Epiphone Olympic 1978 - Natural - Figured Maple - 25.5" Scale - Vintage Hardcase - Made by Matsumoku in Japan MIJ

1978 Epiphone Olympic double cut in Natural finish - Figured maple top and back - 25.5" Scale - Deep German carve top - With vintage hard case - Made in the famous Matsumoku factory in Japan - MIJ

• Serial Number: 85020
• Body: 3 piece figured maple top on a 3 piece maple back (pancake style body)
• Neck: 3 piece maple (with headstock ears and no heel cap)
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Fretboard Radius: About 10"
• Fret Edge Binding: No
• Inlays: Mother of pearl dots
• Frets: 24 x Medium (0.8mm tall x 2.3mm wide)
• Nut Width: 43.1mm
• Width at 1st Fret: 43.0mm
• Width at 12th Fret: 50.3mm
• Thickness at 1st Fret: 19.6mm
• Thickness at 12th Fret: 21.5mm
• Nut: Bone
• Tuners: Original nickel Grover USA made PAT PEND tuners
• Bridge & Tailpiece: Non original Made in Germany Leo Quan "BADASS" wrap around bridge
• Pickups: Neck is the original Epiphone humbucker, bridge is replaced with same era Aria Alnico V humbucker - both are T-Top bobbins with Alnico magnets (should be the same pickup)
• Neck Pickup Resistance: 8.50K ohm
• Bridge Pickup Resistance: 7.84K ohm
• Pots: Original 500K ohm pots (no date codes) - original cap
• Strings: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 2221 10-46 strings - E Standard tuning
• Weight: 8.64lbs
• Non Original Parts: Bridge pickup, bridge, switch tip
• Case: Vintage rectangular hard case with cream plush interior
• Truss Rod: Works as expected with room in both directions

This is super cool and rarely seen 1978 Epiphone Olympic model in Natural finish, made in the famous Matsumoku factory in Japan.

This model features a double cut symmetrical body, deep German carves on the top of the body, a 3 piece maple set neck with 24 frets and 25.5" scale length (i.e. Fender scale length), wrap around bridge/tailpiece, 2 humbuckers, 1 volume, 1 tone, and a 3-way selector switch. This is a no nonsense guitar but at the same time is elegant and beautiful, with an incredible amount of sustain and fantastic tone on tap.

This particular guitar was made with some highly figured maple pieces. It is a pancake body, with 3 pieces on the top, and 3 pieces on the back - but the pieces selected have some really nicely figuring going on. This is some of the best figuring I have seen from Matsumoku. The top has more flame in it, while the back has lots of birds eye. Pictures don't do this one justice.

This one arrived to me with a non original bridge pickup, and what appeared to be a non original bridge.

This guitar was made by Matsumoku - the same factory that built the Aria Pro II models during this time. I had similar era Aria Pro II Alnico V bridge humbucker in my parts stash - which I think is the same model as the original Epiphone humbucker. Other than the Epiphone model using an engraved baseplate, they appear to be identical - black T -Top bobbins, rounded pole screws, alnico magnet, wood spacers, brass slotted screws on the baseplate, black rubber-like 2 conductor wire... They're nearly identical. So I installed that bridge pickup into this guitar.

The bridge that came installed when I received it didn't fit well. I had a vintage NOS Made in Germany chrome Leo Quan Badass bridge in my parts stash, that fits perfectly on this one. The studs are the ones that came with this guitar.

Other than those 2 items, and a new switch tip, everything else appears to be original, and this guitar is in good player grade condition. This one has definitely seen some rock 'n' roll - there are a lot of scratches and swirling, chips, dings, cracks, and dents all over the guitar. But with a natural finish, it hides them well, and overall, the guitar looks great for its age, and has a consistent patina and/or mojo.

These pickups are very much a T-Top clone. They are a little hotter than a typical PAF, with a little more bite and grit, and a little more output. They are likely Alnico V magnets (based on the name of the Aria humbucker). They sound fantastic and can handle every genre well, at full volume or with the volume rolled down. To me, the Matsumoku made T-Top humbuckers from this era are some of the best to have come from Japan. Epiphone, Aria, Burny, among others, used these pickups - all with different names, but likely the same ingredients.

