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1959/60 Epiphone FT-145 - HELP!
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Author:  Dave-SKG [ Tue Dec 06, 2005 5:07 am ]
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This beauty came into my shop for repairs. The customer claims that she got it 45 years ago as a present for graduation. I looked in both Gruhuns Guide and Vintage Guide and can NOT find this model listed they have a FT45 and sevreal other FT models but Not the FT-145. It is made in Japan and has only a six digit serial number -532824, Blue Kalamazoo label, Bolt on neck and adjustable t.r. with Epsilon E abalone logo. Zero fret and adjustable bridge. Body apears to be mahogany with spruce top. Anyone who can help me with a value I realy would appreciate it.

The work needed to restore was simple...Originally thought it was going to need a reset...NOPE...tightened up loose saddle with a shim. Lowered saddle height, cleaned up the neck/frets, adjusted the truss rod and she plays like butter. Better yet sounds fantastic!













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Dave-SKG38692.5531944444
Author:  tippie53 [ Tue Dec 06, 2005 5:18 am ]
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I found a listing in one of my acoutic blue books. The value is not very high. $175 to $250 ( 2004 ). It may have increased a few dollars but the adjustable bridge is something that was on most lower end guitars at the time.
Yours
john hall
Author:  Barry Daniels [ Tue Dec 06, 2005 5:25 am ]
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That style of bolt-on neck had a tendency to be unstable and many of these guitars became somewhat disposable, unfortunately.
Author:  Dave-SKG [ Tue Dec 06, 2005 5:26 am ]
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Thanks John !
Author:  Dave-SKG [ Tue Dec 06, 2005 5:29 am ]
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Thanks Barry!

This one the neck is perfect. Truss rod works great, neck is straight and secured very well to the body via 4 big bolts in a very big block!

I just can't believe how good it sounds...I guess the age...
Author:  Howard Klepper [ Tue Dec 06, 2005 6:01 am ]
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That's a newer guitar, most likely early 70's. The customer must be off by a
decade or so.
Author:  Terry Stowell [ Tue Dec 06, 2005 6:02 am ]
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one of the best playing /sounding guitars I played was an old 50's Kalamazoo Epiphone. Horribly wavy top, loose braces, and a (well fit) oak "riser" scab under the original bridge. The guitar top looked bad but boy did it have a great woody sound and a fast neck (jumbo frets as I recall)Terry Stowell38692.6363310185
Author:  Neil [ Tue Dec 06, 2005 8:36 am ]
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I have worked on 5 or 6 of these guitars over the years. They aren't worth a whole lot, but the owners usually love them and they usually sound good. That's always a surprise given the bolt on neck, oversized neck block and ply top. I've had at least two customers pay quite a bit of money to stabilize a loose neck block in their FT-145 because they just liked the guitar. I believe these guitars were imported in the 1970's. With the bolt on neck, you could look at them as a predecessor to Taylor's Big Baby, although the Big Baby is a better made instrument overall.
Author:  EricKeller [ Tue Dec 06, 2005 11:44 am ]
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That's the way Danny Ferrington put the necks on his guitars, at least the ones in his book. I guess those rock stars can afford a re-set now and then.

It's interesting that they seem to have intentionally dumped a big pile of glue on top of the ends of the finger braces after they were glued down.

EricKeller38692.8260648148
Author:  Evan Gluck [ Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:59 pm ]
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I have a customer with 3 of these, he just loves them to death. He has purchased them between $100 - $225 in the past 5 years I have done work for him. One did need a neck block restabilization among other issues. Cool guitar when they are in good condition.
Author:  Dave-SKG [ Wed Dec 07, 2005 2:49 am ]
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Thanks Everyone!
This one is in realy good shape as the owner is the original owner. I offered her $100 and a new fender acoustic ( she's donating it to our church). So I guess this is another one for the pile!
Author:  Mark Swanson [ Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:09 am ]
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As others have said, it's not that old- it's made in Japan and set up in the USA. If yours is a good one that's nice for you. Many times these guitars will self-destruct.
This guitar has the neck screws in from the back, like a Fender. Danny Ferrington's guitars put the screws right through the fingerboard, like tha Taylors.
Author:  Darin Spayd [ Thu Dec 08, 2005 8:23 am ]
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How does the grain run on the neck?
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