1965 Epiphone FT-30 Caballero (Gibson LG-0) 00-Size Guitar

I've known this guitar for a long time, now. My friend Susie bought it from me after it was traded-in to me back in 2013. She's owned it the entire time since and it's remained stable in service as long as I've known it. I think I may have had to adjust the truss rod twice in that time. Not bad, huh?

Tonewise, these are pretty-much "country blues" guitars. They're midsy and woody and "thunky" in their own, wonderful, chunky way. Each string is pretty-well balanced with the next and as a strummer it gives a chimey, even sound that records beautifully (and easily). It's well-suited to fingerpicking, too, where the woodiness gives it a mellow but distinctive sound without much overtone clutter. In the video clip the strings are a little old which is, honestly, where I like strings to be on these old ladder-braced guys.

It's a Gibson-made Epiphone guitar -- made on the same Kalamazoo factory line as the Gibson LG-0 model which is identical to save for a different pickguard and headstock shape. Its original plastic bridge was replaced long before it came to me and it arrived with a set of replacement tuners as well.

At some point, we installed a K&K pickup with an endpin jack and moved the strap button from the endpin area to the heel. All it needed when it came back in here for resale this time around was a light level/dress to remove Susie's playwear and it was ready to go.

It has a narrow nut (1 9/16") and thinner neck profile so it's sort-of an ideal guitar for folks who barre-chord up and down the neck and/or have smaller hands. It's easy to get around on.

Repairs included: a fret level/dress, cleaning, setup, K&K pickup install (previously), and adjustments.

Weight: 4 lbs 3 oz

Scale length: 24 5/8"

Nut width: 1 9/16"

Neck shape: medium C

Board radius: 10"

Body width: 14 3/8"

Body depth: 4 1/2"

Top wood: solid mahogany

Back & sides wood: solid mahogany

Bracing type: ladder

Bridge: rosewood (ebonized)

Fretboard: rosewood

Neck wood: mahogany

Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 52w-11 at the moment

Truss rod: adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: medium height, jumbo width

Condition notes: the bridge is replaced (it originally had a plastic, bolt-on one) with a Martin-a-like rosewood bridge. Because it used to be "belly-up," there's "bridge shadow" in front of the new bridge. The tuners have been swapped for sealed, mini-Rotomatic-style Gotohs. It has a minor repaired center-seam separation on the lower-bout of the back. There's weather-check here and there throughout the finish. There are small scratches, nicks, and dings throughout the guitar. It has a K&K pickup installed with an endpin jack. The original endpin strap button was moved to the heel.

It comes with: sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: SM