EPIPHONE CRESTWOOD CUSTOM

review
EPIPHONE CORONET, WILSHIRE & CRESTWOOD CUSTOM
84
GUITARIST FEBRUARY 2021
The Coronet’s single pickup is a dog-ear
P-90 Pro, which we already know is a great-
sounding, fat-toned single coil, here mated
to quality CTS pots and heavy-duty output
jack. The wrapover bridge/tailpiece is the
same compensated ‘Lightning Barthat
Gibson fitted to certain SGs in the 60s, and is
a preferable alternative to the basic stopbar
that lacks individual string intonation.
Moving up a rung we come to the
Wilshire. Essentially a double-P-90
version of the Coronet, its based around an
identical platform but with two ‘soapbar
style P-90 Pros linked to twin volume
and tone pots. The three-way pickup
selector toggle and jack socket are located
in the same cluster. Here, the pickguard
is single-ply faux tortoise and we find a
regular tune-o-matic style bridge that
Epiphone calls the ‘LockTone’, with
standard stud tailpiece. The finish is black,
and just like the Coronets classic Cherry, is
perfectly buffed to a bright gloss.
Moving on up to the top-of-the-range
Crestwood Custom, this is the most
different of this trio. Visually, what one
notices first is the clear plastic pickguard
with large white centre stripe actually
painted onto the underside so the top is
perfectly smooth. On this Cherry finish
5. On the Wilshire we fi nd
a pair of Epiphone P-90
Pros; these are powerful
and fruity sounding
and here they are black
‘soapbar’ style. Note the
single-ply faux-tortoise
pickguard and ‘E’ logo
6. The Wilshire’s bridge
and tailpiece follow the
Gibson norm. Epiphone
calls this tune-o-matic
the LockTone. Two
volumes and tones
sit with the three-way
toggle and jack socket
6
5
There’s a real sense of
purpose to these simple
designs. The black Wilshire
here looks ready to plug in
GIT468.rev_epi.indd 84 18/12/2020 11:39