In the build up to Namm, Epiphone has announced a few new models, including this 1962 Wilshire Custom Historic USA. Part of what Epiphone calls its Historic Custom USA collection, the 1962 Wilshire re-issue commemorates the solid body guitars the company made in the late-fifties and sixties in Gibson’s Kalamazoo factory.
The 1962 Wilshire Custom Historic USA is based on the 162 Wilshire SB-432 and comes in Cherry Red. It has a Peruvian Mahogany body and glued-in set neck. Its rosewood fretboard has 22 frets with pearloid dot inlays, and the headstock is set at 17 degrees with three Vintage Kluson machine heads on each side.
The pick-ups are soapbar P-90s with adjustable pole pieces and there’s a three-way selector switch with volume and tone controls for each pick-up.
Only 100 of these special issue WIlshires will be made and each includes an original style hard case, cerstificate of authenticity, vintage coiled guitar lead, a 1962-leather strap and commerative picks and a t-shirt.
The 1962 Wilshire is very different to later models, such as the one on which this Wilshire was based, which had humbuckers and a ‘bat wing’ headstock.
Jimi Hendrix and Roger Daltrey are among the musicians to have played original Epiphone Wilshire models.
Whats not to like about this vintage beauty! I love the look of the pick ups and the guard. I’ve never ever tried to adjust the pick up pole’s, have you?
Really nice site, I’ve got to forward this post to a buddy of mine who only plays on Epiphones!
Thanks Chris,
Glad you like the site.
And no, I haven’t ever tried to adjust pick-up poles. I like to leave that level of modification to the pros.