In 1957 Gibson purchased New York’s Epiphone Guitar Company and moved production to Kalamazoo, Michigan. With plans to expand retail distribution by differentiating Epiphone dealers from Gibson dealers, Gibson began production of a new line of “Kalamazoo-made and designed” Epiphones in 1959. For over a decade, Epiphone solid body guitars and basses were produced right alongside Gibsons. These Epiphone guitars represented some of the highest quality and best sounding instruments of their generation. They provided unique shapes, pickup arrangements, and tonal signatures not seen on comparable Gibson models of the day. Under appreciated at the time of their release, numerous artists through the years have recognized the unique appeal of these guitars. Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Paul Gilbert and Steve Marriot are but a few of the artists that have embraced the tone and build quality of these Kalamazoo built Epiphones. One such Epiphone instrument was the Wilshire.
As with all Epiphone’s, the Wilshire PRO is backed by Epiphone’s Limited Lifetime Warranty and 24/7/365 Customer Service. Original Wilshires are selling today for $10,000 or more depending upon condition. Pickup up the new Wilshire PRO today and who knows? Maybe it will be worth that much in 40 years too!
