0ld epiphone hollow body

[born2push]

HI,can anyone help me with info on a 1961 epiphone zephyr hollow body, looks all origonal.looks like a sunburst finish, dark wood on back and sides. has a heavy tone.

[dchristo]

what info are you looking for ?

[The Old Gaffer]

Yes! That is exactly right.

[born2push]

Bought this guitar while on vacation.I was wanting to verify year.serial no points to 1961,but headstock logo (bikini style) pionts to pre 1961. Also has pat number pic ups.
Just trying to verify the year, the pick ups, and the woods used in construction. Thanks.
Just got back from vacation.

[Steve DeRosa]

A couple things:

1] When Gibson acquired Epiphone in 1958, a substantial stock of leftover NY/Philly parts and guitars-in-progress came as part of the deal - they continued to use the metal (what you call "bikini") New York headplate on several lower-end models (including the first-run Casino) into mid-1962;

2] If the pickups are original with patent numbers, they too could be leftover New York parts (if so, they should resemble the post-1962 Epiphone mini-buckers, with the exception of the yellow plastic endcaps) - don't forget that Epi was responsible for a number of design innovations of their own (genuine Epi pickups were single-coils - plug in and see if they have the characteristic hum);

3] Although Epiphone's quality had hit rock bottom by 1956, some of the more salvageable late New York/Philly production (including at least one non-cut Emperor with a '40s body and a Kalamazoo Gibson neck) was completed by Gibson, stamped with Gibson serial numbers, and sold into early 1962 - if the body curvature and/or cutaway depth are more pronounced than contemporary Gibsons, you've got one of these;

Sorry I can't provide more info without some photos - hope this helps...

[born2push]

Thanks, I sure like this guitar. I saw a 64 gibson 335 on ebay [bid was at 9200] and it showed pat pickups with same pat no. as mine. Also my quitar has serial no stamped on back of head stock. How do I upload photos?

[born2push]

Thanks, I sure like this guitar. I saw a 64 gibson 335 on ebay [bid was at 9200] and it showed pat pickups with same pat no. as mine. Also my quitar has serial no stamped on back of head stock. How do I upload photos?

[born2push]

I ran serial no as gibson, and epiphone.They both showed 1961