We’re never short on cool vintage pieces here at IVG, and between our 4 shops across Southern California, we occasionally come across guitars owned and played by some of music’s most legendary artists. This week in the shop, we’re taking a look at an excellent 1964 Epiphone Coronet, with a bit of this celebrity status to boot!

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The Epiphone Coronet was originally introduced in 1958, designed to be a more affordable alternative to the Gibson Les Paul Jr., featuring a striking double-cutaway design. The Coronet became a part of Epiphone’s lineup shortly after the brand became a subsidiary of Gibson in 1957. However, it’s important to note that the model has gone through various iterations and reissues, which we’ll touch on briefly below.

The first version, made from 1958-1959, featured a double-cutaway slab body somewhat resembling a double-cut Telecaster shape. These models were equipped with an Epiphone “New Yorker” single-coil pickup, Gibson-style “open book” headstock and black finish. The second versions of the Coronet had added comfort contours, but retained the symmetrical body style and headstock. This version, and all Coronets to follow it, featured “Dogear” P-90’s, giving the model a more favorable and familiar Gibson-like sound. This guitar happens to be a 1964, making it the latest iteration of the model. It features the asymmetrical body shape with a 6-inline “batwing” headstock. The body and neck are both made of mahogany, contributing to its warm, resonant tone, and its unbound Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and original wide frets provide a comfortable and visually appealing playing surface.

Aesthetically, the Coronet has seen variations in its finish options, but the most iconic and well known version is the Cherry finish, as seen on this example. The striking red color should be familiar to Gibson enthusiasts and can be found on their SG and Les Paul Junior and Special models to name just a few. The graceful fading of the Cherry red aniline dye on this particular Coronet adds to the guitar’s visual appeal, with a bit of honest playwear from its many years of gentle use. Coronets were often equipped with vibrato tailpieces from the factory, but many players opted for a more stable wraparound bridge or even Ttune-O-Matic and stop tail modification. This one has had the original vibrato tailpiece removed and converted to a wraparound, offering a much more rigid playing experience with better tuning stability.

The original pickup sounds great as expected, with a mid-forward warmness and tonal quality that only a mahogany and P-90 combination seems to deliver. Something about these guitars just sound great in so many different applications. It’s certainly a versatile model that can go full-throttle rock ‘n’ roll, or clean up for a more mellow session in the studio.

The “batwing” headstock is also free of any cracks or repairs, making this guitar one of the lucky ones that didn’t suffer from a plunge off the stage or stand. This guitar was certainly played over the years with care and consideration, as they should be! The neck profile is a comfortable slim 60’s profile that feels right at home in your hand and is one of the biggest reasons why this is an excellent playing and feeling guitar. While it doesn’t include the original case, this Coronet does come with a nice hard shell to protect it.

Throughout its history, the Epiphone Coronet has been played by several notable artists. Its straightforward design and tonal characteristics made it a favorite among musicians who appreciate a raw, no-nonsense sound. This ’64 in particular comes from the estate of rock royalty, none other than the late Walter Becker of Steely Dan. We often hear names being passed around in our shops in regards to prior ownership of instruments, but without any documentation as proof, they serve only as tall tales. This guitar, however, includes provenance of truly being one of Walter Becker’s personally owned and played instruments. A treat for any Steely Dan fan or celebrity-owned guitar collector.

In recent years, Epiphone has released reissues of the Coronet, ensuring that a new generation of guitarists can experience the magic of this classic instrument. These modern interpretations retain the essential elements of the original, but there’s nothing quite like the real McCoy. This 1964 Coronet is sure to please anyone looking for a great, no frills vintage electric, or a choice piece of rock memorabilia for an impressive collection. It’s an all-around great guitar that deserves a great new owner who will cherish it for what it is.