Epiphone Historic Custom USA Wilshire 1962 Reissue Electric Guitar

Epiphone has introduced the Epiphone Historic Custom USA collection. The first in the series of reissues is the 1962 Wilshire in Cherry. Made in Nashville, Tennessee in cooperation with the Gibson Custom Shop and limited to only 100 instruments worldwide, it combines impeccable attention to detail and historic accuracy. In 1957 in an effort to bolster their stand up bass business Gibson purchased their arch rival the Epiphone Guitar Company and moved production to Kalamazoo, Michigan. With plans to expand retail distribution by differentiating Epiphone dealers from Gibson dealers, Gibson began production of a new line of "Kalamazoo-made and designed" Epiphones in 1959.

One such Epiphone instrument was the Wilshire. First released in 1960 the Wilshire featured two P90 pickups, a 3 on a side headstock and a solid mahogany body and one piece neck. It is little surprise given its Kalamazoo origins that this guitar would share many features with its Gibson cousin the Les Paul Jr. However unlike the Les Paul Jr. the 62 Epiphone Wilshire provided two P90 pickups, an intonatable bridge, and a double cutaway body that allowed full fretboard acess. This arrangement offered an extremely functional and versatile alternative. The Wilshire also features the original 1960's rounded neck profile, Vintage Kluson with plastic buttons. Includes original style hard case, numbered certificate of authenticity in leatherette binder, vintage-style coiled guitar cord, commemorative picks, commemorative t-shirt,and a 1962-style thin leather strap.

For over a decade from 1959 through early 1970 Epiphone solid body guitars and basses were produced in limited numbers right along side some of the greatest Gibson's of all time. These Epiphone guitars represented some of the highest quality and best sounding instruments of their generation. They provided unique shapes, pickup arrangements, and tonal signatures not seen on comparable Gibson models of the day. Under appreciated at the time of their release numerous artists through the years have recognized the unique appeal of these guitars. Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Paul Gilbert and Steve Marriot are but a few of the artist that have embraced the tone and build quality of these Kalamazoo built Epiphone solid body instruments.

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