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1939 Epiphone Emperor
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 #14607. Body size at lower bout: 18 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .85/.95
Materials: Highly figured tiger flame maple back, sides and neck; hand carved solid Adirondack spruce top; 7-piece maple-walnut neck; 9-ply body binding; 5 ply bound heel cap, three ply neck binding, f-holes and head stock; solid Brazilian fingerboard with "split-block" mother of pearl inlay; ornate pearl tree-of-life peghead inlay.
Hardware: Original hardware includes gold Pat. Pend. Frequensator tailpiece and 16X1 Epsilon-logo tuners, adjustable truss rod. Vintage correct triple bound tortoise shell pickguard with Armstrong Handwound Ultraslim floating humbucking pickup, volume and tone controls and endpin jack. Adjustable compensated rosewood bridge.
Notes: Massive. Rich. Commanding. The experience of playing a genuine prewar Epiphone Emperor is not soon forgotten. Built to lay an unshakable foundation for the most raucous horn section, the Emperor produces a rich, buttery pulse like no other. But the big guitar is not merely a rhythm machine. It's lightly carved soundboard ranges effortlessly through the range of the fretboard with brilliant clarity and projection. Small wonder many veteran players regard the Epiphone Emperor as the finest big band guitar of all time.
She's a very rare example of a prewar Masterbilt Emperor, the glory of the Epiphone line. One of gthe very fisrt to sport the classic center-dip headsock, the guitar shows other distinctive features including the large cello style soundholes, segmented fingerboard inlays, and the pearl triangle above the nut.
Body and neck show extravagantly figured tiger flame maple, and the solid Adirondack soundboard is carved to exceptionally fine tolerances. Original hardware includes gold Pat Pend Frequensator tailpiece, epsilon logo nickel 16x1 Epi tuners, and adjustable truss rod at fingerboard extension.
Well maintained, the guitar is notably free of pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, with fine pro fretwork. The ornate 9-ply body binding is tight to the body, and both neck angle and bridge height are excellent, with ample room for adjustment. The top shows several soundly repaired grainline cracks on the treble side, and the original dark sunburst finish has been protected with a light vintage lacquer clearcoat.
The multi-bound Brazilian rosewood fingerboard has smooth low action over a fresh high precision setup, and the neck profile is amazingly contemporary, with an elegant, gentle D profile. Remarkably, this massive 18 3/8" body, second only to the Stromberg Master 400 in size, weighs in at a mere 6 lb 2 oz, and rests easily on the lap or the strap. The lightly carved, well aged tonewood, combined with years of careful play, combine to produce an instrument of surpassing volume and rich, cavernous resonance. The mids and lows are buttery and clear, and the high register is brilliant with natural reverb. And she's powerful indeed: with projection and headroom to burn.
One of our most requested models, this is our first prewar Emperor in many a moon, and comes complete with a deluxe black arched TKL plush lined hard shell case. Truly the ruler of all lesser guitars: one only, call now.
Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; 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; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge conditioned; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel roundwound 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.
