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1946 Epiphone Emperor, Blonde

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Serial: #54619

Body size at lower bout: 18 1/2". Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut: 1 11/16"

Materials: Extravagantly figured bookmatched quilted maple back and sides; hand carved solid Adirondack spruce top; 7-piece maple-walnut neck; 7-ply ivoroid body binding; triple-bound heel cap, neck binding, f-holes and head stock; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with "split-block" mother of pearl and abalone inlay; ornate pearl tree-of-life peghead inlay.

Hardware: 100% original gold hardware, including Frequensator tailpiece and Epsilon logo 16X1 tuners; original adjustable rosewood bridge with maple base, hex-key truss rod at fingerboard extension. Vintage correct triple bound tortoise pickguard installed.

Notes: Put on your shades. And put in your ear plugs. This big beauty is not for the faint of heart.

The glory of the Epiphone line, the Emperor was the largest and most costly instrument produced in the New York factory. With its massive 18 1/2" lower bout, this top-of-the-line instrument is the largest production archtop made. Yet due to its slightly smaller upper bout, many players find the Emperor profile markedly easier to hold than the somewhat bulkier Super 400. The back and neck of this spectacular instrument are hand carved of spectacular deeply figured tiger maple, bookmatched in a dramatic chevron pattern, with deep rollers of curl in the sides and neck. (Find this flame on an old Les Paul Standard, and start adding zeroes to the price.) The top is hand-graduated from solid quarter-sawn bookmatched Adirondack spruce, and the neck profile is remarkably contemporary, sitting very comfortably in the palm.

The original deep amber blonde finish has been preserved in gleaming condition, without cracks, buckle or fingerboard wear. A trace of smooth thumbwear on the neck and a bit of old pickwear under the guard are clues to the wide-open voice, earned over a long career. An instrument of unusual projection, this guitar has exceptional depth and clarity throughout the range, with pronounced natural reverb in the highs, and lows of simply cavernous depth. The gold Frequensator tailpiece is in excellent conditon, the multi-ply binding is original and tight to the body, and the bridge is fabricated with a rosewood saddle and rock maple base, fitted only on Epis with the blonde finish, and serial numbered to match the guitar. The fingerboard is illuminated with abalone of exceptionally vivid color, with excellent fretwork, smooth low action and a very comfy gentle C neck profile neck. A short section of the back centerseam has been soundly resealed near the endblock, and the package is completed with the original French fit Epiphone hardshell case, with the epsilon logo in the plush lined case lid. Mighty pretty, and mighty powerful, this glamorous guitar can face down any horn section with style.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished as required; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge radius inspected and recurved as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.

Case: Original black deluxe Epiphone French fit epsilon logo plush lined hardshell case.