When in the middle position - when both pickups are on - they are out of phase with each other, giving that famous "cocked wah" sound.

Pair these pickups with the 25.5" scale length, and you get a guitar that's a little brighter, little clearer, with a litter more string tension than the typical Gibson/Epiphone 24.75" scale length.

Tuning stays stable thanks to the original USA made Grover PAT PEND nickel tuners.

The neck on this Olympic is thin - it starts out at 19.6mm at the 1st fret, and works up to only 21.5mm at the 12th fret. It has a flat-ish "D" shape carve - with a 43.1mm nut width. It feels very similar to the Aria LS Les Paul models from this era.

The fretboard on this one is a really nicely grained light brown rosewood with a dark stripe running up the centre of the entire fretboard.

The fretboard has real mother of pearl dot inlays, with 24 medium frets. These frets measure 0.8mm wide and 2.3mm tall - this is one of the only guitars I have ever had from Japan with this size frets (so far).

The 24 original medium frets that have been played, but there is only minor play wear across the board, mainly on the lower 1-7 frets, and overall there is lots of life left in these frets, and this guitar plays well up and down the entire neck.

Like all the guitars I sell, I test, thoroughly clean, and setup my guitars completely before I list them. Anything that is missing, damaged, or non original is mentioned in the listing.

I setup all my Gibson style guitars to Gibson factory specs - including neck relief, action, pickup height, intonation, and tailpiece height. So this guitar will be ready to play out of the box (after you tune it up - I ship my guitars with the strings loosened).

Comes with what appears to be possibly the original non branded hard shell case with cream/grey plush interior. It's in usable condition, but it is vintage for sure - there is staining all over, and all of the hardware is corroded, tarnished and/or rusted, but all hinges and clasps are intact and working.

Overall, this is super cool vintage Epiphone model that plays and sounds great.

If you're looking for a vintage Japanese made guitar that is unique, you'll want to add this to your collection today.

CONDITION ------------

Overall it's in good player grade shape.

I've tried to capture all of the flaws in the photos and in the description.

The bridge pickup, bridge, and switch tip are not original.

Over the entire body of the guitar, top, back, sides, neck and headstock, there are dings, dents, scratches, cracks, chips, hazing, and swirling.

There is a large chip in the finish on the top of the body below the bridge, and some on the bottom edge of the body.

There is some darker staining on the maple in the upper cutout area, and a few other spots on the guitar.

There is some buckle rash type scratches on the back of the body.

There is an additional hole, likely from a relocated strap button, on the bottom side of the body.

The fretboard has a dent in it on the 16th fret, and small chips out of the side of the high E side of the board on the 10th and 13th frets, but they are smooth and do not interfere with playing.

The chrome and nickel hardware, bridge, tailpiece/tremolo, tuners, and screws all have some very slight form of corrosion, pitting, scratches, and rust, although not too much for the age, there is still lots of shine left, and they do have a consistent patina on them.

All of the black plastics have typical scratches and swirling on them.

All of the original Grover tuners work properly.

Around the strap buttons there's some strap marks/swirling.

The 24 medium frets have been played, mainly on the lower 1-7 frets, but overall there is lots of life left in the frets, and the guitar plays well up and down the entire neck.

The truss rod works as expected, with room in both directions.

There are no signs of a headstock or neck repair.

SHIPPING ------------  

Every shipment is expertly packed with great care and includes tracking, signature required on delivery, and full insurance coverage for both the purchase price and shipping.

Every guitar is fully wrapped in bubble wrap, in a cardboard box meant for guitars, with proper support inside. To reduce environmental impact, the packing material (paper, newsprint, gift wrap, bubble wrap, air packets, foam, carboard boxes and/or tube supports, etc...) used may be recycled.

Package dimensions are 118cm x 47cm x 17cm

Note: if you want an exact shipping quote, just send me a note with your postal/zip code, and I'll get a proper quote for your address. 

Note: If you're buying from outside of Canada, you as the Buyer may be required to pay import duties, tariffs, taxes and/or VAT upon delivery, depending on your location and the purchase price.

QUESTIONS ------------

Any questions? Want more photos or detailed shots? Measurements? Shoot me a message, and I'll be happy to answer them, or send more pics, or take any measurements you want/need.

Thanks for looking!