Home / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips / Friends
archtop.com
1936 Epiphone Triumph
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 be 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 #: 10278, Masterbilt label
Body size at lower bout: 17 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2". Nut width: 1 10/16"
Materials: Solid bookmatched hand carved spruce top; solid hand carved tiger flame maple back; Honduras mahogany neck with 3-ply walnut/maple centerstripe; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with mother of pearl diamond inlays; ornate "snowflake" style mother-of-pearl peghead inlay, bound fingerboard and headstock.
Hardware: Original hardware includes Epiphone chrome segmented trapeze tailpiece; compensated adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge; bound tortoise pickguard. Vintage correct Waverly open-back tuners.
Notes: In 1936, Epi debuted its redesigned pro series guitars with the upsized 17 3/8" body, larger f-holes, and a new streamlined script logo and inlay designs. These transitional models were produced for only a few years to 1939, making instruments of this vintage some of the scarcest examples of Epiphone's Golden Era.
This guitar is from the first year for the larger body; a wonderful example, it's only the second Triumph from this year we've ever found, and the first one we've located in over 5 years. The solid carved maple back shows fine flame, and the bookmatched quartersawn soundboard shows the signature grain structure of Adirondack spruce, the most prized tonewood of the prewar era.
The peghead inlay retains the curved headstock and snowflake inlay of the early 30's Triumph, but the body and f-holes are distinctly larger and more curvilinear than those of earlier models. The neck is distinctly slimmer and faster than typical Gibsons of the era, with a slight "v" profile that avoids the chunky feel common in instruments of the day. The top is carved with exceptional delicacy, and produces a wonderfully clear, brilliant tone, with exceptional acoustic volume and projection.
Of special note is the original Epiphone segmented trapeze, a very rare transitional part seen only for two model years. The finish on the back has been meticulously replaced with correct vintage style nitrocellulose lacquer, and the action is low and smooth over freshly levelled fretwork. A great player, great looker, and exceptional value in a true prewar Epi.
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 arched plush lined hardshell case.
