My Epcor Body Entices One Lone $50 Bid On EBay

[hackworth1]

Auction just ended. I'm surprised. Sheesh! I thought this nice classic 1966 Hallmark Epcor body would spark much more interest and get a two hundred dollar bid. For $50 I was not willing to sell her. She really is a very fine, painted and undrilled body. Now that I have an idea of her value (not very much), I think I will keep her and build her for myself to enjoy. l'll keep y'all posted.

Also, it has come to my attention that these Epcor bodies may not have been made at the California Hallmark shop. They may have been imported from Italy to be assembled at the Hallmark factory for Ed Praeger.

The story goes that Mr. Praeger didn't pay the bill for the guitars.

Pure speculation: Maybe the fact that the bodies were imported and not built by Hallmark, had something to do with the dissatisfaction of Mr. Praeger. Maybe not.

Interesting Bakersfield guitar history in any case.

[Sarah93003]

I saw that. It's a great looking body. What is it like on the inside?

[hackworth1]

Thanks for your interest. It is as clean as a June bride on the inside. All the support structure that is seen is genuine mahogany - the neck pocket and support block to the neck pickup and all around the bridge pickup. The mahogany spars to the rear go back just far enuff for a TOM bridge. A trapeze taipiece is necessary because there is no meat for a TOM Stop tailpiece. Personally, I love trapeze tailpieces anyway.

I do not know what kind of wood is the painted body soundboard, back and sides. Anybody?

As I said, I'm nonplussed by the near total lack of interest in this 66-67 Hallmark production of only 100 or so guitars.

Of Course, this body was not a completed guitar at any point. Some of these (undrilled bodies only) got loose before completion. As a lefthanded player, this was a very keen find for me (when I bought it on Ebay for $50 plus shipping from Simi Valley, CA) to make a custom left handed player. I just didn't want to ruin anything of value. That - apparently - is not a concern.

The rare Epcor has met with a concerted overall lack of interest as a collectible and valuable piece.

I am confident that I can make it into a very nice player.

[Sarah93003]

Thanks for your interest. It is as clean as a June bride on the inside. All the support structure that is seen is genuine mahogany - the neck pocket and support block to the neck pickup and all around the bridge pickup. The mahogany spars to the rear go back just far enuff for a TOM bridge. A trapeze taipiece is necessary because there is no meat for a TOM Stop tailpiece. Personally, I love trapeze tailpieces anyway.

I do not know what kind of wood is the painted body soundboard, back and sides. Anybody?

As I said, I'm nonplussed by the near total lack of interest in this 66-67 Hallmark production of only 100 or so guitars.

Of Course, this body was not a completed guitar at any point. Some of these (undrilled bodies only) got loose before completion. As a lefthanded player, this was a very keen find for me (when I bought it on Ebay for $50 plus shipping from Simi Valley, CA) to make a custom left handed player. I just didn't want to ruin anything of value. That - apparently - is not a concern.

I live 25 miles from Simi Valley!!

The rare Epcor has met with a concerted overall lack of interest as a collectible and valuable piece.

I am confident that I can make it into a very nice player.