Epiphone custom shop in TN?

[gearHed289]

I was teasing a Facebook friend of mine about his Korean (I thought) Thunderbird Pro. He told me that it says "Made in Epiphone Custom Shop Tennessee". Is there such a thing? It's one of these:



And FYI - it was a conversation about trade deficits/buying American, which is the only reason I tried calling him out. Let's please not get into that discussion here!

[dadagoboi]

I have an Epi with a neck plate that mentions both Nashville and Korea.



Can I pretend it was made in Tennessee?

[patman]

I have one...pretty sure it's Korean...

[Dave W]

There's no separate Epi custom shop in Tennessee but there have been occasional special run US models made in Gibson's custom shop, like the 1962 Wilshire USA Reissue which came out about 10 years ago.

The Thunderbird Pro definitely isn't in that category.

[ramone57]

my Epi Pro came with a 'Made in China' sticker on the back of the headstock

[dadagoboi]

my Epi Pro came with a 'Made in China' sticker on the back of the headstock

So did this one...



Then I 'custom shopped' it.

[Engle]

I have an an Epiphone Spirit that was made in the USA in the early 80s. It’s a 2 humbucker Les Paul junior with a Gibson headstock.

[Chris P.]

I interviewed Brian Ray of the Paul McCartney band. He played a JCS, an SG Bass - if I remember correct - and the last years you could see him with a black Epiphone long scale EB3 with white MOP guard, to match his signature SG guitar. And a white one with black. He told me he liked the SG looks, but he wanted a long scale for a tighter sound.

He told it was made by the Epiphone Custom Shop. I asked if such a thing excisted, but then he told me Gibson just orders some bare bones EB-3 bodies and thet fully equip them with USA pickups, hardware and electronics and paint them. So I guess it's the Gibson CS working on some special stuff now and then. If you play in Macca's band they will do a lot to satisfy you.

[Barklessdog]

That would make sense, but for a series?

[Denis]

I have an Epi with a neck plate that mentions both Nashville and Korea.



Can I pretend it was made in Tennessee?

Both my old Epi T birds had this same neck plate.

[gearHed289]

I thought about those neck plates, but realized his model is a neck through. His exact words were "It's stamped Made in Epiphone Custom Shop Tennessee", so I don't know what he's got.

[lowend1]

I thought about those neck plates, but realized his model is a neck through. His exact words were "It's stamped Made in Epiphone Custom Shop Tennessee", so I don't know what he's got.

Pics or it didn't happen, lol.
My white/chrome bolt-on CS/LE has the Epiphone Custom Shop stamp, but no Nashville.

[Dave W]

I thought about those neck plates, but realized his model is a neck through. His exact words were "It's stamped Made in Epiphone Custom Shop Tennessee", so I don't know what he's got.

Epi Thunderbird Pro pics on Sweetwater's site are still up. Enlarge the back of the headstock and you can see the silver label which says 100% Inspected & Set-Up in the USA by (Epi symbol).  The small label below the E tuner is harder to read but it says made In Indonesia.

[gearHed289]

Enlarge the back of the headstock and you can see the silver label which says 100% Inspected & Set-Up in the USA by (Epi symbol).

Yeah, I mentioned to him that they often have deceptive labeling along those lines. I'd go see his band and check it out, but that would mean having to listen to modern "country" cover tunes.   

[Dave W]

Yeah, I mentioned to him that they often have deceptive labeling along those lines. I'd go see his band and check it out, but that would mean having to listen to modern "country" cover tunes.