Description:Epiphone Crestwood Custom solidbody guitar
Available: 1958 to 1970.
Collectibility Rating: NY parts model: B+, Gibson parts model: C-

General Comments:
The Gibson-made Epiphone Crestwood Custom was Epiphone's top dog of solidbody guitars. Nicely made by Gibson and very sleek and fast, these guitars are great playing and sounding. Though not well loved by the guitar community in general, I personally find the Epi Crestwood to be a good value and great guitar. Note the Crestwood is the greater cousin to the plainer Epiphone Wilshire and Epiphone Coronet.

If you need to figure out the exact year of your Epiphone Crestwood Custom, use the Serial Number. See the Gibson Serial Number Info web page for help determining the exact year.

If you have a vintage Epiphone Crestwood Custom guitar for sale, please contact me at cfh@provide.net

1958 Crestwood introduction specs:
• Mahogany body
• tune-o-matic bridge and stop tailpiece
• Two New York pickups.
• 1 3/4" thick symmetrical slab body with squared edges.
• Square body edges.
• Sunburst finish.
• NY style white knobs.
• Metal peghead logo.
• 3 tuners on a side peghead style.
• Asymmetrical pickguard with slashed-C logo.
• Gold plated parts.
• Inked serial number a la solidbody Gibsons.
• Dot inlays and rosewood fingerboard.

Late 1959 Crestwood Custom specs:

• Renamed Crestwood Custom.
• 1 3/8" thick body with rounded edges.
• Symmetrical pickguard.
• Cherry Red finish.

1961 Crestwood Custom specs:

• Two mini-humbucking pickups.
• Pearl peghead logo replaces metal plate logo.
• Oval pearl fingerboard inlays replaced dot inlays.
• Vibrato tailpiece standard.
• Gibson style knobs.
• No pickguard logo.
• Serial number stamped into back of peghead wood a la solidbody Gibsons.

1962 Crestwood Custom in Polaris White, 3+3 tuners.


1962 Crestwood Custom specs:

• White finish optional.
• Vibrato uses a rosewood insert.

1963 Crestwood Custom specs:

• Asymmetrical body with upper bass horn slightly longer than upper treble.
• Asymmetrical pickguard.
• Vibrato tailpiece optional.
• Bound fingerboard.
• Goofy looking "cheap amp" style barrel knobs often used.
• 6 on a side ("batwing") tuner configuration.
• Nickel plated parts.

1964 Crestwood Custom, batwing peghead.


1964 Crestwood Custom specs:

• Maestro vibrato has no rosewood insert.

1965 Crestwood Custom specs:

• Maestro vibrato standard.

Crestwood Custom discontinued 1970.
Overseas made Crestwoods seen through the 1970s to 1990s. These are easy to identify as they have full size Humbucking pickups (instead of mini-humbuckers pickups), and usually have bolt-on necks. These non-USA made Epi guitars are not collectible in any way.