Seeking to expand its product range and reach a wider audience, Gibson acquired the Epiphone company in the late-'50s. By 1960, all Epiphone production had been moved to Kalamazoo, where they were made right alongside the Gibsons. Nevertheless, the two brands remained separate, with Gibson typically associated with higher-end, premium instruments and Epiphone catering to a more-affordable appeal. Built with the same parts, materials, and Gibson quality, many Kalamazoo-made Epiphones aren't too different from their Gibson counterparts, but of course they all have distinct Epiphone styling and flair.
Introduced in 1958, the Coronet was Epiphone's no-frills single-pickup solid-body electric. By 1964, the Coronet was essentially the same as the Gibson SG Jr., but of course the style is unmistakably Epiphone. This 1964 Coronet features a 1-3/8" think, double-cutaway Mahogany body. It feels so similar to an SG, but the body edges are more rounded and the cutaways aren't nearly as sharp. The single P-90 pickup has a chrome cover instead of black plastic. Like a lot of Epiphones, the design was intended to attract the attention of the rock n roll generation. The headstock even has a wedge shape with all six tuners on the same side, a nod to the popularity of Fender guitars.
This 1964 Coronet finds us in great shape for its age. The top finish has been sun-faded, almost as if this guitar hung in the window of a pawn shop at some point along the way—look at the sun tan from the vibrato! That's some serious mojo. The original Maestro Vibrato is included, but it's not the most usable design. The guitar plays and sounds fantastic using the bridge as a wraparound, and most players would prefer to keep it that way. The neck has the slim-taper profile you find on Gibsons of the same era, and the nut width is 1-9/16". The setup is excellent, and the frets have plenty of life left. The original tuners aren't as sharp as modern machines, but they do the trick just fine.
This 1964 Epiphone Coronet weighs in at 5 lbs 3.3 oz. The P90 resistance measures 8.40 k ohms, so this guitar is a bit of a ripper. It's very cool that the Epsilon sticker is still affixed to pickguard, even after all these years. This Coronet includes its original chipboard case, but the handle is broken. It also includes an original Epiphone hang tag that is a little worse for wear, but still a cool piece to complete the package.