Epiphone Roy Orbison 12-string

Epiphone Guitar have announced the release of the Limited Edition Roy Orbison 12-String Signature Acoustic model. Produced in cooperation with the legendary singer/songwriter Roy Orbison estate, the model is based upon Roy´s own 1962 Epiphone “Bard” 12-string acoustic guitar. Orbison used his original Epiphone acoustic to write and perform many of his most well-known songs including perhaps his biggest hit, “Oh, Pretty Woman.”



“As a young, brilliant guitar player growing up in West Texas, Roy would have never dreamt that he would one day have his own Epiphone signature guitar named after him. Roy wrote ‘Oh Pretty Woman´ on his Epiphone 12-string acoustic which has remained iconic to this day. I hope the next generation of artists will feel inspired to write another great rock-n-roll song thanks to this amazing limited edition tribute to Roy,” said Barbara Orbison, Roy´s wife.

The Epiphone Roy Orbison 12-string guitar is a faithful reproduction of the 1962 Bard with a solid spruce top and hand scalloped bracing. It also features a solid mahogany back, a rosewood 12-string bridge and vintage tuners. As an added touch of authenticity, Epiphone has added the replica of the original blue rectangular sound hole label used during the famous Kalamazoo, MI years.

For this limited edition release, the back of the guitar´s headstock includes a replica of Roy Orbison´s signature and the notation for the first measure of the famous song´s introduction riff. Also included is a hard case with Roy´s signature and “sunglass” icon on it, a certificate of authenticity hand signed by Barbara Orbison and Roy´s son Roy Orbison Jr., a black and white photo of Roy with his original Epiphone Bard 12-string, a sunglass lapel pin and a copy of the “Oh Pretty Woman” sheet music.

The certificate and photo come in a leatherette presentation binder. The offering of this Limited Edition model gives fans of Epiphone and Roy Orbison an unprecedented opportunity to own a classic, vintage vibe 12 string and a piece of one of the most famous and iconic American singer/songwriters of our time.

More from www.epiphone.com.

Simon Bradley is a guitar and especially rock guitar expert who worked for Guitarist magazine and has in the past contributed to world-leading music and guitar titles like MusicRadar (obviously), Guitarist, Guitar World and Louder. What he doesn't know about Brian May's playing and, especially, the Red Special, isn't worth knowing.