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1966 Epiphone Howard Roberts

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Serial #: 409159

Body size at lower bout: 16". Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut Width: 1 11/16"

Finish: Sunburst finish, nitrocellulose type

Materials: Solid bookmatched spruce top; Honduras mahogany back and sides; highly figured one-piece solid curly mahogany neck; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with split-block pearl inlays; pearl peghead inlay and logo; five-ply top binding, bound back and neck, original bone nut.

Hardware: Original hardware includes chrome Gibson Johnny Smith floating humbucking pickup; white beveled pickguard; compensated adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge; nickel sealed Kluson Super tuners; volume and tone controls with gold reflector cap knobs; original epsilon logo truss rod cover. Vintage-correct Howard Roberts trapeze tailpiece.

Notes: Featured on untold thousands of major studio recordings, movie and TV soundtracks as both a sideman and soloist, the late Howard Roberts may well have been the most prolifically recorded jazz guitarist of all time. Like his contemporary Johnny Smith, Roberts also consulted in the creation of a number of technically innovative instruments. Introduced in 1964, the Epiphone Howard Roberts Model combined an arched 16" Florentine cutaway body with a unique oval soundhole, a design with roots in Orville Gibson's very earliest guitars. Borrowing the newly designed Johnny Smith floating humbucking pickup, this innovative guitar became an instant classic, with it's fast neck, verstaile sound, and stylish looks.

This sunburst electric version is the original and earliest version of the model. Designated "HRE" in the ledgers, it was made for only four years, from '64 (when 10 were produced) to 1967. This example dates to 1966, where it was one of only 24 made in its model year. In the decades since the last original was made, the Howard Roberts has been revived numerous times, and become one of Gibson's most popular Artist Models. But these Epiphone originals are the only models with the solid carved top, and a fine acoustic voice to match.

This example is in great shape, showing no buckle, thumb, or fingerboard wear. The 100% original sunburst finish shows a single pick scratch near the soundhole, a short hairline finish crack near the low E tuner, and a single grainline crack soundly resealed between the soundhole and the bridge. (An ID number from a former owner is faintly visible just under the serial number on back of the peghead.) The guitar is supplied with all its original hardware, including an original Epiphone vibrola tailpiece (supplied in the case) which has been replaced with a vintage-correct Howard Roberts trapeze. The neck has a delightful shallow D profile that is simply one of the most appealing we've played (note to Gibson: clone this neck!) and the action is smooth and low over fine original medium jumbo fretwork. Best of all, the featherlight body weighs in at just 5lb. 9oz., and it's well-aged solid spruce top produces an unusually rich, lively acoustic voice, which translates warmly through the amp as well.

Contemporary players and builders have rediscovered the 16" cutaway as a peerless design for a hard-working gig guitar. Here's your chance to get the model that started it all.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.

This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel wound strings (.013-.057). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

Case: Original black plushlined hardshell case.

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