Home / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips
archtop.com
1934 Epiphone Hollywood Masterbilt Tenor
Status: Pricing and hold status for all instruments currently available is shown on our Instruments page here. If this instrument does not appear on the Instruments page it has been sold, and is no longer available. Photos and descriptions of Previously Sold instruments may by found here. To be notified of examples of this model or similar instruments in the future, please contact [email protected],. Please be specific on which instrument(s) you're looking for, and we'll be happy to contact you as soon as they become available.
Serial #: 7588, New York Masterbilt label
Body size at lower bout: 15 3/8" Scale length: 22 3/4" Nut width: 1 5/32"
Finish: Original sunburst finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type
Materials: Hand carved solid spruce top; solid black walnut back and sides; 3-piece mahogany neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard; single-bound body, solid bone nut.
Hardware: Original nickel hardware includes Waverly open back tuners, trapeze tailpiece, and adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge. Vintage correct contoured bakelite pickguard.
Notes: Throughout the Roaring 20's, the tenor banjo had been synonymous with the hot bands of the Jazz Age. But by the end of the decade, improvements in recording technology and changing musical styles led to the widespread adoption of the archtop guitar in the rhythm sections of the Big Band era. Warmer in tone than its banjo counterpart, the tenor guitar's identical tuning made a convenient transition for many former banjoists into four-beat Swing.
Epiphone had been a leading banjo manufacturer, and by 1931 introduced a line of tenor guitars, in parallel to their roster of archtop guitars. In that debut lineup, the Hollywood was the tenor version of Epi's ever-popular Triumph model six string archtop. By 1937, the Hollywood was renamed the Triumph Tenor, which remained in production until 1958. Small production and Depression era budgets made prewar Epi tenors exceedingly rare, indeed, this is one of a handful of Epi tenors we have yet had the pleasure to offer.
Built in 1934, this guitar has the three piece segmented f-holes of the earliest Masterbilt Epi archtops, the classic asymmetrical three banner headstock, and a whimsical diagonal diamond fingerboard inlay pattern. Nicely maintained, the instrument has all original finish, binding and hardware, with the addition of a vintage correct polished bakelite pickguard in the original style. Playwear is fairly light for an instrument of its vintage, mostly confined to a small area near the low C string. A pair of cracks near the treble soundhole have been soundly cleated, and the back centerseam has been resealed for a few inches at the endblock. The headstock banners have been replaced with hand inscribed abalone inlays, to complete the vintage appearance. The guitar has smooth low action over fine original frets, comfy gentle C neck profile, and a clear, brilliant acoustic voice with powerful volume and cutting power.
An exceptionally rare find from the heyday of the red hot plectrists. One only: call now.
Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished as required; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted as required; 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 phosphor bronze strings. 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 arched velour lined hardshell case.
