1970s Epiphone Wilshire Vintage Electric Guitar Maple Set Neck Japan Matsumoku w/ Case

Up for sale, a 1970's Epiphone Wilshire in exceptional, 100% original condition and in perfect working order. Produced by the Matsumoku factory in Japan, this uncommon iteration of the Wilshire was only available for a few short years in the latter half of the 1970s. Retaining the original '60s-era Wilshire body shape, this guitar boasts all maple construction and a pair of full-size humbuckers resulting in a tonal range with plenty of note attack and power. With humbuckers that measure in the low 8k ohm range, this Wilshire has great top end articulation, retaining clarity while also having a touch of growl and a nice midrange character. The guitar weighs a modest 7lbs 13oz and has been professionally setup with 10-46 strings and comfortable action.

The maple neck has a slender C shaped profile with minimal shoulder and little perceptible increase in overall depth as you travel up the rosewood fretboard. The profile measures .815" deep at the 1st fret and .854" at the 12th. The original frets are intact on the bound rosewood fretboard and exhibit very little wear, playing cleanly in every register. The nut measures just shy of 1 5/8" in width, and the traditional elongated Epiphone headstock is fitted with a set of Schaller-style tuners with the "E" epsilon on the gear housings.

All of the electronics work as intended, with clean chrome hardware and all original plastic parts including a quartet of reflector cap knobs and the thick, back-painted lucite pickguard. Cosmetic wear is limited to just a few light finish scratches on the back. Overall, this is an exceedingly well-kept vintage Epiphone, professionally setup and produced in a rarely seen era of Epiphone Japanese production.

An ostensibly original form-fit Epiphone-branded hardshell case is included. The case has a bit of extra room beyond the rear strap button, but fits the Wilshire body shape very well at the waist and accommodates the long headstock perfectly.