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Epiphone Texan Value Guide: 1958 to 1970
An Epiphone Texan is a mahogany, round-shoulder dreadnought that Gibson built in its own Kalamazoo, Michigan factory from 1958 to 1969, the model Paul McCartney played on "Yesterday." Era, originality and condition set the price far more than the name on the label. Call or text (440) 219-3607 or text us photos.
From FT-79 to Texan: the Gibson-Kalamazoo years
The FT-79 name goes back to a New York-made Epiphone flat-top from the early 1940s. In 1957, Gibson's parent company, Chicago Musical Instruments, bought Epiphone and shut down its New York operation, moving what was left of the brand into Gibson's own factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Wikipedia's Epiphone Texan page states plainly that "Gibson bought Epiphone in 1957"; period-focused dealer writeups from Fretboard Journal and True Vintage Guitar are more precise and credit the purchase to Chicago Musical Instruments, Gibson's owner at the time. Both point to the same 1957 date, just a different name on the check.
The Gibson-built FT-79 picked up the "Texan" name for the 1958 model year, and with it a new, round-shoulder dreadnought body that closely resembles Gibson's own J-45 and J-50. Multiple independent sources, from Wikipedia to a Fretboard Journal dealer writeup to a restorer who has handled dozens of these guitars (Jake Wildwood), agree the Texan shares its body shape and bracing with the J-45/J-50 line, not the square-shouldered Hummingbird or Dove. What sets it apart from a J-45 is the neck: Texans were built with a 25.5" scale, longer than Gibson's own 24.75" standard. True Vintage Guitar and Jake Wildwood's restoration blog both point to the same likely reason: the earliest Kalamazoo Texans were assembled with long-scale necks left over from the closed New York factory, and Gibson simply kept building the model on that longer scale for the rest of its run rather than switching it to match the J-45.
Specs that define a Kalamazoo Texan
Per epiphonewiki.org's FT-Series spec archive, cross-checked against Wikipedia and several dealer listings, a Kalamazoo Texan (FT-79) is a solid spruce top over solid mahogany back and sides, 16.25" wide and 4.875" deep at the body, with a set mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays, and a 25.5" scale. One caveat worth knowing: most references give that scale as 25.5", but a real 1967 example measured directly by Jake Wildwood in 2026 came out to 25 3/8", a small enough gap it may just be measurement method rather than a running spec change. Either way, treat "long scale" as constant across the whole 1958 to 1969 run, not something that changed partway through.
The headstock shape changed once, from an open-book profile with a pearl oval inlay (1958 to 1963) to a taller "traditional" Gibson-style peghead with the same oval inlay (1964 to 1969); a real 1963 Retrofret example, described in a 2014 Fretboard Journal piece, was noted as coming from "the final year of the 'short' headstock design," which lines up with epiphonewiki's 1963/1964 cutoff. The bridge changed once too: a non-adjustable rosewood belly bridge from 1958 to 1961, then an adjustable rosewood bridge from 1962 on, confirmed independently by Wikipedia and epiphonewiki. Tuner buttons went from plastic (1958 to 1966) to metal (1967 to 1969).
Feature and dating reference, 1958 to 1969
Years | Headstock | Bridge | Tuner buttons | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1958 to 1961 | Open-book profile, pearl oval inlay | Non-adjustable rosewood belly bridge | Plastic | Earliest examples may carry leftover long-scale necks from the closed New York factory |
1962 to 1963 | Open-book profile, pearl oval inlay | Adjustable rosewood bridge | Plastic | Last run of the "short," open-book headstock |
1964 to 1966 | Taller "traditional" peghead, pearl oval inlay | Adjustable rosewood bridge | Plastic | McCartney's own Texan is a 1964 |
1967 to 1969 | Taller "traditional" peghead, pearl oval inlay | Adjustable rosewood bridge | Metal | Final years of US Kalamazoo production |
Paul McCartney's Texan and "Yesterday"
McCartney's own guitar is a 1964 Epiphone Texan, restrung and played left-handed. Sources agree he used it to write and record "Yesterday," released in 1965, and that he still owns and has performed with it. They do not agree on exactly when he got it: one detailed account (Unique Guitar Blog) states he purchased it in 1965, while other summaries put the acquisition in the summer of 1964. We're not asserting a specific date either way, since the sources conflict.
Epiphone has reissued the Texan more than once since. In 2006 it released a "Paul McCartney 1964 Texan" signature edition, a limited run of 250 built at Gibson's acoustic shop in Bozeman, Montana, alongside an unsigned "Elitist" edition of 1,964 examples built overseas. Later "Inspired by 1964 Texan" and Masterbilt reissues added an onboard pickup and preamp and were built in Asia; sources differ slightly on the exact country and year for that run, so treat "mid-2000s to 2010s, built overseas, with electronics" as the safe summary. None of these reissues are the vintage 1958 to 1969 guitar this guide covers, and none should be priced like one.
