{"product_id":"2003-epiphone-elitist-byrdland-archtop-near-mint-w-open-book-headstock-usa-pickups-case-tags-japan-terada","title":"2003 Epiphone Elitist Byrdland Archtop, Near-Mint w\/ Open Book Headstock, USA Pickups, Case \u0026 Tags, Japan Terada","description":"Up for sale, a 2003 Epiphone Elitist Byrdland in near-mint, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case and hangtags. This highly sought after, upscale Epiphone was crafted at the Terada factory in Japan; a short-lived addition to the Elitist lineup before being summarily discontinued.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWhat sets this particular Epi Byrdland apart from the pack is its distinctive, Gibson-esque \"open book\" headstock shape, an exceedingly rare variant, as the majority of examples (ostensibly the ones exported outside Japan) have a more common Epi headstock carve with a \"bump\" at the headstock's crest.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAn extremely faithful iteration of one of Gibson's most storied golden age thinline hollowbody models, the Byrdland was a collaboration between two notable session guitarists, Billy Byrd and Hank Garland. This fearsome twosome collaborated with Gibson representative Clarence Havenga in the mid '50s to birth the Byrdland, a model replete with premium features while also boasting a shorter scale length to facilitate complex chord extensions and speedy lead runs.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe Byrdland has a 17” wide thinline body (2 3\/8“ deep), solid arched spruce top, AAA flame maple back and sides, a three-piece maple neck with walnut stringers, a bound ebony fretboard, and a pair of Gibson 50SR\/T USA humbuckers. The acoustic tone is full sounding and detailed, with a woody, percussive quality equally well-suited to pristine jazz chording and sizzling drive. The 50SR\/T USA-made humbuckers (PAF-style) meter at 7.8k ohms in the neck position, with a tailored midrange for optimal clarity and plenty of harmonic complexity. The bridge meters at 8k ohms, with a focused, upper-midrange. This Byrdland weighs 6lbs 12oz, professionally setup here at Mike \u0026amp; Mike’s Guitar Bar with 11-49 strings, low action, and spot-on intonation.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nNeck Specs:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n-Wood: Three-piece maple\u003cbr\u003e\n-Shape: Medium C, full shoulders, measuring .840” 1st fret, .930” 9th fret\u003cbr\u003e\n-Fretboard: Bound ebony, pearloid block inlay\u003cbr\u003e\n-Frets: Medium jumbo, pristine\u003cbr\u003e\n-Scale Length: 23 5\/8”\u003cbr\u003e\n-Nut: 1 11\/16” (43mm)\u003cbr\u003e\n-Headstock: “Flowerpot” inlay, Elitist logo on back\u003cbr\u003e\n-Tuners: Grover Super Rotomatics\u003cbr\u003e\n-Serialization: T3-prefix on Epiphone Elite label (bass-side F hole)\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nBody Specs:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n-Wood: Solid spruce top, AAA flame maple back and sides\u003cbr\u003e\n-Pickups: 50SR\/T USA-made humbuckers\u003cbr\u003e\n-Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, three-way pickup selector\u003cbr\u003e\n-Hardware: ABR-1 bridge (inlaid ebony base), Byrdland looping trapeze tailpiece\u003cbr\u003e\n-Plastics: Bound tortoise pickguard, witch hat knobs\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe gloss Natural finish is framed by seven-ply binding, highlighting the tight flame figuring on the maple back and sides. There's barely a scratch on the body, and the smooth gloss on the neck profile is immaculate.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe original hardshell case with purple plush interior is included, along with the hangtags.","brand":"Epiphone","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44376732107008,"sku":"T302336","price":4999.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/4437\/4714\/products\/medium_0c65c497-cdde-4b2a-b33b-4ae20cc0b6df.jpg?v=1751531313","url":"https:\/\/mmguitarbar.com\/products\/2003-epiphone-elitist-byrdland-archtop-near-mint-w-open-book-headstock-usa-pickups-case-tags-japan-terada","provider":"Mike \u0026 Mike's Guitar Bar","version":"1.0","type":"link"}