Known for his work with Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Duke Ellington, Dizzie Gillespie, Count Basie, and many others, Joe Pass is one of the most influential jazz guitarists of the 20th Century. In 1993—just prior to his death—Joe collaborated with Epiphone to produce the "Joe Pass" signature version of the Emperor archtop.
The Joe Pass Emperor II was originally produced by Samick in Korea, and the Korean examples show much stronger build quality than the later Made-in-China and Made-in-Indonesia stuff. Largely modeled after the ES-175, the Joe Pass Emperor II features a hollow 16"-wide body with a cutaway and two humbucker pickups. Constructed of laminate flame maple, it's a classy-looking jazz box, especially with the Tree of Life inlay and Joe's signature on the pickguard.
This 1994 Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II is an excellent example of the earlier Made-in-Korea production. It sports a gorgeous Heritage Cherry Sunburst, which was only available in the earlier days before Vintage Sunburst became the only finish option. This guitar appears to have been played sparingly over the years, and we've attempted to show that in the photo set. Although the metal parts show some tarnish and the finish looks aged, it is free of severe play wear, cosmetic repairs, or other issues. It has a smooth, low setup with plenty of life left in the frets.
All in all, this '64 Joe Pass Emperor II is a fantastic hollowbody that is starting to capture some of the vibe and character we love about vintage instruments. One day, there may be some perceived collectibility to the Korean-made Epiphones, but for the moment guitars like this remain affordable. Because of that, it's a great player with a lot to offer, and it includes an Epiphone hardshell case.