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Epiphone Sorrento E452T
Thinline semi acoustic


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Epiphone Index
Epiphone Sorrento main page | 1966 Epiphone Sorrento
Epiphone Sorrento
Epiphone Sorrento
Epiphone 1961 full line catalogue1961 full line catalog

Now in Royal Olive - a striking new color, rich and luxurious in appearance.
Epiphone 1962 full line catalogue1962 full line catalog

Outstanding in features, especially the powerful humbucking pickups that provide greater sustain and tonal clarity while reducing hum and noise. Models available with single pickup, located for best overall response... or two pickups, located for contrasting treble and bass
Epiphone 1964 full line catalogue1964 full line catalogue

This is the first catalogue to show the Sorrento in colour
Epiphone 1966 full line catalogue1966 full line catalog

Today the electric Spanish guitar is found everywhere... orchestras, combos, jazz bands and as a featured solo instrument. Epiphone electric Spanish guitars suit the need of every player, from the top professional, to the semi-pro, to the amateur.
ModelSorrento E452T and E452TD
Available1960-1969
PickupsOne (E452T) or two (E452TD) mini humbuckers
Scale24 3/4"
BodyMaple sides and back with a maple top. 16 1/4" wide (lower bout), 20 1/4" long, 1 3/4" thick. Single-ply binding
NeckMahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard with pearl oval inlays. Inlaid Epiphone logo on the headstock. 20 frets, body meeting the neck at the 14th fret.
Hardware1 or 2 volume and 1 or 2 tone controls. Tune-o-matic free floating bridge with bail-type tailpiece.
FinishesNatural, Royal Olive, Shaded (Sunburst), and Cherry (from 1966/7)

The Sorrento was the Epiphone equivalent to the Gibson ES-125T; many Gibson Instruments had an Epiphone equivalent, and some, like the Sorrento, were very similar indeed.

It sold moderately well in the first half of the 1960s (although nowhere near as well as the ES-125TC and TDC), with 1966 the peak year. Sales dropped off considerably in the later part of the decade. The published shipping figures are reproduced below, with several inconsistancies, and unknowns included.

The model numbers have the following meanings T - thinline, N - natural finish, D - double pickup, 3/4 - three quarter size, V - vibrato. A lack of colour code implies a Royal Olive or Shaded/Sunburst finish. Traditionally C stands for cherry finish, however the statistics list E452TC and E452TC Cherry as separate instruments. Why this is the case is unclear.

The grand total of 2631 Sorrentos shipped in the 1960s corresponds to just under 10000 ES-125TC and ES-125TDC guitars over the same time period

 double pickupsingle pickup 
 E452TDCE452TDNE452TDE452TNE452TE452T 3/4E452TVE452TCE452TC CherryTOTAL
1960  421064    116
1961 211025209129  367
1962 15851319022   325
1963 10961119921   337
1964 3745198    280
1965 1511016196    337
1966 128715272  11577
1967484104 45  7 208
196812 19 7 13 42
196924 12 6    42
Total845093995138655101112631

The Sorrento had a brief come-back in the 1990s.



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Epiphone Casino Electric Guitar
Epiphone Casino Electric Guitar

The Epiphone Casino Electric Guitar is the guitar that put Epiphone on the map. Ever since The Beatles purchased three Casinos back in 1964, this hollow Epi model has taken on a life of its own. Equipped with two vintage P-90 single-coil pickups, the Casino still delivers those Beatlesque tones at a price every player can afford. Made with a select maple body and top with F-holes, trapeze bridge, mahogany neck (24-3/4" scale), neck and body binding, two volume and two tone controls, and parallelogram inlays. Limited lifetime warranty

Epiphone John Lennon 1965 Casino Electric Guitar
Epiphone John Lennon 1965 Casino Electric Guitar

The Epiphone John Lennon 1965 Casino Electric Guitar has a heritage as fascinating as the man whose name it bears. In 1966, during the recording of "Revolver," John Lennon and George Harrison acquired sunburst Epiphone Casino guitars. John was taken by his new guitar and made it his main axe from that point on, using several different versions over the ensuing years. In cooperation with Yoko Ono, Epiphone introduces 2 Limited Edition Lennon Casino guitars. The '65 Casino is a reproduction of the original guitar John purchased with its sunburst finish and stock hardware. In 1968, John had his Casino sanded down to bare wood and finished with a thin, dull coat of lacquer. He first used this "natural Casino in "The White Album sessions of '68. The John Lennon Revolution Casino is a reproduction of this stripped guitar as it remains today, featuring one coat of lacquer, gold Grover tuners, and the pickguard removed. A combined total of 1,965 of these individually hand-numbered, historic guitars have been produced, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each goes to the BMI Foundation for the John Lennon Scholarship Fund which supports music education. Limited lifetime warranty. Epiphone includes a hardshell case wiht the '65 John Lennon Casino Electric Guitar.

