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1933 Epiphone Triumph Masterbilt

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Serial#: 7108, gold oval 'Art Instrument' label

Body size at lower bout: 16 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11/16" Neck depth: .87/1.02, 1st/10th frets

Materials: Hand graduated solid Adirondack spruce top, mahogany neck with 3 piece centerstripe, arched maple back and sides, solid rosewood fingerboard, mother-of-pearl dot fingerboard inlays; 3-banner scribed gold-leaf logo in Bakelite peghead facing; bound fingerboard and body, solid bone nut.

Hardware: All original nickel hardware includes Waverly open back tuners, trapeze tailpiece, compensated adjustable rosewood bridge, and black Bakelite teardrop pickguard with bracket.

Notes: Epiphone's most popular professional sized instrument, the Triumph was introduced in 1931 with a compact 15" body design. This rare transitional example from 1933 is one of the first with the larger 16" body, but retains the Masterbilt gold-leaf banner headstock and segmented f-holes of the earliest models.

This handsome guitar is equipped with all its original nickel hardware including Waverly open back tuners, trapeze tailpiece, and compensated adjustable rosewood bridge, as well as its original black Bakelite pickguard. The solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard has a very comfy 8" radius, and a short-lived inlay dot pattern featuring double markers at the 7th fret. Completing its unique appearance is the lustrous pearloid neck binding, a rarity on Epiphones of any vintage. Neck profile is a gentle C, with fine recent fretwork, and smooth low action over a fresh high-precision setup.

The instrument has been well maintained, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. The original semi-transparent dark sunburst finish shows some light age checking, under a light overspray of true vintage style lacquer. At a scant 4lb, 14oz, the instrument is phenomenally light weight and well balanced, on the lap or the strap. The long scale neck and finely carved soundboard combine to produce a punchy, powerful voice, with excellent projection and cutting power: the wide open timbre of well seasoned tonewood almost a century old.

Epis from this earliest era are hard to find, and worth the hunt. A fine example of Epi's most popular professional series guitar. One only: call now.

Setup: 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; bridge compensation strobe tuned.

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: Deluxe black arched plush lined hardshell case.