The EA series were ES-335 style thinline semi-hollow bodied electric guitars and bass made by Matsumoku in Japan in the early to mid 1970s.
Epiphone 5102TThe Epiphone 5102T / 5102TE was introduced in 1970 at a turning point in Epiphone history when the company stopped manufacturing in the USA and began importing guitars from overseas. The Epiphone 5102T was made in Japan by Matsumoku and was a thinline ES-335 style hollow bodied electric. Available cherry red finish, it had a bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with block inlays, tune-o-matic style rocker bridge (with Teflon covered rollers). vibrato tail-piece (with wood-insert). | |
Epiphone 5120The Epiphone 5120 bass was made from 1970-1971, in by the Japanese Matsumoku company. The Epiphone 5120 had an ES-335 style hollow body, twin pickups with dual controls, deluxe heavily chrome-plated machine heads. Sunburst finish on the front and back with an adjustable maple neck. Rosewood fingerboard with offset pearloid dot position markers. Chrome plated adjustable bridge wtih a custom desgined spring type mute. Trapeze trail-piece with wooden insert. | |
EPIPHONE EA-250The Japanese made Epiphone EA-250 was introduced around 1971 - replacing the 5102T model. The EA-250 had a double cutaway, select hardwood top, rims and back, three piece adjustable neck, cherry red finish, rosewood fingerboard with block inlays, multiple body bindings, adjustable precision bridge, two pickups, two each volume and tone controls, toggle switch, deluxe machine heads and chrome plated hardware. The Epiphone EA-250 did not have the rosewood bridge base of the 5102T model, it also had different pickups with chrome pickup covers and an optional trapeze tailpiece | |
EPIPHONE EA-255The Japanese made Epiphone EA-255 was introduced in 1976 - replacing the EA-250 model. The EA-255 was an ES-335 style thinline hollow body with a double cutaway, laminated walnut top. It had a bolt-on mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard with block inlays, multiple body bindings, adjustable precision bridge, two humbucking pickups, two each volume and tone controls, toggle switch, deluxe machine heads and gold colored hardware. Source unofficial epiphone wiki |
Specifications:
Model | Image | Dimensions | Finish colors | Made in | Binding | Number of strings | Scale length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Epiphone 5102T 1970 to 1971 | 41.5 × 15.75 × 2 in | red finish | Japan | body binding, neck binding | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | |
Epiphone 5120 1970 to 1971 | 45.125 × 15.75 × 2 in | red finish | Japan | - | 4 strings | 30.5 inches scale-length | |
EPIPHONE EA-250 1971 to 1975 | 41.5 × 15.75 × 2 in | red finish | Japan | body binding, neck binding | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | |
EPIPHONE EA-255 1976 to 1979 | 41.5 × 15.75 × 2 in | natural finish | Japan | body binding, neck binding | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length |
Model | Controls material | Controls shape | Number of control knobs | Pickup selector controls | Tone controls | Volume controls |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Epiphone 5102T 1970 to 1971 | black controls | top hat controls | 4 control knobs | 3-way selector switch | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
Epiphone 5120 1970 to 1971 | black controls | - | 4 control knobs | 3-way selector switch | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
EPIPHONE EA-250 1971 to 1975 | black controls | top hat controls | 4 control knobs | 3 selector switches | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
EPIPHONE EA-255 1976 to 1979 | gold controls | - | 4 control knobs | 3 selector switches | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
Model | Pickups configuration |
---|---|
Epiphone 5102T 1970 to 1971 | 2 humbucker pickups |
Epiphone 5120 1970 to 1971 | 2 double coil pickups |
EPIPHONE EA-250 1971 to 1975 | 2 humbucker pickups |
EPIPHONE EA-255 1976 to 1979 | 2 humbucker pickups |
Model | Body style | Hollow body | Pickguard material | Soundhole | Body top material |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Epiphone 5102T 1970 to 1971 | ES-335 style | hollow body | black pickguard | 2 f-holes | - |
Epiphone 5120 1970 to 1971 | ES-335 style | hollow body | black pickguard | 2 f-holes | - |
EPIPHONE EA-250 1971 to 1975 | ES-335 style | hollow body | black pickguard | 2 f-holes | - |
EPIPHONE EA-255 1976 to 1979 | ES-335 style | hollow body | black pickguard | 2 f-holes | laminate top, walnut body top |
Model | Bridge | Hardware color | Tailpiece |
---|---|---|---|
Epiphone 5102T 1970 to 1971 | tune-o-matic bridge | chrome hardware | Vibrato tailpiece |
Epiphone 5120 1970 to 1971 | - | chrome hardware | trapeze tailpiece |
EPIPHONE EA-250 1971 to 1975 | tune-o-matic bridge | chrome hardware | Vibrato tailpiece, trapeze tailpiece |
EPIPHONE EA-255 1976 to 1979 | tune-o-matic bridge | gold hardware | Frequensator tailpiece |
Model | Fingerboard inlay material | Fingerboard material | Fingerboard position markers |
---|---|---|---|
Epiphone 5102T 1970 to 1971 | pearloid fingerboard inlays | rosewood fingerboard | block fingerboard position markers |
Epiphone 5120 1970 to 1971 | - | rosewood fingerboard | offset dot fingerboard position markers |
EPIPHONE EA-250 1971 to 1975 | pearloid fingerboard inlays | rosewood fingerboard | block fingerboard position markers |
EPIPHONE EA-255 1976 to 1979 | pearloid fingerboard inlays | rosewood fingerboard | block fingerboard position markers |
Model | Neck joint | Neck material | Number of frets | Tuner layout | Neck width |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Epiphone 5102T 1970 to 1971 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 21 fret | three-each-side | - |
Epiphone 5120 1970 to 1971 | - | - | 20 fret | two-each-side | - |
EPIPHONE EA-250 1971 to 1975 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 21 fret | three-each-side | 1.68 inches wide at nut |
EPIPHONE EA-255 1976 to 1979 | bolt on neck | mahogany neck | 21 fret | three-each-side | 1.68 inches wide at nut |