!

I've recently relocated to the Liverpool area with a new job and in my spare time I travel to all the large market towns, eat pies, drink beer and search out their music stores for any gems.

There are a few chain stores in this area but thankfully there are quite a few single shop businesses where I would prefer to spend my money. But most important of all some unusual things turn up.

In one such trip to the market town of Wigan there is a shop called Symphony Music. # 01942 665834
There is a good cross section of instruments, technology and they cater for lessons too.

The shop is set up well with plenty of room in the electric instrument section. The stock is reasonably priced with trade-ins popping up. The staff are friendly and approachable which goes a long way IMO.

So ole' Jazzbow went scratching around.......

How about this!


Can you see them in the corner?

Here's some close ups.


A nice Broadway, *BRAND NEW*. Notice the styrofoam under the bridge.


Oooo! A nice Emperor Regent, *BRAND NEW*. This too has the styrofoam under the bridge.

Both of these guitars were new old stock from the distributor here in the UK about 18 months ago. All I can say is I'm glad every student guitarist want Strats, Teles and Les Pauls, old geezers like me get to find instruments like these and have a jolly old time playing them on a cold Saturday afternoon. So cold that Richard, the guitar salesman, made me a brew. Happy days!

And then there was this too..


An early 'Epiphone by Gibson' Shereton. This is used but in good condition with all the original bits.


The scratch plate has lost some colour but, crucially, still retains the 'E'. The gold has faded but adds to the 'vibe'.


Here's a close up of the headstock. Nice colouring to the inlay. It has a 5 ply laminate constructed neck and is super slick. And check out that price! Bargain!!
If you're in the market for an ES 335 type on a budget then this is it, what are you gawping at????

So if you're looking for nice new jazz box then they still have the Broadway, just tell them Roy sent you!

Oh, and the Emperor Regent has gone.......

I recently re-established contact with an old HS classmate who was the top female singer in my HS. The guy who directed these, Scott Rudin, has gone on to a career as probably the most successful movie producer/director in Hollywood in the last 30 yrs. He's done a ton of good stuff---most of them solidly a cut above a lot of the usual Hollywood drek.

Anyway, we got to talking. She went on to study opera at Manhattan School of Music but drifted into musical theater, which is really her first love, while doing other jobs to support herself. Anyway, it turns out, she is related to the "Sta-tha-pou-los" family, the original family of Epiphone fame. I mentioned guitars, and she seems to think there may be some old valuable Epi's that got passed off to non-playing guitar relatives. (I think I might pursue this---it kind of sounds like the plot to "Crossroads" ---and who knows, there may be a bushel of gold (or blonde pre-1967 guitars) at the end of the tunnel.)

[barrymclark]

OOOH! That Regent. Man... I came across a nice used Regent a couple of years ago for $500. I didn't jump on it. I was thinking about it... and I thought too long and it was gone. Oh well... it isn't like I don't have others but I did like playing that Regent.