1966 Epiphone FT-79 Texan (Gibson) Slope Dreadnought Guitar

Overview: This is about the cleanest '60s Texan I've seen through the shop, yet. It has plenty of weather-check and yellowing to its clearcoat but it's crack-free and arrived completely original. It has exactly the sound you'd want from a "long scale J-50" -- a big, woody voice with plenty of warmth and punch but without too much fussiness as regards overtones and ringing sustain. It looks gorgeous, too, with its block pearl inlays in the board, elongated headstock shape, and old-fashioned pickguard shape.

For those not in the know -- this period of Epiphone was made by Gibson right in their Kalamazoo factory and the guitars are essentially Gibson models with slight tweaks (this is basically a slope-shoulder J-50 but with a longer scale length and fancier trim). This particular one has a narrow nut width that may turn-off some players but I enjoy it as it lets me playing rock-and-roll-style, closed-position chords all night long without feeling it in my left hand.

Repairs included: I gave it a level/dress of the frets, replaced its original ceramic saddle with a properly-compensated, properly-radiused bone one (for the life of me, I don't understand why Gibson matched 10" radius boards with 16" radius saddles throughout the '60s), cleaned it up, and set it up. It's playing spot-on and is ready to go with plenty of adjustment room at the saddle for future action adjustments.

• Weight: 4 lbs 5 oz
• Scale length: 25 3/8"
• Nut width: 1 9/16"
• Neck shape: medium C/D
• Board radius: 10"
• Depth at first fret: 0.8"
• Depth at seventh fret: 0.91"
• Body width: 16"
• Body depth: 4 7/8"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid mahogany back, ply mahogany sides
• Bracing type: x
• Bridge: rosewood
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 54w-12 lights
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: wider/medium

Condition notes: The finish has weather-checking to the clearcoat throughout. There are smaller nicks, dings, and scratches here and there throughout the finish. The saddle is a replacement but looks very similar to the original ceramic saddle (though this one actually plays in tune). It is otherwise completely original.

It comes with: It has an older hard case.

Consignor tag: RTIN