Epiphone Sheraton II Electric Guitar
Epiphone Sheraton II Electric Guitar Ebony

The semi-hollow design of the Epiphone Sheraton II Electric Guitar uses a solid center block and hollow "wings" to give it the fat, mellow tone of a jazz guitar and the sustain of a solidbody. Features an arched maple top, back, and rim; laminated maple neck; gold hardware; multiple bound body, neck, peghead, and F-holes; and vine inlay on peghead with mother-of-pearl and abalone fingerboard inlays. Includes two humbucker pickups and separate tone and volume controls. Limited lifetime warranty

Epiphone Elitist Riviera 12 String
Epiphone Elitist Riviera-12 Electric Guitar

The Elite series are instruments that approach custom shop perfection. They're made with premium woods, fitted with American pickups and circuitry even American-made toggle switches and Grover tuners. They are made at a special factory exclusively devoted to their manufacture where they receive a high degree of hands-on luthier attention. Here Epiphone has beautifully produced one of the warmest, sweetest toned guitars of all time a jazz, blues, and country classic and this 12-string version adds richness to the Riviera tone

Epiphone Elitist 1965 Casino
Epiphone Elitist 1965 Casino

You'll love the light weight and comfortable neck of the Epiphone Elitist 1965 Casino. The Elite series are instruments that approach custom shop perfection. Crafted with premium woods, fitted with American pickups and circuitry -even American-made toggle switches and Grover tuners-they're made at a special factory devoted to their manufacture where they receive a high degree of hands-on luthier attention. You'll find the Elite 1965 Casino true to the original made famous by The Beatles. A finely crafted, great-sounding, and easy-playing instrument that beautifully blurs the line between Epiphone and Gibson. Includes hardshell case

Epiphone Elitist Nick Valensi Signature Riviera
Epiphone Elitist Nick Valensi Signature Riviera

Nick Valensi, lead guitarist for the Strokes, used to call his customized '60s Epiphone Riviera "the greatest instrument never made," but he can't say that any more. The Epiphone Elitist Nick Valensi Riviera P-94 is part of the prestigious Elitist line of vintage-inspired Epiphones, and the classic semi-hollowbody model is fitted just like Valensi's, with genuine Gibson P-94 pickups. The patented P-94 is a unique combination that provides the best of both worlds the hot, thick, punchy sound of a Gibson P-90 in a humbucker-size housing. The P-94 uses the same enamel-coated vintage wire and Alnico-V magnets as the P-90 and comes in calibrated neck and bridge models for balanced output. The P-94 has higher output and sustaining qualities than traditional single-coil pickups, giving it plenty of bite when needed, with enough responsiveness to allow subtle nuances for enhanced dynamics.Just like a '60s Riviera, the Valensi signature model has 5-ply maple top, back, and sides; a one-piece set mahogany neck, 22 frets, a bone nut, tune-o-matic bridge, and trapeze tailpiece.

Epiphone Revolution Casino Electric Guitar
Epiphone Revolution Casino Electric Guitar

The Epiphone Revolution Casino Electric Guitar without doubt showcases Epiphone at their highest level of quality. In 1966, during the recording of Revolver, John Lennon and George Harrison acquired sunburst Casinos. John was taken by his new guitar and made it his main axe from that point on, using several different versions over the ensuing years. In cooperation with Yoko Ono, Epiphone introduced 2 Limited Edition Lennon Casinos. The '65 Casino is a reproduction of the original guitar John purchased with its sunburst finish and stock hardware. In 1968, John had his Casino sanded down to bare wood and finished with a thin, dull coat of lacquer. He first used this "natural" Casino in The White Album sessions of '68. The John Lennon Revolution Casino is a reproduction of this stripped guitar as it remains today, featuring one coat of lacquer, gold Grover tuners, and the pickguard removed. A combined total of 1,965 of these individually hand-numbered, historic instruments have been produced, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each goes to the BMI Foundation for the John Lennon Scholarship Fund, which supports music education. Limited lifetime warranty. Includes hardshell case.