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1936 Epiphone Broadway
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Serial #: 10813, Masterbilt Epiphone label
Body size at lower bout: 17 1/4" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 21/32" Neck depth: .865/.985, 1st/10th frets
Finish: Sunburst finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type
Materials: Hand carved solid Adirondack spruce top; figured bookmatched black walnut back and sides; 5 piece maple neck with walnut centerstripes; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with block mother of pearl inlay; abalone vine pattern peghead inlay in bound headstock, triple-bound body, bound fingerboard and headstock.
Hardware: Original gold hardware includes segmented Epiphone trapeze tailpiece, Grover Sta-Tite open-back butterbean tuners. Vintage correct bound tortoise pickguard, period Brazilian rosewood compensated adjustable bridge.
Notes: Alone among major builders, the Epiphone Company produced it's upscale Broadway model with back and sides of solid black walnut, between 1931 and 1939, The result was a guitar with unusually attractive looks, but more. The voice of these guitars is absolutely unique among acoustic jazz guitars. The hard, thin walnut back and sides produce a tone that is distinctly more brilliant than ordinary maple bodies. The mids and highs have exceptional projection and a brilliant bell-like tone, making these guitars particularly well suited for acoustic lead guitar. The cutting power on these instruments is simply phenomenal, rivaling that of a resophonic guitar, but with the warmth and sustain of finely aged wood.
Needless to say, we're always on the hunt for these amazing walnut cannons. Upsized from the 16" body of the early 30's, this 17" version of the walnut Broadway was produced for only three short years, between 1936 and 1939. Delicate, cello-shaped f-holes made their debut in this variant, replacing the segmented holes of earlier models. The vine headstock inlay and block fingerboard markers in mother-of-pearl lend the guitar a look of understated elegance. The neck profile on Epis of this era is particularly noteworthy. Slim and contemporary, they are notably free of the clubbiness found in many prewar necks,
According to our records, this fine old guitar is the first Broadway from this year of production we have found to date, and is fitted with the rarely seen segmented trapeze tailpiece. Used for less than two years, this Epiphone logo tailpiece was superceded by Epi's iconic Frequensator by mid-1937. The grain of the soundboard is typical of Adirondack spruce, with back and sides of handsomely figured black walnut, and a solid maple neck. Along with the prewar asymmetrical Masterbilt headstock, the instrument is also fitted with its original gold Grover Sta-Tite tuners.
At just 5lb 5oz the instrument is exceptionally light in weight, and nimbly balanced on the lap or the strap. The guitar shows typical playwear near the fingerboard and some scattered finish dings, with some spot lacquer touchup, and one solidly cleated grainline crack at the bottom of the treble soundhole. Exceptionally smooth, low action over new pro fretwork, solid gentle C neck profile, and a fresh high-precision setup. The voice is phenomenally clear and brilliant, combining the projection of a vintage Selmer with the woodiness and versatility of a world-class acoustic archop.
One of our most sought-after models, a remarkable example of a rare, highly playable, and glorious sounding instrument from Epiphone's greatest era. One only: call now.
Setup: The frets have been precision levelled, recrowned and polished; 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 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: Original brown Epiphone-logo arched plush lined hardshell case.
