Epiphone revives Joan Jett Olympic Special in Vintage Sunburst
Jett’s stripped-down single-pickup signature returns worldwide with rosewood replacing laurel and a finish inspired by her Melody Maker.
Sep 19, 2026
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Epiphone has brought the Joan Jett Olympic Special back into its worldwide lineup. Announced September 17, the revived signature model keeps the deliberately minimal formula: lightweight mahogany construction, one PowerHammer ProBucker pickup and a single volume control.
The most visible change is Vintage Sunburst, replacing the earlier Aged Classic White and taking its cue from Jett’s original Gibson Melody Maker. Epiphone has also moved the fingerboard from Indian laurel to rosewood, while the pickup now uses double-white bobbins.
It is less a technical reinvention than a focused reissue of a guitar whose appeal is its simplicity. For Jett fans and players who prefer one-pickup stage instruments, the worldwide return matters more than the cosmetic refresh alone.
Why it matters
The Olympic Special is an unusually stripped-down signature guitar tied to one of rock’s most recognizable rhythm players. Its return restores an accessible Joan Jett model to regular worldwide availability.
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