Epiphone FT-110N Frontier, Natural (1963)

One of the rarest - and definitely the coolest - square shoulder Gibson-made dreadnaughts ever produced, this '63 Frontier has it all going for it. Looks, condition, and most importantly, tone.

1963 Epiphone FT-110N Frontier square shoulder acoustic guitar made in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

This absolute beauty of a flat top just came into the shop via a great local customer of ours who's owned the guitar for 2+ decades, and it only takes about 30 seconds sitting with it to understand why he owned it for so long.

For starters, this is one of the rarest production variants of the Frontier that Gibson ever made under the Epiphone name. 1 of just 95 shipped in Natural finish, this was the top of the heap acoustic offering under the brand until the release of the Excellente that very year. Second, it combines some of the more desirable features such as the 1 11/16" nut width, short headstock, and beautiful "Rope & Cactus" pickguard that is in wonderful shape.

With its long 25 1/2" scale and Maple body, the Frontier projects with that distinct 60s Gibson tone, albeit with a touch more fundamental power and a little extra clarity on the top end. This particular guitar is especially satisfying when lightly strummed, showing off an unusual amount of dynamic range and responsiveness we don't typically associate with Gibson flat tops from this period. A welcome surprise!

This Frontier has been lovingly maintained, and with the exception of a pro refret and new nut done some years back, is entirely original and free of any repairs. The original single line gold plated Kluson tuners work great, top geometry is very healthy, and the setup is as smooth as you'll find on a 60+ year old acoustic.

The guitar is paired with an aftermarket hardshell case that fits the guitar nicely.