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Check out the new Epiphone Wilshire Phant-o-matic designed in collaboration with Frank Iero!

Introducing the Epiphone Wilshire Phant-o-matic

Epiphone is proud to announce one of our most anticipated new models, the Wilshire “Phant-o-matic.” Designed in collaboration with Frank Iero guitarist for multi-platinum band My Chemical Romance, the Wilshire “Phant-o-matic” combines an incredible array of features that only Epiphone would dare put in one instrument. The result is one of the smartest and most flexible guitars on the market with all the vintage styling that made Wilshire models a behind-the-scenes favorite of Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Paul Gilbert, and Steve Marriot.

Classic Form: Like our classic SG design, the Wilshire “Phant-o-matic” features a double cutaway design with a solid Mahogany body. The 24.75″ scale Mahogany hand-set neck has a 1960s SlimTaper(TM) profile, a rosewood fingerboard with mother-of-pearl block inlays, a 12″ radius, and a 1-11/16″ nut. The neck profile and double cutaway make the Wilshire “Phant-o-matic” a perfect guitar for chunking rhythm or cutting leads. The Antique Ivory finish, black single-ply pickguard, and classic form are eye catching to be sure. But what really sets the Wilshire “Phant-o-matic” apart from the pack is how it sounds.

Video courtesy of Musician’s Friend. Look for My Chemical Romance and Frank with his Wilshire Phant-o-Matic on the cover of the October 2011 MF catalog.

Premium Electronics: My Chemical Romance have sold almost 7 million albums worldwide and know a thing or two about what makes a great, reliable, and cutting edge instrument. Working closely together over several years of research and development, Frank Iero and Epiphone strove to make an axe that puts the sound of a dozen guitars at your fingertips. The result is what you make it — a straight ahead awesome rock guitar or something completely new and groundbreaking. The “Phant-o-matic” employs two classic Epiphone pickups, our famous Alnico Classic Plus(TM) Humbucker in the bridge and an Alnico Classic(TM) Humbucker in the neck position. To get the most of the wide tonal possibilities from this pickup arrangement, we’ve included a mono VariTone(TM), much like the one used most famously by blues legend B. B. King.

About the VariTone: The VariTone(TM) uses a six-way rotary switch which engages 5 pre-set notch filters and a bypass. In position one, the VariTone(TM) is completely bypassed. As you rotate the rotary switch into positions 2-6, the center frequency of the notch filter shifts from around 1.9kHz down to 130Hz, providing a player with a wide tonal palette unavailable on most other instruments. Positions 2 through 4 offer tonal shaping while still maintaining great clarity. But keep turning and you’ll find Positions 5 and 6 shape-shift the Alnico Classic(TM) Humbuckers into a single-coil style pickup but without the thin quack usually associated with traditional single coil pickups. Add it all up and between the 6-position VariTone(TM) circuit and the 3-position toggle switch, you have 18 unique tones available. And if that wasn’t enough, Epiphone has included a high quality horn-mounted kill switch which provides an infinite range of staccato on/off effects. A master volume control is mounted with easy access to the VariTone(TM) rotary switch for quick adjustments.

Other Premium Features: Like many of our classic solid body electrics, the Wilshire “Phant-o-matic” uses our LockTone(TM) Tune-o-Matic(TM)/StopBar bridge for tuning and intonation accuracy. Machine heads are nickel Wilkenson(TM) vintage style tuners with green keys. And to protect it, Epiphone has included a premium, padded gigbag.

Peace of Mind! As with every Epiphone, every Wilshire “Phant-o-matic” comes with the peace of mind you get from a Limited Lifetime Warranty backed by Gibson Musical Instruments’ famous 24/7/365 day Customer Service. See and hear the groundbreaking Wilshire “Phant-o-matic” today!

Specifications:

Body Material:	Mahogany
Neck Material:	Mahogany
Neck Shape:	1960’s SlimTaper (TM)
Neck Joint:	Glued-In
Truss Rod:	Adjustable
Truss Rod Cover:	2-Layer (Black/White) with vintage “Epiphone” logo in gold
Scale Length:	24.75″
Fingerboard Material:	Rosewood with mother-of-pearl BLOCK inlays
Headstock:	Clipped Ear(TM) 3-on-a-side with vintage “Epiphone” logo in gold
Bridge Pickup:	Alnico Classic Plus(TM) Humbucker
Neck Pickup:	Alnico Classic(TM) Humbucker
Controls:	Master Volume Control, 6-Position Rotary VariTone(TM) notch filter. (Position 1: Bypass, Position 2: 5db at 1950hz, Position 3: 12db at 1100hz, Position 4: 16db at 620hz, Position 5: 18.5db at 360hz, Position 6: 21db at 120hz), Momentary KillSwitch(TM), 3-way pickup selector with black toggle cap
Binding:	Fingerboard – Single Ply
Fingerboard Radius:	12″
Frets:	22; medium-jumbo
Bridge:	LockTone(TM) tune-o-matic/stopbar
Nut Width:	1-11/16″
Hardware:	Nickel
Machine Heads:	Wilkenson(TM) Vintage style with Green Keys
Pickguard:	Black; Single Ply
Other:	Epiphone StrapLocks
Colors:	Antique Ivory
Includes:	Premium Gigbag
Options:	Hard Case
Warranty:	Epiphone Limited Lifetime