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Tig
September 30th, 2011, 04:11 PM
I've never been a huge fan of the previous Wilshires, but this one has a bit more going for it. I could care less aboutFrank Iero, however.
Street price is $499.

The Wilshire "Phant-o-matic" features a double cutaway design with a solid Mahogany body. The 24.75" scale Mahogany hand-set neck has a 1960s SlimTaper(TM) profile, a rosewood fingerboard with mother-of-pearl block inlays, a 12" radius, and a 1-11/16" nut.

The "Phant-o-matic" employs two classic Epiphone pickups, our famous Alnico Classic Plus(TM) Humbucker in the bridge and an Alnico Classic(TM) Humbucker in the neck position. To get the most of the wide tonal possibilities from this pickup arrangement, we've included a mono VariTone(TM), much like the one used most famously by blues legend B. B. King.

The VariTone(TM) uses a six-way rotary switch which engages 5 pre-set notch filters and a bypass. In position one, the VariTone(TM) is completely bypassed. As you rotate the rotary switch into positions 2-6, the center frequency of the notch filter shifts from around 1.9kHz down to 130Hz, providing a player with a wide tonal palette unavailable on most other instruments. Positions 2 through 4 offer tonal shaping while still maintaining great clarity. But keep turning and you'll find Positions 5 and 6 shape-shift the Alnico Classic(TM) humbuckers into a single-coil style pickup but without the thin quack usually associated with traditional single coil pickups. Add it all up and between the 6-position VariTone(TM) circuit and the 3-position toggle switch, you have 18 unique tones available. And if that wasn't enough, Epiphone has included a high quality horn-mounted kill switch which provides an infinite range of staccato on/off effects.

The Wilshire "Phant-o-matic" uses our LockTone (http://www.epiphone.com/news.asp?NewsID=2026)(TM) Tune-o-Matic(TM)/StopBar bridge for tuning and intonation accuracy. Machine heads are nickel Wilkinson(TM) vintage style tuners with green keys. And to protect it, Epiphone has included a premium, padded gigbag.

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Specifications:

Body Material:
Mahogany


Neck Material:
Mahogany


Neck Shape:
1960's SlimTaper (TM)


Neck Joint:
Glued-In


Truss Rod:
Adjustable


Truss Rod Cover:
2-Layer (Black/White) with vintage "Epiphone" logo in gold


Scale Length:
24.75"


Fingerboard Material:
Rosewood with mother-of-pearl BLOCK inlays


Headstock:
Clipped Ear(TM) 3-on-a-side with vintage "Epiphone" logo in gold


Bridge Pickup:
Alnico Classic Plus(TM) Humbucker


Neck Pickup:
Alnico Classic(TM) Humbucker


Controls:
Master Volume Control, 6-Position Rotary VariTone(TM) notch filter. (Position 1: Bypass, Position 2: 5db at 1950hz, Position 3: 12db at 1100hz, Position 4: 16db at 620hz, Position 5: 18.5db at 360hz, Position 6: 21db at 120hz), Momentary KillSwitch(TM), 3-way pickup selector with black toggle cap


Binding:
Fingerboard - Single Ply


Fingerboard Radius:
12"


Frets:
22; medium-jumbo


Bridge:
LockTone (http://www.epiphone.com/news.asp?NewsID=2026)(TM) tune-o-matic/stopbar


Nut Width:
1-11/16"


Hardware:
Nickel


Machine Heads:
Wilkinson(TM) Vintage style with Green Keys


Pickguard:
Black; Single Ply


Other:
Epiphone StrapLocks


Colors:
Antique Ivory


Includes:
Premium Gigbag


Options:
Hard Case


Warranty:
Epiphone Limited Lifetime

NWBasser
October 6th, 2011, 01:58 PM
Oh, I think I actually like that one.

The Varitone would be interesting and it looks like a comfy body style.