Epiphone FT-90 El Dorado Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1966)
LOADING IMAGES
This item has been sold.
Item # 10411
Prices subject to change without notice.
Epiphone FT-90 El Dorado Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1966), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 380729, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
While the Epiphone Texan will forever be remembered as Paul McCartney's Beatle-era flat top, it's similar but slightly upscale sibling the El Dorado is a fairly obscure instrument. This 1960's Epiphone version of Gibson's square-shouldered Jumbo format sat in the middle of the company's line, listing at $220 in 1965-6. It was ranked just above the round-shouldered Texan, and is a cousin of Gibson's square-shouldered Heritage, Hummingbird and Dove models. The El Dorado was available from 1963-69 and did not change much over time; this one does have the narrower nut common to most 1966-9 Gibsons.
It is a stately if fairly unassuming looking flat top, multi-bound on the top and back with a bound fingerboard with small trapezoid inlay. The top is finished in natural with a fairly small tortoise celluloid pickguard. Other notable features include the long "Thin" second-generation Epiphone headstock with a small pearl inlay and the adjustable ceramic-saddle rosewood bridge. The most noticeable difference from most Gibson flat tops is a longer scale length, which adds some power and depth to the sound. These '60's Gibson-made flat tops are mostly renowned as great rhythm machines, with a slightly dry, midrangey and woody tone that records very well. The El Dorado is a lesser known member of this 1960s Gibson/Epiphone fraternity but an excellent instrument in its own right.
Overall length is 42 in. (106.7 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/4 in. (641 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This guitar shows some general wear but no major damage or repair. The all-original finish has checking, dings, dents and scrapes overall but far less pickwear than many of these often heavily strummed guitars. There is a tightly sealed grain split on the upper back, and one tiny pickguard split off the lower edge; these are the only cracks in the instrument. The tuners appear to have been changed several times; currently the guitar has repro Kluson Deluxes similar to its original fitting; the headstock face carries some scars from different bushings. All other hardware is original.
The adjustable ceramic saddle bridge remains original and works fine, the neck has never been reset. There is a black finish pattern on either side of the heel, which is factory applied under the clear overcoat. This would typically have been used as a "goof hider" if an inspector saw a finish flaw by the neck joint. The original large frets have been crowned down a bit, there is some minor divoting to the fingerboard in the lower positions. This is a very good player with a nice chunky sound, a fine working guitar with a cool 60s vintage vibe. Overall Very Good + Condition.
While the Epiphone Texan will forever be remembered as Paul McCartney's Beatle-era flat top, it's similar but slightly upscale sibling the El Dorado is a fairly obscure instrument. This 1960's Epiphone version of Gibson's square-shouldered Jumbo format sat in the middle of the company's line, listing at $220 in 1965-6. It was ranked just above the round-shouldered Texan, and is a cousin of Gibson's square-shouldered Heritage, Hummingbird and Dove models. The El Dorado was available from 1963-69 and did not change much over time; this one does have the narrower nut common to most 1966-9 Gibsons.
It is a stately if fairly unassuming looking flat top, multi-bound on the top and back with a bound fingerboard with small trapezoid inlay. The top is finished in natural with a fairly small tortoise celluloid pickguard. Other notable features include the long "Thin" second-generation Epiphone headstock with a small pearl inlay and the adjustable ceramic-saddle rosewood bridge. The most noticeable difference from most Gibson flat tops is a longer scale length, which adds some power and depth to the sound. These '60's Gibson-made flat tops are mostly renowned as great rhythm machines, with a slightly dry, midrangey and woody tone that records very well. The El Dorado is a lesser known member of this 1960s Gibson/Epiphone fraternity but an excellent instrument in its own right.
Overall length is 42 in. (106.7 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/4 in. (641 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This guitar shows some general wear but no major damage or repair. The all-original finish has checking, dings, dents and scrapes overall but far less pickwear than many of these often heavily strummed guitars. There is a tightly sealed grain split on the upper back, and one tiny pickguard split off the lower edge; these are the only cracks in the instrument. The tuners appear to have been changed several times; currently the guitar has repro Kluson Deluxes similar to its original fitting; the headstock face carries some scars from different bushings. All other hardware is original.
The adjustable ceramic saddle bridge remains original and works fine, the neck has never been reset. There is a black finish pattern on either side of the heel, which is factory applied under the clear overcoat. This would typically have been used as a "goof hider" if an inspector saw a finish flaw by the neck joint. The original large frets have been crowned down a bit, there is some minor divoting to the fingerboard in the lower positions. This is a very good player with a nice chunky sound, a fine working guitar with a cool 60s vintage vibe. Overall Very Good + Condition.