Epiphone PR-725S

Made in Japan, gloss finish dreadnought with std chrome tuners, slim neck standard scale with 14 frets clear of body. Mine was made around 1977 and I got it in 1978 from my Uncle who was a Gibson sales rep. It has a solid spruce top and 2 piece solid mahogany back and sides. Bindings are spruce (not plastic) including neck cap on back. Uncle told me it was Epiphone's version of a Martin D35. They did look very similar. Inlaid rosette 3 circle rosette with rosewood fretboard and bridge. Standard dot fret markers but mother of pearl Epiphone logo on headstock. This guitar originally listed for $450 in 1978. Finish and construction have held up well for almost 32 years.

I am mostly a strummer playing in local jam circles and campouts. Most of my friends have Martins or Taylors and this guitar holds it own against them volume wise. I took it to a Brook Mays when I got it in 1978 and played a Martin D35 against it...pretty darn close. I currently have a '94 Martin D1 and they are close except the Martin still has more bottom end. It's sound is quite balanced and some of my flat picker friends prefer the less "boom-i-ness" of this guitar and hand me back my Martin. I just took it in to Guitar Center for it's first ever Road Runner hard case and the fellas there past it around and remarked that there was no other Epiphone made today that was close.

Out of the factory it had very low action and a smooth feel up the fretboard. I've never had another acoustic with a better setup. It originally had plastic nut and saddle, but I recently had a bone saddle installed to liven up the volume.

Everything has been perfect, finish, durability, hardware etc. However, after many years of using med gauge strings the original saddle started leaning and split the bridge along the front edge of the saddle cavity. I took it to a Luthier who reglued it back and have had no trouble. He did tell me to only use light gauge strings in the future but I play in circle jams in loud bars so I haven't followed his advice. No trouble for last 3 years. After 30 years of playing I wore out the original slim frets and had it re-fretted with nice jumbos. This did amazing things to get it back to original volume levels.

Never needed...32 years old...out of warranty...

I've been playing since I was 7 and had only a no name K-mart POS. I got this in high school and I would be crushed if it was lost or stolen. I would gig with this guitar with no backup no problem. It has been on many campouts and bars and taken abuse with a smile. I love the ease of play and the now deepened aged sound it most. When playing with my songwriting group in Dallas, I'll take my Martin, but I'll always cherish this first baby. I highly recommend this model if you can find it. Personally, I've only ever run across one other that had it. She uses it behind her special edition Martin D28 for alternate tunings in her gigs. Consider yourself lucky if you can find one.