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1954 Epiphone Devon
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Serial #: 68383, blue New York label
Body size at lower bout: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 11/16" Neck depth: .91/1.17, 1st/10th fret
Materials: Handcarved solid spruce top; solid cherry neck with centerstripe; arched maple back and sides; solid rosewood fingerboard; mother-of-pearl fingerboard and headstock inlays; stained holly headplate; bound body and fingerboard.
Hardware: 100% original nickel hardware includes Frequensator tailpiece, Waverly open-back tuners, bound tortoise epsilon logo pickguard, compensated adjustable rosewood bridge, hex-key adjustable truss rod.
Notes: The Devon is the rarest of all full-size Epiphone acoustics, made in small numbers in the New York factory only between 1949 and 1954. The guitar has the 17 3/8" solid hand-carved top and the long 25 1/2" scale of the Deluxe, Broadway and Triumph models, with which it is structurally identical. Like these more commonly-seen models, the Devon also has a solid rosewood fingerboard and the patent pending Frequensator tailpiece.
From the very last year of production, this guitar is fitted with some upscale touches unseen on earlier versions, including binding on both the peghead and pickguard. Maintained in exceptionally fine condition, the guitar is free of pick, buckle thumb or fingerboard wear, with its age showing principally in its replaced body binding, and a small hairline finish crack near the treble soundhole that does not appear to extend through the topwood.
The original nickel Frequensator tailpiece is solid at the bend, and the guitar remains fitted with its original bound tortoise pickguard, quite a rarity. The action is smooth and low with a fresh high-precision setup over a gentle C profile neck. The voice is clear and open, with great projection and headroom: a true acoustic powerhouse.
A rare and handsome guitar, and a perennial best buy, delivering outstanding performance in a true vintage pro-sized US built acoustic archtop. One only: call now.
Setup: 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; bridgewheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge bronze strings (.013-.056). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" 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: Period black Epiphone logo arched plush lined hardshell case.
