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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

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

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

That style of bolt-on neck had a tendency to be unstable and many of these guitars became somewhat disposable, unfortunately.

Thanks John !

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

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...

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

That's a newer guitar, most likely early 70's. The customer must be off by a
decade or so.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

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

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.

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

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.

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

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!

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

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.

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Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

How does the grain run on the neck?

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DES - Shepherd, MI