Semi-old Epiphone

[Richard Monroe]

I have a dreadnought flat top I bought in 1980. a PR725S. Aside from some dings and one stable crack in the top, it has held up pretty well. It was made in Japan, obviously before Epiphone started sub-contracting out to Korea, and later China. The neck is a little thick, but the tone has deepened and grown richer over the 27 years I've owned it. I think I paid about $300 for it at a Mom and Pop music store in Binghamton, New York.

What surprises me is that I cannot find any info about this model on a google search, almost like it never existed. Nothing, even on vintage Epiphone sites. I'd be very interested in any site that could tell me its specs, and any clue about its current market value. I wouldn't be surprised if its value has gone down, as there doesn't seem to be much interest in Japanese-era Epiphones. It's a pretty good axe, though. Any clues? Thanks, Richie

[pohaku]

Yeah, not much out there. Here's the Blue Book excerpt FWIW. Appears to be the solid top version of the PR-725 (hence the "S" designation).

http://books.google.com/books?id=dn_...98eTSe4PFicJtc

[notCardio]

I've got a Japanese Epi Texan from about '72, a factory second no less, and they'll get it from me by prying it from my cold, dead hand!

I even thought about burying it with me, but that seems wasteful, like smashing a guitar or something.

Keep it, you know you love it.

[Richard Monroe]

Thanks, Pohaku!! It's not much, but it's something. I was right-the price ihas gone down marginally. The chance of my selling it for the blue book price is less than zero, if that's possible. As I said, it's a pretty good axe. I hope I live long enough to hear what my Taylor sounds like after 27 years of mellowing. In the meantime, the Epi is my camping guitar. It takes me about 2 days to re-aquaint myself with the neck, but the tone has grown to be outstanding. -Richie

[notCardio]

shouldn't it be your recording guitar, instead of your beater?

[up-fiddler]

know about yours but most Epis are very mic friendly. At least that has been my experience in working with the older (Like Pre 1990) models.

[guitar junkie]

Aint it great how some guitars just do that thing, where they sound awesome for no real good reason?!

I got a Yamaha FG335 that sounds real nice but is made out of plywood and cost $100 at GC... I think I would think twice about taking 10 times that for it, just because of the way it sounds.

[Richard Monroe]

Well, Cardio, I did record one track with it on my CD. For most recording work, however, my Taylor 710 is beyond outstanding, into the angelic range.-and I prefer the neck. What the hell? We are talking about the difference between a $300 guitar (even in 1980) and a $2500 guitar.
If I had made that Epi for what it was sold for, I'd be very proud of myself, but the Taylor is in a whole different ballpark. I can't bitch, though. I made a living with that Epi for 10 years or so.-Richie

[notCardio]

Originally Posted by guitar junkie

Aint it great how some guitars just do that thing, where they sound awesome for no real good reason?!

I got a Yamaha FG335 that sounds real nice but is made out of plywood and cost $100 at GC... I think I would think twice about taking 10 times that for it, just because of the way it sounds.

Hey GJ, did you ever sell that one acoustic of yours? That had a really fantastic neck. I wish I had the $ right now.

And Richie, don't you need more than one to record with? One brighter, one mellower? It gives some added depth to double-tracking. Unfortunately, my double-tracking has too much depth, as in, I can't play it the same way twice.

[pohaku]

I have an old Yamaha D-28 knockoff that plays a similar role in my life. Bought it new in 1986 or so. Since been supplanted by much better guitars, but it goes camping, gets lent to friends who need a guitar, and will probably be given to one of my daughters eventually. Certainly will never be sold.

[guitar junkie]

Still got the Walden for sale, though I have not pushed it hard enough.... Got anything to trade?

[notCardio]

Probably not anything in that league that I'd consider parting with.

Considering your style of music, I doubt you'd have much use for an electric sitar.

Got a Taylor Big Baby, but I probably shouldn't let that go either, plus yours is much better.

Everything I've got is bottom-feeder stuff, and most of it I want to keep anyway. I could put together a package of some junk, but you don't need any junk

When I get my PMs cleaned out, I'll PM you and we'll talk. I really did love that neck.

[pikingrin]

Totally going to hijack this one... That's a great link pohaku!