The rest of the Kalamazoo flat-top line, and telling them apart
Sellers mix these up constantly, usually calling any mahogany-bodied Epiphone acoustic from this era a "Texan" from memory. Gibson's Kalamazoo plant built several other FT-numbered flat-tops alongside it, at different sizes and price points. If you're not sure which one you have, the fastest way to find out is a photo, not a guess: upload a photo for a free identification and value range.
Model | FT number | Body style | Back and sides | Scale | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Texan | FT-79 | Round-shoulder dreadnought | Mahogany | 25.5" | 1958 to 1969 |
Caballero | FT-30 | Small "student" body | Mahogany | 24.75" | 1958 to 1969 |
Cortez | FT-45 | Small body | Mahogany | 24.75" | 1958 to 1969 |
Serenader | FT-85 | Small-body 12-string | Mahogany | 24.75" | 1963 to 1969 |
El Dorado | FT-90 | Square-shoulder dreadnought | Mahogany | 25.5" | 1963 to 1969 |
Frontier | FT-110 | Square-shoulder dreadnought | Maple, walnut stain | 25.5" | 1958 to 1969 |
Excellente | FT-120 | Square-shoulder dreadnought | Rosewood | 25.5" | 1963 to 1970 |
The quickest sorting rule: if the shoulders slope down from the neck joint and the back and sides are mahogany, it's a Texan; if the shoulders are square, it's an El Dorado (mahogany), a Frontier (maple) or the rarer, rosewood-bodied Excellente; if the body is noticeably smaller than a dreadnought, it's a Caballero, Cortez, or the 12-string Serenader. None of this applies to an Epiphone with f-holes and a hollow, guitar-shaped body rather than a soundhole. Those are electric archtops like the Casino, Riviera or Sheraton, a different family entirely; see our guide to dating the Riviera, Sheraton and Casino if that's what you've got.
What a Kalamazoo-era Epiphone Texan is worth
Mid-1960s (1964 to 1966). TR Crandall Guitars in New York currently lists three Kalamazoo Texans side by side: a 1964 at $4,499, a 1965 (labeled FT-79N) at $5,499, and a 1966 at $5,999, the last with a reglued bridge, two sealed top and back cracks and a new saddle, otherwise described as original. Separately, Dayton Vintage Guitars And Amps lists a 1964 Texan in "good" condition, with its case, at $5,998. Two dealers, similar years, a fairly tight band once condition is accounted for.
Early (1958 to 1961) and late (1967 to 1969). We could not find a currently listed price for either end of the run this session. A real 1958 example we found (True Vintage Guitar, via VintageAndRare) is marked sold with no price shown, and two real 1967 examples (Jake Wildwood's restoration blog) don't list a price either. Rather than estimate, the honest answer for a guitar from either end of the range is a free appraisal.
What Edgewater offers. Our cash offer on a Kalamazoo-era Texan typically lands around 20% under documented market figures like the ones above, and meaningfully less for a refinished top, replaced bridge, unrepaired cracks, or non-original parts. Condition and originality move the number more than the year does, so the accurate answer for yours is a free appraisal: call or text (440) 219-3607.
What hurts the offer
Refinish. Original nitrocellulose lacquer shows fine, even checking with age. A thick, glossy, crack-free finish usually means a refinish, and it costs real money against the offer.
Unrepaired or sloppily repaired cracks. A stable, professionally repaired top or back crack, like the sealed cracks on the 1966 TR Crandall example above, is common on a 60-year-old flat-top and isn't disqualifying by itself. A sunken top or a crack left open is a bigger problem.
Replaced bridge or saddle. Several of the real examples we found, including a 1967 with a new bridge and saddle, had this repair done at some point. It's normal, but a non-original bridge is still a mark against originality even when it plays fine.
Mismatched or non-original parts. Because some of the earliest Texans were assembled with leftover New York necks on new Kalamazoo bodies, originality on an early example can be genuinely complicated. A neck, bridge, or tuner set that doesn't match the guitar's actual year is common enough that we check it carefully rather than assume the worst.
Non-original tuners. Correct-for-the-year tuner buttons, plastic through 1966, metal after, are one data point among several. Don't assume a mismatch means a fake; check the rest of the guitar first.
Dating a Kalamazoo Epiphone Texan
Kalamazoo-built Epiphones used Gibson's own serial number and factory order number (FON) systems, stamped or inked inside the body, since they were built on the same factory floor as Gibson's own flat-tops. Our Gibson serial number lookup and our guide to dating a Gibson acoustic both apply directly to these guitars and are the right starting point. From there, cross-check the headstock shape, bridge style, and tuner buttons against the table above; Gibson's features didn't always change on a clean calendar year, so use two or three data points together rather than betting on one.
