1990 Epiphone SQ-180 Everly Brothers Mini-Jumbo Guitar

Ya know, this is a pretty cool guitar. It's an all-ply box (what else do you expect from a '90s Epiphone?) but it's got an interesting feel, tone equal or better than your average '70s Yamaha of the same size (thanks for careful and lightweight x-bracing), and looks. Those giant double pickguards scream countrified, rockabilly, songster swagger.

The neck is also very peculiar because it's close to the specs of the mid-'60s J-180 "Everly Brothers" models that it's modeled-on -- with a quite narrow nut width and fast rear profile. This makes it a perfect "rock-n-roll" guitar for sliding barre chords or, not to put too fine a point on it -- folks with smaller hands. I love playing thumb-over sliding chords on it but find it awkward for fingerpicking or clean lead/melody playing.

It only needed a glorified setup from me and now that the work is done, it plays quick and easy and has been nice and stable in service. It's interesting that while the J-180 models these are based-on aped the much-more-legendary J-185 models of the '50s, this one has a narrower (000-size) lower bout width and is a little shallower at the endpin. It still has all of those luscious, Gibson-esque curves, though.

Repairs included: fret level/dress, mild cleaning, setup.

Made by: Epiphone

Model: SQ-180 "Everly Brothers"

Made in: Korea

Serial number: 2090076

Top wood: ply spruce

Back & sides wood: ply mahogany

Bracing type: x

Bridge: rosewood

Fretboard: rosewood

Neck wood: unknown

Tone: balanced, clean, woody, good mids

Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 54w-12 lights

Neck shape: slim C-shape

Board radius: ~12"

Truss rod: adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: medium

Scale length: 24 3/4"

Nut width: 1 9/16"

Body length: 20 1/4"

Body width: 15 5/8"

Body depth: 4 1/2"

Weight: 4 lb 11 oz

Condition notes: it's pretty clean throughout, though there's general usewear all over in minor amounts. The pickguard shows pickwear but it's not obvious. There's mild discoloration/milkiness of the finish on the back but it's also not obvious at all. It's in good order, plays the biz, and is ready to go. This arrived with a really, really cheap soundhole magnetic pickup installed with an endpin jack. I removed it and the jack, plugged the endpin, and then fit a strap button and washer in the jack's place.