Epiphone Texan
| Manufacturer | Epiphone |
|---|---|
| Period | 1942–1970, 2006, 2010–present |
| Neck joint | Set neck |
| Body | Mahogany |
| Neck | Mahogany, 25.5" scale |
| Fretboard | Rosewood |
| Natural, Sunburst, Vintage Cherryburst | |
The Epiphone Texan is an acoustic flattop guitar of the (advanced) Jumbo type. Recent models have an integrated light-weight internal electric pickup fitted; the original model was acoustic only.
The FT-79 was produced by the Epiphone company starting in 1942. After Epiphone folded, the Gibson company produced the Texan in Kalamazoo Michigan until 1970. There have been numerous reissues of the Texan since their primary production period in the 1960s.
The original, New York made Epiphone FT-79 is quite a different guitar. It was originally a Walnut bodied guitar. Its body was a smaller jumbo model and is comparable to the later Guild F-47 (The Guild Guitar Company was started by ex-Epiphone employees after the company left New York). After the takeover by Gibson, the FT-79 type designation was retained, but the body shape changed to one that resembled the slope-shouldered Gibson J-45 (but that guitar has a shorter 24.75" scale length, compared to the 25.5" of the Texan).
The 1942 model had rectangular block fingerboard inlays and the original stick-pin Epiphone logo. In 1954 the model had parallelogram fingerboard inlays and a vertical oval peghead inlay. In the late 1940s to mid 1950's the FT-79 body was made with Maple. In 1958 the Gibson-made FT-79 had 'Texan' added to the type name, the shape was changed as mentioned above, the epsilon 'slashed C' Epiphone logo was added to the pick guard and the truss rod cover, and the tuner knobs were changed to white plastic. In the late 1950s the body wood was changed to Mahogany. All Texans in these years were Solid Mahogany with Solid Sitka Spruce tops. In 1962 the adjustable bridge was introduced. In 1967 the tuner knobs were changed to metal. In 1970 the model was discontinued as a result of the acquisition of the Gibson company by a new owner (starting 1972, the Matsumoku factory in Japan made a 12-string dreadnought guitar for Epiphone that was referred to as 'Texan-12' on the label. The four model designations included the FT-160, FT-165, FT-365, and the FT-565).
In 2006, a Signature McCartney version of this guitar was manufactured in Bozeman, Montana in a limited edition of 250 copies. An Epiphone Elitist version, made in Japan, of 1,964 copies in honor of his original Texan which was made in 1964, were manufactured in tandem with the 250 Bozeman-built McCartney edition, minus the original signature of Sir Paul on the label. The McCartney edition is sold stringed for a left-handed player. In 2010 Epiphone released an "Inspired By" 1964 Texan. This model is still based on McCartney's original, and is manufactured in Qingdao, China. This model does not have the adjustable bridge, and adds a Sonic Nanoflex pickup and preamp.
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