1965 Epiphone FT-45 Cortez Vintage X Braced Acoustic Guitar Gibson-Made, B-25

  
Up for sale, a 1965 Epiphone Cortez FT-45 vintage acoustic guitar, crafted by Gibson in their Kalamazoo, MI factory. A particularly clean and well cared for example of the Cortez, this Epiphone features a host of desirable and early features with a solid Brazilian rosewood (not plastic) bridge, ceramic adjustable saddle, single line Kluson Deluxe tuning machines, and a transitional 1 5/8 nut width. Essentially the same guitar as Gibson's B-25 yet with a different headstock shape and pickguard, the Cortez boasts X braced construction and an incredibly powerful sound. An absolute workhorse with tonal depth and projection that belies the body size, this Epiphone is simply one of the good ones.

The instrument offers a clear woody bark, with plenty of kick and snap in the top end, and a taut, wooly bass response. This guitar begs to be played hard, and a solid strum yields ample power and an articulate, broad sound.

Setup and strung with 12-53 phosphor bronze strings, this Epiphone is ready for stage and studio use. The one-piece mahogany neck has a medium C shaped profile with more fullness in the higher registers of the fretboard, filling the palm comfortably and fretting easily.

The Brazilian rosewood fretboard is truly an impressive cut of this hallowed tone wood, and the guitar has been refretted with medium jumbo fretwire that has plenty of meat, and the new frets show sparingly little wear. The nut measures 1 5/8" in width, and this transitional nut width (between the 1 11/16" nuts from previous years and the 1 9/16 nuts used into the 1970s) is particularly comfortable, offering ideal string spacing. The headstock retains the original Kluson Deluxe single line strip tuners too. The body retains the original Brazilian rosewood bridge, and the adjustable saddle has height for future adjustment as needed. The bridge has been reseated in the past, sitting flush with the top on all edges, and the neck has also been professionally reset, meeting the body at an ideal angle and ensuring decades of future trouble-free use. There is no caving of the top or untoward deflection behind the bridge. The original transparent tortoise pickguard is intact on the top with no curling or warping, and the guard retains its stock raised "E" Epsilon sticker, although the silver paint on the sticker has been worn away so that it's now transparent and blends with the tortoise. The warm Sunburst nitro lacquer finish is 100% original with no touchup or overspray, and the top has prominent checking. The instrument is crack-free, and while there are a few expected scuffs and minor nicks on the neck profile, the body is exceptionally clean itself showing only a few shallow dings and faint finish scratches in the clear coat of the lacquer finish. Truly one of the more lively and soulful X braced small bodied Kalamazoo-made acoustics weve had in the shop, this Cortez simply delivers.

A modern hardshell case is included. Check out our shop "Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar, " and please let us know if we can answer any questions! International orders will be declared as merchandise, and the value of merchandise will be declared as the amount paid.

We cannot declare anything as a gift or for a lesser value. We do our best to describe all items with honesty and accuracy, but to be sure, please. The item "1965 Epiphone FT-45 Cortez Vintage X Braced Acoustic Guitar Gibson-Made, B-25" is in sale since Thursday, September 12, 2019. This item is in the category "Musical Instruments & Gear\Guitars & Basses\Acoustic Guitars". The seller is "mmguitarbar" and is located in Seattle, Washington. This item can be shipped worldwide.

1. String Configuration: 6 String
2. Model: FT-45 Cortez
3. Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
4. Right-/ Left-Handed: Right-Handed
5. Model Year: 1965
6. Features: 14-Fret
7. MPN: Does Not Apply
8. Body Material: Spruce, Mahogany
9. Soundboard Style: Flat Top
10. Brand: Epiphone
11. Body Type: Dreadnought