1970s Epiphone (Matsumoku) EA-250 Hollowbody Electric Guitar

Right after Gibson flipped their US-made Epiphone line into an import-made line, these EA-250 models appeared. It looks a bit like an ES-335 (or Casino) at a glance but the construction is entirely different. It's got a hollowbody build with a centerblock and has a bolt-on, Fender-style neck. The pickups are cleaner, brighter-sounding humbuckers with some interesting "staple" polepieces for the second row, and a lot of these came standard with a Bigsby-style whammy.

Because they're red and they're cool, they have a bit of a cult following these days. I've actually had people asking me about if I've had them in the shop before which gets my guitar radar tingling.

Aside from the usual fretwork and setup-side work, this also got a support rod installed through the center of the body from the neckblock to endblock. Pictures are provided! This is because the neckblock on this guitar, like on oh-so-many '70s hollowbody electrics, was shifting-around with tension added. With the rod installed? Zero movement, better sustain, and good tuning stability. How about that? ...and it's an invisible add, too.

Now the guitar is playing spot-on and quick and is ready to go.

Repairs included: a fret level/dress, interior dowel/rod added, setup.

Body wood: ply maple

Bridge: aftermarket ABR-style adjustable

Fretboard: rosewood

Neck wood: maple

Pickups: 2x original humbuckers w/staple poles

Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast)
String gauges: 46w-10 lights

Neck shape: slim C/D

Board radius: ~12"

Truss rod: adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: medium

Scale length: 24 3/4"

Nut width: 1 5/8"

Body width: 15 5/8"

Body depth: 1 7/8" + arching

Weight: 6 lbs 11 oz

Condition notes: the bridge is a replacement. I've added an interior support rod to make the neckblock more rigid. There's a poor reglue job to the top/side seam of the upper-bout horn on the inside curve (it's no biggie). The whammy was missing its arm and so it's been strung up and over to keep it blocked. Otherwise the guitar is all-original and in good order with only light playwear/usewear throughout. Someone cut some extra grooves in the nut but they're not deep (or useful).