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1934 Epiphone Blackstone Masterbilt

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Serial #: 7582, white Masterbilt label

Body size at lower bout: 14 5/8". Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 3/4"

Finish: Original sunburst finish, nitrocellulose type

Materials: Handcarved bookmatched solid spruce top; solid mahogany neck; arched Honduras mahogany back and sides; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, mother-of-pearl dot fingerboard inlays.

Hardware: Original hardware includes black polished bakelite pickguard, nickel 3-on-a-plate tuners, adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge. Prewar Epiphone nickel trapeze tailpiece.

Notes: How can we restrain our enthusiasm? After all, this guitar's very headstock is an exclamation point, inlaid in solid mother of pearl!

The Epiphone Blackstone was introduced in 1932 as a member of the very first series of Epi archtops. The big brother to the Olympic model (made famous by flatpick whiz David Rawlings) the Blackstone shares the same materials, scale length, bracing, and neck dimensions as its smaller sibling. Small production and depression-era economics made early-30's Epis some of the rarest ever, and this striking example is no exception.

This babied guitar has been preserved in exceptionally fine shape, with original ice tea sunburst finish over a solid, carved Adirondack spruce soundboard, and Masterbilt-era 3 piece segmented soundholes. At just 4lb 5oz, the guitar is phenomenally light in weight, and sits effortlessly on the lap or the strap. The long scale neck has the generous 1 3/4" nut of the earliest Epis, and the comfy full 8" radius is a delight under the fingers. Even the original fretwork remains in excellent condition, with smooth low action over a gentle C profile neck, and twin position dots at the 7th fret, another feature of the very first Epis.

An under-the-bed wonder, the instrument shows no cracks or repairs, and is notably free of pick, thumb or fingerboard wear. Apart from a bit of lacquer checking along the center seam under the tailpiece, and a bit of of buckle wear on the back, the instrument shows remarkably few signs of play altogether. Original hardware includes the polished bakelite pickguard, nickel 3-on-a-plate open back tuners, and adjustable compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge. A pair of the celluloid tuner buttons were replaced long ago, and the instrument is fitted with an Epiphone nickel trapeze tailpiece of prewar vintage.

The voice is bright, clear, and punchy, with projection many bigger guitars would envy. Pretty, snappy and rare as can be, this gleaming guitar must surely be one of the finest surviving examples of a model that would become one of the most popular Epiphone archtops. One only: call now.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished as necessary; 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-.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: Deluxe black plush lined hardshell case.

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