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1946 Epiphone Emperor

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Serial#: 55708

Body size at lower bout: 18 1/2" Body depth: 3 1/4" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut: 1 11/16"

Materials: Highly figured bookmatched flame 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 ebony fingerboard with "split-block" mother of pearl and abalone inlay; ornate pearl tree-of-life peghead inlay.

Hardware: Original gold hardware includes Pat. Pend. Frequensator tailpiece, epsilon-logo 16X1 tuners, hex-key truss rod at fingerboard extension, compensated adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge. Vintage correct bound tortoise shell pickguard, full size gold floating humbucking pickup, with pickguard mounted volume control and endpin jack.

Notes: 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 remains the largest archtop to be built in a production factory. 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 of this spectacular instrument is carved of exceptionally intense tiger flame maple, with the soundboard hand-graduated from solid quarter-sawn bookmatched Adirondack spruce. Typical of the model, the guitar has massive acoustic volume with exceptionally warm lower and middle register and the clear, brilliant highs of dry aged spruce. The gold Frequensator tailpiece is in excellent condition, and the multi-ply binding is all tight to the body.

The fingerboard is illuminated with abalone of exceptionally vivid color, with superb pro frets and smooth low action, over a gentle C neck profile that is remarkably contemporary. The guitar is remarkably free of pick, buckle thumb or fingerboard wear, with only a few random lacquer nicks in the all original deep amber blonde finish. Apart from one soundly resealed crack in the treble side near the neck heel, the guitar shows no other signs of repair.

Finally, this magnificent instrument is fitted with a full size gold floating humbucking pickup, with pickguard mounted volume control and endpin jack. All nestled in its original black Lifton case, which having been stored since new in a (now defunct) fleece lined canvas case cover, remains perhaps the most pristine original 40's Epiphone case we've seen to date. An instrument of exceptional performance and remarkable value, this guitar is a rare opportunity for the demanding player seeking the biggest tone in the room. One only: call now.

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 Epiphone deluxe black Lifton arched plush lined hardshell case.