Home / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips / Friends
archtop.com
1937 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 #: 11017, Masterbilt label
Body size at lower bout: 17" 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: Vintage style hardware includes Pat. Pend. Frequensator tailpiece; nickel open-back Grover tuners, compensated rosewood bridge; bound tortoise pickguard.
Notes: In 1936, Epi debuted its redesigned pro series guitars with the upsized 17" 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 from 1937 is a wonderful example, meticulously restored to showroom condition. The vintage sunburst finish has been masterfully reapplied, and vintage style hardware used throughout. The back shows exceptional quilted maple, and the top is interlaced with crossgrain silk throughout. 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, with a slight "v" profile that avoids the chunky feel common in instruments of the era. The top is carved with exceptional delicacy, and produces an open bell-like tone. A pair of older grainline cracks have been pro resealed on the top and back, and a fresh set of precision frets installed for low action and maximum volume. 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 plush lined arched hardshell case.
