Epiphone Professional
The Epiphone Professional outfit was sold as a guitar and amplifier package. All controls for operating the amp were built into the guitar - as well as volume and tone, there were tremolo and reverb, whilst tonal changes were "actuated by five 'tonexpressor' switches". The amplifier itself was available initially as a 15w amp, or as a 35w version from 1963. These could not be used independently. In 1962, the EA7P had a $495 price tag.
The guitar itself was somewhat similar to the Epiphone Riviera, also launched in 1962, having the same dimensions (16" x 19" x 1 3/4"), construction (maple body, 22 fret mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard) and appointments (parallelogram block inlays, 'Oval' headstock inlay). However electronically this guitar is quite different, with it's Tonexpressor controls, with some similarities to those used a year later on the Epiphone Caiola. It was only available in translucent Cherry finish - actually quite unusual for an Epiphone thinline in the early sixties.
1962 full line catalogue
Here is a feature that all guitar players have been seeking. The new Epiphone (EA7P) Professional Outfit has all the controls for operating the amplifier on the guitar. gives the player a flexibility never before possible
1964 full line catalogue
The 1964 catalogue was the last to show the Epiphone Professional outfit in colour.
The shipping figures for this outfit are open to confusion, as both the 15w amp and guitar have the same model code in the records, however it would seem that 30 more amplifiers were produced than guitars.
1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | total | |
EA7P guitar | 67 | 189 | 84 | 55 | 1 | 396 |
EA7P amplifier | 67 | 137 | 43 | 26 | 14 | 287 |
EA8P amplifier | 55 | 55 | 29 | 139 |
$3195