Sell your Epiphone Texan
Edgewater Guitars buys Epiphone Texans in every era and condition, from a well-preserved early example to a well-loved 1960s player, refinished, repaired, or all-original. We travel for the right guitar, pay by check or cash the same day, and show you the comps behind our offer. Get a free estimate or call or text (440) 219-3607, text us photos right now if that's easier. Our sell your Epiphone page explains how the process works.
From a recent Google review: "Highly knowledgeable, responsive, and professional ... I sold a guitar I inherited ... got more than I expected ... absolutely recommend." (Hannah Shell, March 2025)
Frequently asked questions
What is an Epiphone Texan worth?
It depends heavily on condition and originality, not just the year. Currently listed mid-1960s examples range from about $4,499 to $5,999 at TR Crandall Guitars and Dayton Vintage Guitars And Amps, with condition and repairs explaining most of the spread. Edgewater gives free appraisals: call or text (440) 219-3607.
Is the Epiphone Texan the same as a Gibson J-45?
Close, but not identical. The Texan shares its round-shoulder dreadnought body and bracing with the Gibson J-45 and J-50, but was built with a longer 25.5" scale neck instead of the J-45's 24.75" scale, which gives the strings a slightly firmer feel.
How do I tell a Texan from the other Kalamazoo Epiphone flat-tops?
Check the body shape and wood first. A round-shoulder dreadnought in mahogany is a Texan; a square-shoulder dreadnought is an El Dorado (mahogany), a Frontier (maple) or an Excellente (rosewood); anything noticeably smaller is a Caballero, Cortez, or the 12-string Serenader. If you're not sure, a photo settles it faster than guessing from memory.
Did the Epiphone Texan's scale length change over the years?
Not by spec. Every reference we checked gives the Texan a 25.5" scale across its whole 1958 to 1969 Kalamazoo run; one real example we found measured slightly shorter at 25 3/8", which looks like a measurement difference rather than a running change.
What guitar did Paul McCartney play on "Yesterday"?
A 1964 Epiphone Texan, restrung and played left-handed, which he still owns. Sources disagree on the exact year he acquired it, 1964 or 1965, but agree it's the guitar he used to write and record the song.
How do I date my Epiphone Texan?
Start with the serial number or factory order number stamped inside the body using our Gibson serial number lookup, since Kalamazoo Epiphones used Gibson's own numbering. Then cross-check the headstock shape, bridge style, and tuner buttons against the feature table above; our free appraisal will confirm the year and the condition-adjusted value.
Sources
Epiphone Texan, Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphone_Texan
FT-Series spec archive (Texan, Caballero, Cortez, Serenader, El Dorado, Frontier, Excellente), The Unofficial Epiphone Wiki: epiphonewiki.org
The first appearance of the Epiphone Texan, c.1958, True Vintage Guitar: truevintageguitar.com
1964 Epiphone FT-79N Texan, True Vintage Guitar: truevintageguitar.com
Epiphone FT 79 Texan 1958 Natural (sold), True Vintage Guitar via VintageAndRare: vintageandrare.com
Catch of the Day: 1963 Epiphone FT-79 Texan, Fretboard Journal: fretboardjournal.com
1964 Epiphone (Gibson) FT-79N Texan Slope Dreadnought Guitar, Jake Wildwood: jakewildwood.blogspot.com
1967 Epiphone FT79 (Gibson) Texan Slope Dreadnought Guitar, Jake Wildwood: jakewildwood.blogspot.com
1965 Epiphone FT-79 Texan, Natural, The Music Emporium: themusicemporium.com
1964, 1965 and 1966 Epiphone Texan FT-79, TR Crandall Guitars: trcrandall.com
1966 Epiphone Texan FT-79 ($5,999), TR Crandall Guitars: trcrandall.com
1964 Epiphone Texan FT-79 ($5,998), Dayton Vintage Guitars And Amps via Gbase: gbase.com
Matsumoku, Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsumoku
Epiphone Solidbody Guitars, The Unique Guitar Blog: uniqueguitar.blogspot.com
Paul McCartney's Epiphone Texan, The Unique Guitar Blog: uniqueguitar.blogspot.com
Review: Epiphone's "Inspired by '1964' Texan" Has Classic Sound with Modern Updates, Acoustic Guitar magazine: acousticguitar.com
Written by Stephen Pedone, co-owner of Edgewater Guitars, a vintage guitar buyer based in Valley City, Ohio with more than 140 Google reviews at a 5.0-star average. Market figures are from the dealer listings cited above. Last updated: September 2026.
