Noel Gallagher’s 1960s Epiphone Frontier FT110

Noel acquired his Epiphone Frontier FT110 sometime before the What’s the Story Morning Glory? studio sessions in May and June 1995. It was one of the guitars he was seen playing during those sessions and was likely the acoustic guitar he used most on the album.

While he did use the Frontier occasionally for live performances too, it was typically for smaller audiences since the guitar didn’t have a built-in pickup system and had to be miked. For instance, he played it on October 1st, 1995, at the album launch event held at the Virgin Megastore in London, UK.

Because he continued using the Frontier in the days following the album’s release—and since its tone closely resembles the sound heard on the studio recordings—many fans have argued that this is the actual “Wonderwall” guitar. However, there are strong clues suggesting that the Takamine FP 460 SC might hold that title instead.

Specs

The FT-110 Frontier model was introduced in 1958 and remained in production for about a decade. It was made in the USA at the renowned Kalamazoo, Michigan, plant, where Gibson also crafted their guitars.

The FT-110 featured maple back and sides and a seven-ply top binding. Starting in 1962, the model was equipped with an adjustable saddle in the bridge—a feature present on Noel’s guitar, indicating it was made sometime after that year.

Although it carries the Epiphone name rather than Gibson, the Frontier has become a highly collectible and sought-after model today. A well-preserved example in good condition can fetch upwards of $12,000. For comparison, the guitar originally sold for around $300 in the 1960s, which, adjusted for inflation, would be approximately $3,000 today.