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ca. 1947 Epiphone Zephyr Deluxe
Status: SOLD For instruments now available, please visit our Instruments page here. To be notified of examples of this model or similar instruments as they arrive, please contact joev@archtop.com. Please be specific on which instrument(s) you're looking for, and we'll be happy to contact you as soon as they become available.
Serial #: 75 129, electric series, stamped in back of headstock
Body size at lower bout: 17 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2". Nut width: 1 11/16"
Finish: Amber blonde sunburst finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type
Materials: Highly figured flame maple back and sides; spruce top; solid maple neck with 3-ply walnut/maple centerstripe; ornate vine style mother-of-pearl peghead inlay and cloud fingerboard inlays in mother of pearl, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with inlaid perimeter stripes, deluxe five-ply body binding, bound fingerboard and headstock, bone nut.
Hardware: Original hardware includes triple-bound nitrocellulose tortoise pickguard; gold hardware including 16X1 Epsilon-logo tuners, original Epiphone Master pickup; 40's Epiphone Frequensator tailpiece installed (original in case); tone and volume controls with original white octagonal "radio knobs"; hex-key adjustable truss rod, original bridge with rosewood saddle and maple base.
Notes: Mellow. Normal. Brilliant: the three positions on the Epiphone Mastervoicer tone control say it all. With its spectacular 3-D flame body, all gold hardware and signature cloud inlays, the Epiphone Zephyr Deluxe was truly a Cadillac among electric guitars. Originally crafted circa 1947, this electric (Zephyr) version of the Deluxe was Epi's top-of-the line electric guitar, predating the Emperor electric by several years. The body shows highly figured flame maple to great effect, and is laminated for superior feedback resistance.
This example is in impeccable condition, with exceptionally fine figured maple back and sides. The guitar is without pick, thumb or fingerboard wear, and apart from a small patch of buckle wear and a couple of finish cracks near the treble f-hole, she appears to have had very little play at all. The Epiphone Master pickup shown is a rare version with exceptionally large cylindrical slotted magnets, offered only for a few years in the postwar era. An extra original Epiphone Frequensator tailpiece is installed, and the original is included in the handsome original Epi hardshell case. The binding is all tight to the body, and the neck angle is excellent, with fresh pro fretwork and impeccable action. The tone is sweet, fat and lively, a classic jump blues and swing machine, and the neck is invitingly comfortable in the hand. A rare opportunity to acquire a genuine 40's vintage Deluxe, and the finest example of this rarre model we've seen to date.
Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished; 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; bridgewheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished. This instrument is strung with medium gauge flatwound strings (.012-.054). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
Case: Original Epiphone plush-lined hardshell case.
