Thanks,Jerry in Battle Lake, MNHey Jerry,There is that old proverb “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” but don’t let that stop you from finding your inner rock star again and learning to play yourself! Your Epiphone is a PR7E and comes from their long-running Presentation series of acoustic instruments—first introduced in the late 1970s. Let’s talk some Epiphone history.In 1957, Chicago Musical Instrument Co. (CMI), who, at the time, owned Gibson, bought Epiphone and merged operations with Gibson at their Kalamazoo factory. Both Gibson and Epiphone produced U.S.-built instruments throughout the rest of the 1950s and 1960s—some very similar and some unique to each brand. Today, instruments from Japan and Korea are generally regarded as some of the higher-quality imports, but that wasn’t necessarily the case back in the 1970s.As instrument manufacturers overseas became more prevalent, Gibson and Epiphone’s then-new owner ECL (later renamed Norlin) decided to outsource production of Epiphone instruments to Japan in the 1970s.
This drew a distinct line in the sand for the two brands, between beginner/intermediate (Epiphone) and advanced/professional (Gibson).Norlin then began moving production from Japan to Korea in the late 1970s, and by the mid-1980s, all Epiphones were built in Korea. (Today, instruments from Japan and Korea are generally regarded as some of the higher-quality imports, but that wasn’t necessarily the case back in the 1970s.) Beginning in 1997, Epiphone moved all its production to China and Indonesia.
While some special Epiphone runs have been produced in the U.S., most of their instruments are still either budget variations of their Gibson cousins or beginner/intermediate guitars that Gibson doesn’t produce.Epiphone’s line of guitars varied greatly through the ’70s, but the Presentation series of acoustics quickly became established in their catalog. Early PR models (PR 725, PR 735, PR 745, etc.) featured traditional-dreadnought body shapes with varying levels of wood and trim.After the acoustic-electric trend gained momentum in the ’80s, thinner-bodied acoustics designed to be amplified flourished.As acoustic-electric guitars became more popular in the 1980s, several manufacturers, such as Washburn and Epiphone, began producing thinner acoustics that were specifically designed to be amplified. The PR7E (along with its cousin, the PR-5E) falls into this camp. It’s a thin-body acoustic with onboard electronics and a sharp Venetian cutaway for upper-fretboard access. Introduced in the early 1990s, it featured a bird’s-eye-maple body, a mahogany neck, a 20-fret rosewood fretboard with diamond-shaped inlays, a rosewood bridge, gold hardware, a piezo bridge pickup, and an onboard 3-band EQ with mid sweep. It was available in natural, transparent black, orange sunburst, or heritage cherry sunburst, which is what your guitar is finished in. The PR-5E was very similar, but it had a mahogany back and sides, and a less elaborate, figured-maple top.
The PR7E was produced through 2002 and the PR-5E is still offered today with a street price of $350.There are quite a few of these guitars floating around in the used marketplace today, and a PR7E in excellent condition is worth between $275 and $325. The serial number tells us your guitar was built in 1993, which tells us it was built in Korea and helps with the value.You can certainly buy a beginner guitar for much less than that today, but the important thing to consider is that this guitar has a full 25 1/2' scale, so your son likely wouldn’t be able to wrap his arms around it. For now, I’d suggest you find him a 3/4- or even a 1/2-sized guitar to play around with, and when it’s time for him to graduate to a bigger/better model, your PR7E will fit the bill perfectly. This isn’t a treasure in terms of monetary value, but it’s a well-built beginner guitar and we all have to start somewhere. Maybe you could give it another shot and learn to play while your son does!
I went out today after work and came back home with this Epiphone Texan. I haven't owned an acoustic guitar in a few years, and finally I thought it was time to reconnect.Based on discussions with the seller and the serial number, I believe this guitar was made in 1997 at the Peerless factory in Korea.But there are a few features that make me wonder if it is some sort of limited run, based on the specs I could find from Epiphone and multiple other websites:1) The tuners are gold and made by Gotoh.
I can't find any Texan said to come with them stock, and the seller says they are original. He was the first and only owner.2) The top is solid spruce, which makes sense. But the back and sides are flamed. The sides may be mahogany (which is normal) or they may be maple. The back looks like maple to me. The sides are slightly porous and grainy, considerably less so than the mahogany neck, while the back does not show this characteristic at all. (The Peerless reissues are said to have mahogany backs and sides; I can't find any mention of flame or maple.)3) The neck is stunning.
It feels like some of the Elitist necks I have played on Casinos. It's a beautiful piece, hopefully the pictures will do it some justice.
The owner said he was confused as to the guitar's country of origin because of this as well. He didn't think it was Korean when he bought it at some small shop locally many years back. He told me he thinks it is Japanese, but as far as I know, only Elitist Texans were made in Japan, and this guitar has features that don't correspond to ones found on the Elitist model(s).4) The back of the headstock has what looks to be some kind of inlay with the word 'Texan' on it. It may or may not be aftermarket.
I am a newbee. A friend of mine gave me a Guitar Epiphone FT-79 AN Insp.by TEXAN as written in. I do not know much about Epiphone. Serial Number. I checked it online and resulted as Your guitar was made in China June 2011 Production Number: 0413. Epiphone is an American musical instrument manufacturer founded in 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulos, currently based in Nashville, Tennessee.In 1957, Epiphone, Inc. Was purchased by Gibson and relocated from New York to Kalamazoo, Michigan.Epiphone was Gibson's main rival in the archtop market prior to 1957. Aside from guitars, Epiphone also made double basses, banjos, and other string instruments.
![Texan Epiphone Serial Number Pre 1997 Texan Epiphone Serial Number Pre 1997](http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg259/SGLudwig/DSC00086.jpg)
The owner says it was original. I'm uncertain. It looks clean and professionally done and weird at the same time.That being said, there are a few problems that certainly made me think twice about the purchase:1) There is a long crack to the surface of the headstock.
I don't think it goes any deeper than the black veneer, so that's somewhat reassuring.2) Something on the bottom of the neck looks strange (last picture). I can't tell if this is normal or if the neck was broken and repaired at some point. Maybe someone can speak to this.Anyway, thanks for considering the lengthy description and commentary. I just had to post this one for discussion. For $185 out the door with a case, I couldn't pass it up! After a truss rod adjustment, this thing is a boomer.
It sounds huge!Pictures.