POST # 700 EBAY PRICE GUIDE : RARE 81 Gibson Epiphone Emperor Thinline MIJ ES Archtop

Thinline Epiphone from Epiphone, made in Japan.  Looks to have a few interesting features.  Construction wise a bit like the 335.  Scroll down to see how much it sold for. Here's the blurb from the seller.



You've heard it before because it's true -- in the 1970s, Japan reminded Gibson how to make quality guitars. Here's a really hard-to-find model with some of the most amazing features I've ever seen in one guitar...get this -- a Spruce-top, multi-bound thinline venetian-cutaway archtop with an ebony fretboard, set neck and a solid center block like an ES-335. It's got the desirable wide 1 11/16" nut and a long 25.5" scale length. Try finding another guitar with those features!




This model is extremely rare and was made for a short time in the late 70s and early 80s at the Matsumoku factory in Japan...this one is most likely an '81 as the serial number starts with a "1" and because its original purple-lined case is circa 1980. How does it play and sound? Absolutely amazing...it has the depth and clarity of an archtop with the bass and growl of a semi-hollowbody. Put another way, this beauty has major balls!



The guitar is in excellent condition with no repairs or modifications other than changed knobs (I'm happy to provide the original ugly witch-hat knobs instead). The gold hardware has minor tarnishing. The original Grover-style tuners hold tune perfectly. The guitar has been only lightly played and shows some minor fret wear but nothing that affects playing...action is very low and it does not fret out anywhere on the neck even when bending. The neck profile is awesome...one of the best I've played...nice round medium C-shape. Overall weight is just 8.51 lbs, extremely light for an archtop with a solid center block! The original purple-lined Gibson case is included. The serial number is listed on the back of the headstock but not on the label...not uncommon to see for this era. See http://www.matsumoku.org/models/serial_no.html for more info on serial numbers and production. Just to reiterate, you will not find another guitar that sounds and plays half as good as this one for the money...the features are absolutely incredible...the craftsmanship that went into this guitar is superb and I guarantee you will love this!



For shipping, everything will be packaged extremely well in a double-walled guitar box and insured in full. $60 Fedex insured to the lower 48 states -- internationally I ship USPS Express for $180. Canada, Alaska and Hawaii will be a $105 flat rate.



International bidders: please make sure the USPS size restrictions to your country have the 108 inches length plus girth maximum size limit -- I have blocked bidders from most countries to which I cannot ship.



 
RARE 81 Gibson Epiphone Emperor Thinline MIJ ES Archtop


Solid center block! Ebony fretboard! Matsumoku-made!!!



Item condition: --



Ended: Apr 15, 201123:00:24 PDT





Sold For: US $1,920.00