Vintage Epiphone Crestwood Custom - USA 1966

Here is an Epiphone Crestwood Custom from the classic Kalamazoo era, a rare USA-built solid-body guitar representing the peak of Epiphone production following Gibson’s acquisition of the brand in 1959. Built in the same Kalamazoo factory as Gibson instruments, these guitars share the same craftsmanship, materials, and build quality as pre-Norlin-era Gibsons, making them highly sought-after vintage instruments today.

This example features dual mini-humbucker pickups, delivering a bright, focused and articulate tone with strong midrange presence, sitting between the clarity of single coils and the warmth of full-sized humbuckers. The neck-through mahogany construction enhances sustain and resonance, while the Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and slim-to-medium neck profile provide smooth playability and easy access across the entire fretboard.

The guitar shows honest player wear consistent with its age, including cracks to the pickup rings, a split in the pickguard, replaced knobs, and a missing tuner bushing on the high E string. Despite this, it remains structurally solid and fully playable, with frets in good condition and a comfortable low action up the neck.

Sonically, the mini-humbuckers deliver excellent clarity and definition with a tight, punchy response, offering vintage-voiced cleans and a snappy midrange that works beautifully for blues, rock, and clean rhythm playing. The guitar retains strong resonance and dynamic response, making it a rewarding and expressive player’s instrument.

A rare opportunity to own a genuine Kalamazoo-built Epiphone Crestwood Custom from one of the brand’s most important eras. Comes with a non-original hard case.

Specifications: 

Year: 1966
Country: USA
Model: Vintage Epiphone Crestwood
Body: Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany with Brazilian Rosewood fretboard
Fingerboard: Brazilian Rosewood
Pickups: Gibson Mini Humbucker (front and bridge)
Bridge: Replacement Tune-o-Matic with steel saddles
Tuners: Kluson Deluxe Single Line
Case: OHSC