I have a 1967-68 Epiphone Cortez, sounds completely amazing, but the original owner didn't take care of it well enough... Well he left it in it's case, but apparently it was in the path of direct sunlight daily and somehow the fretboard got warped. The neck is "fine", it's not twisted, but the fretboard has this little spot right around the joint at the body where it does this little speed bump thing. Because of that, all of the frets past the 4th or 5th are pretty much dead. I got it looked at by a local shop that deals specifically with used/vintage gear and they informally appraised it at around $725. I don't care too much about the value, but I'd like to play it, which would be a $300 minimum for a fret job and to have the fingerboard planed. My concern is the value after the fret job. It would (hopefully) be playable after that, unless the luthier screws up, but would the value go down from having something like that done?

[pohaku]

Given that it's marginally playable now, I really doubt that the value would decrease by making it playable. I think the value would increase, although maybe not by the cost of having all the work done. Granted it won't be all original, but the value is compromised by it's current condition and you would have trouble selling it as most people won't buy a guitar that isn't playable, especially in that price bracket.

I have a 1966 Gibson B-25 (which I think is the comparable Gibson model) which needed a new bridge (the original ones were plastic and many eventually warped) and a new saddle (the original ones were adjustable but as long as the bridge was being changed I had bone saddle (nonadjustable) put in). It also needed to be refretted (which I did) and currently could use a new nut. It is my primary playing out acoustic guitar and I think the work was well worth it, even if it isn't quite so original. While these are technically "vintage" instruments and prices have increased, they aren't so rare or expensive that complete originality is required. Granted, it won't ever bring as much as if it was all original and in mint condition - but it wasn't in mint condition to begin with. I expect that the guitar is still worth more now than when I bought it.

Go get the work done and enjoy playing it.

[Flamin Lip]

Speaking of old beaters with little monetary value, I have had some older jap made, mid level Yamaha FG's come through my stable that were absolute tone monsters. Nice warm recording tone and ya dont feel guilty throwing it in the canoe on a camping trip.

[guitar junkie]

Originally Posted by notCardio

Probably not anything in that league that I'd consider parting with.

Considering your style of music, I doubt you'd have much use for an electric sitar.

Got a Taylor Big Baby, but I probably shouldn't let that go either, plus yours is much better.

Everything I've got is bottom-feeder stuff, and most of it I want to keep anyway. I could put together a package of some junk, but you don't need any junk

When I get my PMs cleaned out, I'll PM you and we'll talk. I really did love that neck.

You might be shocked to know that I would entertain offers of a Tele for that Walden, or maybe some rack gear.... or $275 cash

Ok back on topic!

I have a Lyon acoustic guitar, like they sell at Target.... It freakin rocks! I just sounds so clean and simple, like a basic acoustic guitar, while it has no really distinct "tone" it has a nice acoustic guitar vibe that fits into a lot of rhythm tracks very well...

[chazba]

Another pawnshop prize is the old offshore Epi's w/ removable necks....fender style. I gave one to my daughter about 15 years ago and she plays it regularly. Not a "tone monster" but very playable.


chazba

[pikingrin]

Originally Posted by pohaku

Go get the work done and enjoy playing it.

Yeah, I'm gonna get on that... I pulled it out and played what I could on the frets that aren't dead or buzzing, it feels so damn good compared to any of my electrics or acoustics. And the tone!!!

[notCardio]

Originally Posted by guitar junkie

You might be shocked to know that I would entertain offers of a Tele for that Walden, or maybe some rack gear.... or $275 cash

Ok back on topic!

I have a Lyon acoustic guitar, like they sell at Target.... It freakin rocks! I just sounds so clean and simple, like a basic acoustic guitar, while it has no really distinct "tone" it has a nice acoustic guitar vibe that fits into a lot of rhythm tracks very well...

The only 'rack gear' I have is a Crown DC-75A power amp, which doesn't seem like something you'd be in the market for.

I've got a Squire Tele, but I don't want to trade it. The neck is like buttah.

Hey! How about a Squire Vintage Modified fretless Jazz Bass? Or an electric sitar? Or a 16 channel Behringer mixer?

I didn't think so.