Offered is Carl Perkins' Stage Played 1962 Epiphone "Emperor-E112T" Hollow-Body Electric Guitar. This is one of the most Heavily Documented guitars we have seen, with dozens of photographs showing Carl playing this guitar during performances with Johnny Cash in the late 1960s. Furthermore, the guitar was acquired directly from the Perkins Family and is accompanied by a letter signed by Carl's son attesting to its provenance. 

One of the most remarkable aspects of this guitar is that Carl played it with Johnny Cash during both his Folsom Prison and San Quentin Prison legendary concerts. Photos shown here capture Carl on stage with Johnny and the band during those performances.

"A Boy Name Sue"

The offered guitar was actually used to WRITE "A BOY NAME SUE" LIVE ON STAGE AT SAN QUENTIN DURING THE CONCERT. In his autobiography, Cash wrote that he had just received the song from his friend Shel Silverstein, and he only read over it a couple of times. It was included in that concert to try it out—he did not know the words, and he can be seen regularly referring to a piece of paper on the filmed recording, while Carl Perkins and the band improvised the backing on the spot. "A Boy Named Sue" ended up being the concert's major find. The rough, spontaneous performance with sparse accompaniment was included in the Johnny Cash At San Quentin LP, ultimately becoming one of Cash's biggest hits. 

The accompanying letter signed by Carl's son, Carl S. Perkins, reads in part: "This 1962 Epiphone hollow body guitar was bought by my dad, Carl Perkins, in late 1966. Carl Perkins started to work for The Johnny Cash show in early 1967. He played this guitar through 1970. This instrument was used on all Johnny Cash recordings during this period including, the Live at Folsom Prison and Live at San Quentin prison albums. Carl Perkins also wrote the country classic, Daddy Sang Bass, which stayed number one on the Country Music charts for six weeks and sung by Johnny Cash. This instrument was used in writing said song. This instrument was the prevalent sound on the classic, A Boy Named Sue recording."

The guitar is also accompanied by its original and seriously road-weary guitar case, replete with innumerable airline tags on the handle and two wonderful stickers for "The Johnny Cash Show."

The guitar presents with its original Epiphone white label on the interior of the hollow body, with serial number that reads "62502" -- the same serial number is on the back of the headstock. The label also lists the model, "E112T", and body style, "Emperor", and "Kalamazoo, Michigan." The guitar was constructed at Epiphone's Kalamazoo plant in the years before production of most Gibson-owned brands moved to Japan. It is important to note that ONLY 24 OF THESE MODELS WERE MADE IN THE KALAMAZOO FACILITY FROM 1962-68. This is an incredibly rare vintage guitar in its own right, with examples regularly selling for $10,000+.

While Epiphone serial numbers in this early 1960's period are less than consistent in indicating production dates, based on the sticker, company catalogs from the time and some current scholarship, this guitar was likely made as early as 1962. It presents in original condition, with the exception of the middle pickup, which has likely been modified if not replaced. The upper tuning bar cover is missing, but while the pick guard is missing its "E" logo sticker, the halo of its placement can still be seen.