Re: Epiphone MM70 1984 Made in Japan
"Hand crafted" and "Master series" don't mean a lot when it's a factory-made-in-Japan mandolin from the period when Gibson was establishing Epiphone as an import line, rather than a US-made "budget/alternative" catalog of what were basically Gibson guitars (and a few electric mandolins).
Having said that, what seems to be the case is that it's at least solid woods, probably carved top and back (it was Epi's most expensive mando at the time, I believe), and so not badly overpriced at $750.
Don't get hung up over its "rarity." Not a collector's item, and "rare" probably just means they didn't import or sell that many -- might be a good reason for that. With the exception of a few models from well-respected Japanese shops, like the Sumi-made Kentucky mandolins, differentiating among the various Japanese instruments of that period is not too useful. The same factory or factories could have produced F-model mandolins for several US or Japanese labels.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
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