Epiphone FT-130

3.5 (3)

1 Critic Review

2 Reviews

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Page last updated Jan 23, 2026

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Description

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The Epiphone FT-130 is a classic steel-string acoustic guitar that delivers a rich, resonant sound suitable for both beginners and experienced musicians. With its dreadnought body style, the FT-130 provides a full-bodied tone that is perfect for strumming or fingerpicking. The guitar's top is crafted from select spruce, known for its responsiveness and ability to project sound clearly, while the mahogany back and sides add warmth and depth to each note.

Epiphone has equipped the FT-130 with a comfortable mahogany neck and a smooth rosewood fingerboard, ensuring ease of playability whether you're practicing at home or performing on stage. The guitar also features reliable die-cast tuning machines that keep the strings in tune longer, reducing the hassle of frequent tuning adjustments.

This guitar is ideal for those seeking a reliable instrument for various music styles, from folk to rock. Whether you're writing new songs or playing your favorite covers, the Epiphone FT-130 offers versatility and quality in one package.

Key Features:

Dreadnought body style for a full-bodied sound
Select spruce top for clear projection
Mahogany back and sides for warmth and depth
Comfortable mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard
Die-cast tuning machines for reliable tuning stability

Videos

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eddievegas1

1971 Epiphone FT-130 Caballero Made In Japan Eddie Vegas

eddievegas1

Epiphone FT-130 Acoustic Guitar

Stephen Stern

Epiphone FT-130 1971 Made in Japan Acoustic

The Guitar Colonel

guit.vint Epiphone FT 130

guit. vint

Epiphone FT-130 Caballero high action fix

Thomas Muse Guitars

1972 Epiphone FT-130

M Reidsma

Reviews

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Epiphone FT-130.

Build quality

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The neck collapse issue is common, affecting the guitar's playability and requiring attention before purchase.
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The original bridge is bolted and has decorative screws, affecting sound; a non-bolted bridge is recommended for better acoustics.
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Value and pricing

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The guitar is generally valued around $150, much less than the $650 asking price, particularly due to potential neck issues.
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Features and functionality

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Sound is notably full and impactful, a characteristic that stands out even among other vintage guitars.
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The guitar's zero-fret requires measuring from the fret, not the nut, for correct saddle placement.
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Use cases and applications

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Despite its flaws, the guitar's solid spruce top contributes to a pleasing tone, making it suitable for those seeking vintage sound quality.
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The guitar can be a great option for school environments where it might experience heavy use by students.
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Comparisons

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The guitar's back and sides are often described as mahogany, contrasting with claims of rosewood, highlighting inconsistencies in material descriptions.
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Setup and maintenance

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It's crucial to check the bridge plate's condition; worn pin holes can be repaired with CA glue and wood dust.
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Mods and upgrades

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Replacing the stock bridge with a glued-on version can improve sound quality, and Bocote wood requires degreasing before use.
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Critic Reviews

1970s Epiphone FT-130 Caballero 000-Size Guitar

jakewildwood.blogspot.com

The 1970s Epiphone FT-130 is a mixed bag; while it offers decent playability and a retro charm, its all-laminate construction leads to a thinner, mid-range sound compared to solid-topped alternatives. The bolt-on neck is both a blessing and a curse, providing easy adjustments but resulting in a slight neck hump. Its adjustable saddle offers convenience, though it needs some customization for optimal performance. Overall, it's a fun, nostalgic piece but doesn't compete with higher-end models.

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3.5 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 3 Ratings

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wkatastrof

about 9 years ago

Nice player but beware of failing neck block! See longer review for details.

This guitar was given to me by some friends in 2005 or so as a gift. Its the non-deluxe version with a natural finish so it has dot inlays. Its a 70's Made in Japan Epiphone made by Matsumoku which also made Aria guitars. Being a laminate top guitar, its quiet. With 1 3/4 with at the nut, fingerstyle playing is comfortable.

With a bolt-on neck, these guitars have a history of glue failing at the neck block which causes the neck to cave in the top and cause severe damage. When I got mine, it had that problem but luckily it didn't do much damage (the top has a slight warp to it under the fret board extension, but does not affect playability). Rick at the Music Place in Berlin, NJ was able to re-glue the neck block into place and its been fine at full tension for the last 12 years. Here is a great thread dealing with this repair if you run into it:

http://forum.gibson.com/index.php/topic/37812-repairing-a-norlin-era-ft-guitar-with-broken-neck/page_p528620hlrepairingfromsearch_1#entry528620

I used a Bill Lawrence A-300 soundhole with this guitar since its a bit quiet for fingerstyle.

jimmarchi1

41016

9 years ago about 9 years ago

matsumoku also made 70s Yamaha, some 70s grecos, 80s washburn etc etc

nicklaspolan

110

over 8 years ago

Perfect for me on acoustic

This thing is from the 70's and it finds a way to work with every genre of music I play, whether I;m practicing a song, performing for a friend unplugged, or recording a cover. Very high quality

Artist usage

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Riley Green

Singer

Verified via Photo

On his Instagram, Riley Green features an Epiphone FT-130 in the background of a video celebrating Father's Day, where he performs a Randy Travis classic in his new barn.