The 2019 Masterbilt Excellente honors Epiphone’s most iconic acoustic guitars from the 1960s and are built with old-world Masterbilt techniques. The Masterbilt Excellente is a historically accurate recreation of the extremely rare square shouldered dreadnought that became a trademark for Country superstar Loretta Lynn. The Excellente features a Solid Sitka Spruce top and Ovangkol body, an Ebony fingerboard with historic “Cloud” inlays, and plugs in with the state-of-the-art Fishman Sonitone Onboard Preamp System for true acoustic tone you can take anywhere. Available in an Antique Natural Aged finish.

The Masterbilt Story:
First released in June 1931, the original Epiphone Masterbilt guitars were overseen by founder Epi Stathopoulo who was quoted in the Epiphone catalog: "The possessor of an EPIPHONE instrument has the assurance that every possible precaution has been taken to build instruments for lifetime performance and pleasure." And today, we still stand by that promise!

Masterbilt Excellente: The Honky Tonk Queen of Guitars:
The Masterbilt Excellente debuted in 1963 and with only 139 made between 1963 and 1969, is perhaps modern Epiphone’s most rare guitar. Despite its low production numbers, the Excellente became iconic as the trademark acoustic for country music legends Loretta Lynn and her mentor Ernest Tubb, one of the first stars of the Grand Ole Opry. Jack White also used Loretta’s Excellente in the making of her GRAMMY winning album, Van Lear Rose.

The Excellente is made from all solid wood construction and features a Solid Sitka Spruce top with black and white binding and Ovangkol back and sides. The top is set off with a beautiful recreation of the original Excellente pickguard. The Maple neck has a Walnut and Maple center stripe and is hand-set with a tapered dovetail joint at the 14th fret. The Excellente neck has a 1960s era “C” profile, an Ebony fingerboard with “Cloud” inlays, a 25.5” scale, 20 medium jumbo frets, 12” radius, and a 1.68” bone nut. The headstock has a unique Excellente style “dovewing” profile, the only one of its kind, and features the Epiphone logo in Mother of Pearl with white binding.

Fishman Sonitone Onboard Preamp System:
The Masterbilt Excellente features the new state-of-the-art Fishman Sonitone Onboard Preamp System for true acoustic tone when plugged into an acoustic amp or PA system. The preamp is soundhole-mounted and includes easy-access rotary controls for volume and tone. The system is powered by a standard 9-volt battery.

Solid Epiphone Hardware:
Like all Masterbilts, the Masterbilt Excellente features superior hardware including gold hardware and a traditional reverse belly Ebony bridge with a bone saddle. Tuning is fast and accurate with gold Kluson Waffleback Vintage tuners with metal buttons and a 15:1 tuning ratio. A hard case is available through your Authorized Epiphone Dealer.

Lifetime Warranty:
All Masterbilt instruments come with Epiphone’s Limited Lifetime Guarantee and Gibson Brands 365/24/7 Customer Service. See your Authorized Epiphone Dealer today and discover the Masterbilt Excellente and all of the Masterbilt acoustic/electric guitars.

Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Back: Ovangkol
Sides: Ovangkol
Finish: Aged Gloss
Binding: Black/White 7-ply
Back Binding: Black/White 4-ply
Fingerboard: 1-ply White
Pickguard: 60’s style Excellente graphics
Neck: Maple with 5pc Walnut and Maple center stripe
Neck Joint: Tapered Dovetail
Neck Profile: Traditional 1960s SlimTaper C-profile
Truss Rod Cover: 2-ply notched bullet with E logo
Fingerboard: Ebony
Fingerboard Inlay: Excellente Clouds, Mother of Pearl
Frets: 20
Nut: 1.68” Bone
Scale: 25.5”
Radius: 12”
Headstock: Excellente style Dovewing, Epiphone in Mother of Pearl, 1-ply white binding
Pickup: Fishman Sonicore
Electronics: Fishman Sonitone
Battery: 9-Volt
Bridge: Ebony Reverse Belly
Saddle: Bone
Hardware: Gold (Nickel)
Soundhole Label: 60s vintage “Blue Rectangle”
Machine Heads: Gold Kluson Waffleback Vintage tuners with metal buttons 15:1
Color: Antique Natural Aged