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1953 Epiphone Zephyr Deluxe Regent
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Serial #: 66069, blue New York label
Body size at lower bout: 17 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2". Nut width: 1 11/16"
Finish: Amber blonde finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type
Materials: Highly figured flame maple body; solid maple neck with 3-ply walnut/maple centerstripe; ornate vine style mother-of-pearl peghead inlay and cloud fingerboard inlays; Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with inlaid perimeter stripes, deluxe five-ply body binding, triple-bound fingerboard and headstock.
Hardware: All-original hardware includes gold epsilon logo tuners, original gold "New York" pickups, original Frequensator tailpiece; original white octagonal pointer knobs; original compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge; original triple-bound nitrocellulose pickguard in translucent tortoise; hex-key adjustable truss rod.
Notes: Introduced in 1948, the Zephyr Deluxe Regent was Epiphone's electric cutaway version of their legendary Deluxe model archtop. Epi's top-of-the line 17" instrument, the Zephyr Deluxe Regent was the equivalent in price and prestige to its main competitor, the Gibson L-5CES. Featuring a deeper cutaway than its Gibson rival, the Zephyr Deluxe Regent facilitates upper fingerboard access by two to three frets over the cutaway L-5. By 1950, the slender "New York" style pickups debuted, with the cream colored housing on either side of the gold cover. This is the most desirable version of the model, in blonde finish, with twin New York pickups, and the ornate peghead vine. And unlike earlier versions with the split block fingerboard inlay, this late example revived the beloved Deluxe clouds on the fretboard.
The guitar is in superb original condition, with exceptional flame maple body, and all its original amber blonde sunburst finish and gold hardware intact. The electronics work flawlessly, and the neck profile is gently rounded but not full. The maple body is highly flamed throughout, with original blonde finish in excellent condition, free of pick, buckle or thumbwear. Binding is all original and tight to the body, the tailpiece seam is in perfect shape, the action is low and fast, and the single-coil "New York" pickups are sweet and clear. An ornate and highly distinctive guitar, and one of the finest examples of this model we've found.
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 nickel roundwound strings (.013-.057). 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.
