American Series

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Epiphone American Series
Epiphone American Series

The Gibson Spirit is a lesser-known model produced from 1982 to 1986 by Gibson in the Nashville, TN and Kalamazoo, MI factories. It was initially produced in the Kalamazoo factory under the Epiphone nameplate. In response to poor sales, some Epiphone models were changed to Gibson, and a faint Epiphone logo can be seen under the Gibson logo on the peghead.

Later models were produced as Gibsons in Nashville. The Spirit appears to have been modelled after the Les Paul Junior double-cutaway model, with the primary differences being the use of modern single-coil and humbucker pickups, and cutaways at the 20th fret rather than the 22nd.


Epiphone offered prizes for test driving one of these new America Series guitars at your neighborhood dealer. The Grand Prize was a trip to Kalamazoo – “an All-American city” – for one day, plus three days in Nashville. During this promotion, the Epiphone U.S. Map guitar was conceived.


See Also:


Contents

Models


Spirit I & II

Epiphone Spirit
Epiphone Spirit I
Gibson Spirit I
Gibson Spirit I
Epiphone Spirit II
Epiphone Spirit II
  • 1982-1983
  • Made in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Body:

  • Honduran Mahogany/Alder/Poplar body
  • Dual cutaway (DC)

Neck:

  • Set Maple/Honduran Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays
  • 22 frets
  • Gibson-style open-book headstock
  • Scripted "Epiphone USA" logo
  • 2-screw truss rod cover with "Spirit" inscription
  • 24.75" scale
  • 1.68" nut width

Electronics:

  • Gibson 1959 Les Paul Reissue humbucker pickups
  • 1 Vol. 1 Tone controls (Spirit I)
  • 2 Vol. 1 Tone, 3-way toggle switch (Spirit II)

Hardware:

  • Chrome hardware
  • Vintage-style tuners
  • Schaller 455 wraparound tailpiece
  • Gold or black speed knobs
  • Les Paul Jr. style pickguard (Spirit I)
  • No Pickguard (Spirit II)

Colors:

  • Ebony (EB)
  • Alpine White (AW)
  • Vintage Sunburst (VS)



Special I & II

Epiphone Special
Epiphone USA Special II
Epiphone USA Special I Epiphone USA Special I
Epiphone USA Special I
Epiphone USA Special I
Gibson Special Headstock Gibson Special Headstock
Gibson Special Headstock
Gibson Special Headstock
  • 1982-1983
  • Made in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Body:

  • Honduran Mahogany/Alder/Poplar body

Neck:

  • Set Maple/Honduran Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays
  • 2-screw truss rod cover with "Special" printed
  • Gibson-style open-book headstock with scriped "Epiphone USA" logo
  • 22 frets
  • 24.75" scale
  • 1.68" nut width

Electronics:

  • Gibson 1959 Les Paul Reissue humbucker pickups
  • 1 Vol. 1 Tone controls (Special I)
  • 2 Vol. 1 Tone, 3-way toggle switch (Special II)

Hardware:

  • Chrome hardware
  • Set Maple/Honduran Mahogany neck
  • Vintage-style tuners
  • Schaller 455 wraparound tailpiece
  • Black speed knobs

Colors:

  • Ferrari Red (FR)
  • TV Yellow (TV)
  • Alpine White (AW)
  • Ebony (EB)
  • Antique Sunburst (AS)
  • Vintage Cherry Sunburst (VCSB)



USA Map Guitar

1982 Epiphone USA Map Guitar
1982 Epiphone USA Map Guitar
1982 Epiphone USA Map Guitar
  • 1982-1983
  • Made in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Body:

  • 3-piece Mahogany/Maple/Mahogany
  • Carved United States shape

Neck:

  • Set 3-piece laminated Maple neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
  • 2-screw truss rod cover with "Special" printed
  • Gibson-style open-book headstock with scriped "Epiphone USA" logo
  • Pearl crown inlay on headstock
  • 22 frets
  • 24.75" scale
  • 1.68" nut width

Electronics:

  • Gibson 1959 Les Paul Reissue humbuckers
  • 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
  • 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

  • Chrome hardware
  • Vintage-style tuners
  • Schaller 455 wraparound tailpiece
  • Amber speed knobs

Colors:

  • Natural Mahogany

See Also:



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