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1941 Epiphone Broadway

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Serial #: 15702, New York label

Body size at lower bout: 17 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2". Nut width: 1 11/16"

Materials: Solid handcarved highly figured tiger flame maple back and sides; solid bookmatched handcarved spruce top; solid cherry neck with 3-ply walnut/maple centerstripe; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with mother of pearl inlay; ornate vine style mother-of-pearl peghead inlay and block fingerboard inlays, triple-bound body, bound fingerboard and headstock.

Hardware: All-original hardware includes gold-plated Frequensator tailpiece and Epiphone 16x1 epsilon logo tuners, compensated adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge, bound firestripe tortoise pickguard, adjustable truss rod.

Notes: Introduced in 1932, the Epiphone Broadway was a perennially popular model, and has remained in production, in various versions, on and off to this day. Built with the same body size and scale length as the Deluxe, the Broadway sports the same gold hardware, powerful voice and playable neck of its costlier cousin. Many feel the Broadway peghead vine is among the most graceful inlays ever designed, and this example is no exception. Upsized to 17 3/8" inches in 1935, the Broadway was first offered in a natural blonde finish (for a premium price) for the first time ever in this model year.

This fine example is in great shape, with a particularly handsome tiger flame maple back, and a handcarved, quartersawn bookmatched solid spruce top. The guitar is fitted with all original gold hardware, including original Epi 16x1 tuners, which made their debut in this model year, the original "Patent Pending" Frequensator tailpiece, and the original adjustable compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge. A rare treat is the striking bound pickguard of true firestripe tortoise, showing just a pinch of crystallization at the bracket, but overall sound and very eye-catching. The neck is fitted with the earliest version of the Epi truss rod, which terminates in a square nipple under the fingerboard extension.

A well-maintained instrument, the guitar shows no checking, pick, buckle, or fingerboard wear, and the amber blonde finish has been meticulously replaced, using true vintage style nitrocellulose lacquer. The back centerseam has been soundly resealed, along with a single hairline crack from the bass f-hole to the rim. The multi-ply binding is tight to the body, and the tailpiece bend has been stoutly reinforced ages ago. Finally, a gold endpin jack is installed, allowing easy installation of a floating pickup anytime.

The voice is open and clear, with the power, depth and resonance of a true big band veteran. Bridge is a full inch-plus in height, giving the soundboard exceptional projection and headroom to burn. The action is smooth and low over a gentle C profile neck, very easy in the hand, with immaculate recent fretwork. As versatile as it is eyecatching, this blonde beauty is a rare find, and a true power player. Call now.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished as necessary; 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; 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 plush lined hardshell case.