This is the extremely rare early version of the Epiphone Texan one of the most famous acoustic guitars of all time played by some of the worlds top artists. This is the highly sought after early 1951 version favoured by Jimi Hendrix. Jimi Hendrix's 1951 Epiphone FT-79 Sold at Bonhams auction house for a staggering €250,785!

Jimi Hendrix's 1951 Epiphone ET-79 was his main acoustic guitar and the longest guitar that Jimi Hendrix owned. His was serial number 62262 and was purchased in 1967 in New York during the Jimi Hendrix Experience tour then brought back to England. Jimi Played his Epiphone extensively in London composing many songs on it, he favoured the acoustic as he got kicked out of his first flat in Montague Square. His guitar was kept at his 43 Upper Berkely flat in London and also later at his Brook Street flat. The guitar was then featured there as part of the Experiencing Hendrix exhibit there. A clip of Hendrix playing it can be found doing a rendition of Elvis Presley's Hound Dog, which sounds sublime.

This particular version is the same model and year played by Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, who purchased one in LA in ’92 and used at home as a replacement to his Stella Harmony acoustic. Kurt Cobain's was previously believed to be a 1962 Epiphone Texan but on closer inspection it is actually a 1951 model. His guitar was then modified to with Schaller Tuning Keys and a Bartolini 3AV sound hole pick was added as Peter Buck from REM had one and Kurt liked the way it sounded. The soundhole pick up that was installed by Nirvana’s guitar tech Earnie Bailey was adapted to be permanently wired in and guitar jack input was installed where the strap button went on the bottom of the guitar. Earnie said this acoustic guitar was Kurt’s best and the best sounding acoustic he has ever heard. The guitar was then used extensively on the ’93 In Utero tour in the USA and Europe and can even be seen as a back up guitar to the Martin D18E at Nirvana’s famous Unplugged in New York concert. Kurt also applied a Nixon Now sticker to his, as joke tribute to one of America’s most infamously questionable presidents. Even though Kurt's guitar tech considered this to be Kurt's best sounding acoustic, which really says something as the Martin D18E has a divine acoustic sound, perhaps Kurt went with the Martin as Nixon Now sticker he had on his Epiphone may have detracted visually from Nirvana's MTV unplugged performance, or perhaps a random choice. Kurt Cobain had fantastic taste when it came to guitars, as both the Martin D18E and this early Epiphone Texan are some of the rarest acoustic guitars out there.

This Epiphone FT-79 really does sound fantastic with great depth and resonance. It is is great condition for it’s ages with its fair share of play wear scratches and dings. There is a little bit of wear to the lower binding which rests on your knee which has chipped away partially over time. The guitar is all original but the tuning keys stay in tune but are very a little bit stiff to adjust on certain strings. Kurt opted for modern tuners which he put on his Epiphone as this would really improve the tuning capabilities of the guitar but this guitar retains it's original tuning keys which keeps it all original and more desirable. A very special acoustic linked to one of the all time great performers. Overall a stunning piece from a historic era of Epiphone which makes this a rare and special early Epiphone Texan with the unusual jumbo style body rather than the slimmed down later versions. It also has the early Epiphone headstock and a gorgeous burst finish on the back of the neck, dark coloured back and sides with the double white binding a lovely natural finish to the front.

This guitar was made at Epiphone's New York City factory before the Gibson takeover. It has the serial number 60010. It has a flat solid spruce top, with solid maple sides, and a laminate arched maple back, giving the guitar a loud, deep and clear tone as well as a focused bass and mid sound. The neck is a 3 piece maple and mahogany and a rosewood fretboard. It has a scale length of 25 5/8. New York X - Braced flat top guitars are very rare and highly desirable. It has a 1 5/8" nut width with a medium C shape neck and a 7 1/4" fretboard radius, and a 25.5" scale length. The guitar weighs approximately 2.420KG. This Epiphone ET-79 is a very special guitar, an early model of one of the worlds best known acoustic guitars.