Gibson Custom Shop Epiphone 62 Wilshire Electric Guitar (with Case)

Erroneously referred to over the years as "budget models' and "poor-man's Gibsons," the Epiphone electric guitars manufactured at the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan, between 1959 and the early 1970s have long represented some of the greatest values around in quality American-made vintage instruments. That is, until the world discovered what a clever few guitarists had long understood - that these Epiphone electrics were not only a bargain, but also great playing and sounding guitars as well. That's when the values of these early Epiphones started to escalate on the vintage market.

From the time of its introduction, the solid-body Epiphone Wilshire has been a favorite "undiscovered classic" among those in the know, but the fact that so few Epiphone Wilshire Model SB-432 guitars were ever produced -- only 180 in 1962 -- combined with its unerring quality, playability and tonal versatility, has sent its value soaring from its humble introductory price of $210 to upwards of $5,000 to $12,000 on today's vintage market, depending upon year and condition.

Earlier this year, Epiphone debuted the 1962 Wilshire in Cherry as the first model in a new series of reissues known as the "Epiphone Historic Custom USA" collection. The limited 100-guitar run of Cherry Wilshires sold out so quickly that Epiphone decided to introduce a new White 1962 Wilshire, also available as a limited 100-guitar run. Made in Nashville, Tennessee in cooperation with Gibson Custom, these 1962 Epiphone Wilshires… read more combine impeccable attention to detail and historic accuracy. They are welcome additions to any serious guitar collection.

The Wilshire is Born

First released in 1960, the Wilshire featured two P-90 pickups, a three-on-a-side headstock, and a solid mahogany body and one-piece neck. It benefited, however, from Gibson's fully intonatable ABR-1 bridge and stop tailpiece, all in all offering a straightforward instrument with up-market features, at a relatively affordable price. All of these characteristics are represented with the utmost respect for detail and accuracy on the 1962 Epiphone Wilshire, including the recessed Epiphone headstock design, softly rounded body horns, and rounded early '60s neck profile. Sonically, the mahogany body and P-90 pickup combination offers a blend of sweet resonance and cutting, textured tone that helps this model excel at everything from blues to rock to grunge

Solid Wood and Solid Tone

A long-time sleeper of this Epiphone range, the solid-body Wilshire model represented amazing quality and value throughout the '60s. Originally intended as something of a rival to Fender's Stratocaster, offering similar upper-fret access and curvaceous body lines, the Wilshire actually provided similar features and tones to that of Gibson's own Les Paul Special, at a price closer to that of the more affordable Les Paul Junior.

The Wilshire Returns

With original examples virtually unobtainable today, the new 1962 Epiphone Wilshire offers a rare opportunity to acquire one of these seminal Epiphone electrics. This historic reissue includes an original style Epiphone hard case, a numbered Certificate of Authenticity in leatherette binder, vintage-style coiled guitar cord, commemorative picks, a commemorative T-shirt and a 1962-style thin leather strap. read less