I base this on the logo used and the serial number format. Possibly a limited run for a concern such as Yamano Music. If I was a man who wagered I'd say there's a great likelihood that the guitar in question is a Terada-made (Japan) Epiphone dating to 1988 and originally intended for sale exclusively within Japan.
This will be cross posted in a couple of forums, so sorry if you see duplicates. If anyone has any information on this guitar I’d be grateful to hear back from you. The paint is sinking into the wood, particularly on the top where grain striations can be seen in the proper lighting. There is a sticker on the rear of the headstock which reads “891079”. It has an Epiphone label inside that reads “CHET ATKINS-EB” for the model with the serial number space left blank. The original bridge and tailpiece were replaced with the Bigsby and bar bridge. Although it has obvious cosmetic deviations from those two guitars, the only major structural differences are the use of master tone and volume controls. After I took delivery I realized it was a semi-hollow with body dimensions exactly like those for a Gibson Country Gentleman or Epiphone Country Deluxe.
I purchased this guitar on eBay recently, primarily due to the 1.75” nut width. I’m not certain what I have here, but I like it a lot.
