Epiphone

The Epiphone Ft-110 certainly occupies a place of both relevance and influence in the annals of Gibson history, and that legacy is well and truly earned.  In its most rudimentary form, it would have debuted in 1939 under the name “F.T. Deluxe” (a flat top version of its sister guitar, which came in an archop).  Fast Forward to 1957, and the acquisition of Epiphone brand by Gibson.  Then CEO, Ted McCarty, dove head first in to the Epiphone archives to aggregate a list of flat tops that could be built in Gibson’s Kalamazoo plant.  Amongst that list were the features present on the F.T. Deluxe, namely It being a flat top jumbo, with maple back and sides, copying Martin’s Dreadnought  size, but with an oversized pickguard and Epiphone demarcation on the headstock.  Thus the Frontier Ft-110 was born.  The square shoulder and ornamental pickguard would later prove to be an inspiration for both the Hummingbird  (introduced in 1960) as well as the Dove (introduced in 1962). 

By 1968, when this specific guitar was constructed, certain changes had been instituted.  In keeping with Gibson’s mid 60’s trend of putting necks on their acoustics that were more evocative of electric guitars, the neck carve itself is much smaller in both width and depth than one might immediately suspect.  This guitar also has an adjustable bridge.  Additionally, the oversized ornamental pickguard had been phased out by 1968, replaced by a much more understated teardrop option that is screwed in to the top.  Unfortunately for fans of the FT-110, production would cease at the end of the decade as Gibson entered the “Norlin Era”.

Strummed or fingerpicked, cowboy chords or jazz inversions, this guitar answers the call.  It has a very pronounced depth to its low end, which tends to round out the highs lending a warm, and woody tone.  It functions much like a Gibson Dove of the same era, making it an ideal candidate for a player with champagne taste on a beer budget. 

Cosmetically this guitar is has been well loved and well played for the last 50+ years.  There is a good amount of finish checking across the entire instrument consistent with guitars of this vintage.  The only blemishes of note would include several small instances of chipped paint on the headstock (by the nut on the treble side, and at the very top of the headstock veneer).  There are also several scratches on the side from the bass side of the lower bout to the treble side of the lower bout, as well as a small separation in the binding on the lower bout (which is not falling out).  The Serial number indicates that Epiphone viewed this as a “second”.  We can find no structural or cosmetic issue that would earn it such consideration, and as such we would consider this guitar to be in Very Good+ to Excellent condition.

• Dreadnought Body Size
• Sitka Spruce Top
• X Braced Top
• Maple Back and Sides
• Crème Body Binding
• 7 Ply Purfling
• Multi –Ply Rosette
• Gloss Finish
• Mahogany Neck
• Rosewood Fingerboard
• Slotted Square Fingerboard Inlays
• Crème Fingerboard Binding
• Mid 60’s Slim and Tapered Neck
• Gold Kluson Deluxe Tuners with Plastic Tulip Buttons
• Teardrop Pickguard with “E” Logo
• Upper Belly Rosewood Bridge
• Adjustable Rosewood Saddle
• 1 9/16” Nut Width
• 25.5” Scale Length
• Original Hard Case Included