1965 Epiphone FT85 Serenader 12-String Acoustic

Epiphone F585 Serenader 12-String 1965 full front view

Comments

The Epiphone name was first used on guitars in 1928 by Epaminodas Stathopoulo, but his father Anastasios Stathopoulo had been building instruments since 1873, starting in what is now Smyrna, Turkey. They moved to the United States in 1903. Epiphone focused on high quality archtops, and their instruments were very prominent; one of their main competitors was Gibson. However, following Epi’s death in 1943, control of the company went to his brothers and by 1957 the company had gone through many troubles, moved from New York to Philadelphia, and finally was sold to Gibson, who maintain the brand to this day.

Much of the Epiphone guitar production from this point essentially copied Gibson models and were often made in the same building. For example, the Epiphone Casino (used by John Lennon) was very similar to the Gibson ES-330.

Here is a 1965 Epiphone FT85 Serenader 12-String Acoustic, built in the Kalamazoo, Michigan Gibson plant. The FT85 is very similar to the Gibson B-25-12-N, and is based on the LG body style. it’s in good condtion, in visual, structural and playability terms.

Serial Number275722, built during 1965 at the Gibson plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan.Pricing$1,350.00 CAD with non-original case.NeckMahogany neck with unbound rosewood fingerboard.FretsOriginal frets with some wear.BodyB-style body with spruce top, mahogany back and sides.FinishOriginal gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish with minor wear, minimal natural checking.Hardware/electronicsAll orginal hardware. Kluson strip tuners with creme plastic buttons, original rosewood adjustable bridge.Playability/ActionPlays very well, and cleanly up to about the 10th fret.CaseNon-original hardshell case included.