There are some electric guitars that you just fall in love with as soon as you lay eyes on them and the Epiphone Emperor Regent is one of them.
The Emperor first began life as an acoustic only guitar back in in 1936, but a semi-hollow archtop electric model was then made by Epiphone in 1951. The Emperor Regent fast became one of their signature models. With maple sides and back and with a maple or spruce top, the construction of these guitars was second to none.
Aproximately 18.5 inches at it's widest point and 21.75 inches long, the Emperor is a perfect guitar for Jazz and swing jazz such as the sound created by artists like Duke Ellington and Cole Porter. The guitar produces a warm sound that is boosted by the semi hollow construction. The 3 gold New York pickups or mini humbuckers produce an excellent sound that will keep you coming back for more.
The hardware used on the Emperor Regent can make it difficult to bend the strings, so a lower gauge set of strings might be required for the less able or experienced players.
The Epiphone Emperor has 2 volume and 2 tone controls as per any normal electric guitar and comes with a maple neck, an ebony fingerboard complete with pearl inlays.
Gibson later bought Epiphone and kept on producing the Emperor Regent. They did alter the design slightly, but overall, the original classic guitar was kept as it always was.
Some might think that trying to own a piece of rock history such as a rock guitar might be a little silly - especially if you are not good at playing guitar either! Some people are natural or experienced players of guitar and are interested in getting a vintage rock guitar for the simple reason that they want to own and play that model of guitar. Each brand, model and style of guitar has a different sound, tone and sustain which makes playing it a unique experience.
Collectors of Vintage Guitars are the kind of people who want to keep the memory and image of the guitar and rock legends alive, by keeping their equipment safe. As with wine, guitars age very well and as they get older and scarcer, they also get more valuable. There are some collectors who would not invest their time and money in buying old rock guitars as something that they wish to keep as an investment - it takes too long for that money to mature into a worthwhile profit. They are in it for the long haul, often buying the guitars with a view to keeping them for a long time and possibly selling them on at a later date.
Guitars that have been played by celebrities such as Jimi Hendrix, Steve Vai or Marc Bolan will be highly sought after items for collectors and music enthusiasts alike. The fact that they have been owned or played by actual famous music artists will drive up the value of the guitar and they are more likely to become even more valuable over time. These guitars are one off single pieces and are very rare and hard to get hold of. Also, it seems that guitars that may have belonged to stars who have now passed on, are more valuable than when they were alive!
First run models are also popular, as are limited edition guitars. Manufacturers like Fender and Gibson did release some guitars as a limited run or for a limited time, so getting to own one of those guitars will be a very difficult thing to do. Some may have been destroyed or even left in a loft or shed to rot so as time passes, these types of guitars become more collectable. The majority of the models of guitar made by Fender, for example, have serial numbers letting people know the approximate date and year that they were made. Some collectors seek out the earliest serial number they can find which would make an excellent addition to their collection.
As you can see, there are many reasons why you or someone might want to buy a rock guitar, own a piece of music history or capture a moment in time when an artist was famous. Money certainly comes into the equation when buying these kinds of items - but there is no sign of demand dying down for this sort of collectable memorabilia.
Angus Young is the guitar player from the popular rock band AC/DC and has his own signature range supplied by Gibson guitars. Young has always played Gibson guitars since and early age and the Gibson SG model that bears his name is the same model he has used on tours for several years.
Angus is known for this energetic on-stage performances and tight, neat and sharp guitar riffs and solos. Always dressed as an english schoolboy, Angus is the wild, thrashing front man for AC/DC throwing blues style chords and solo leads into the mix.
Apart from the Angus Young Gibson SG, he also owns and plays Fender Telecaster and several Gibson Firebird models. The only time he was seen on stage without the Gibson SG was when he borrowed a Gibson ES-335 from the Rolling Stones Keith Richards.
One of the most iconic rock guitars is the infamous Flying V, originally released by Gibson in 1958.
After a few changes and design alterations, the Flying V was relaunched in 1967, made from mahogany and with some alterations to the way that the strings were attached and the size of the pick guard being larger. It was an immediate hit with the guitar legends of that time such as Jimi Hendrix and Lonnie Mack.
The 1967 Flying V model is now considered to be the de-facto model from Gibson although they now refer to it as the V Factor rather than the Flying V. Shame. There is also a flying V bass model although that does not seem to be as commonly used as the iconic V.
Hendrix was so taken with the Gibson Flying V that he worked with them to produce a limited edition signature model on which he also designed the graphics himself.
Today, the newer models and versions of the original V are known as the Tribal V. Gibson are producing a small edition run of this model, only manufacturing 350 guitars in total. So getting hold of one might be an issue! The design and components are pretty much the same as the original but the Tribal V is slicked out in total white with chrome and a black paint design curling through the pick guard. Although this modern look to the V has not been welcomed, the guitar looks to be a hit. With top quality components and an original design and manufacturing process, the V is here to stay!
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