1942 Epiphone
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1942 Epiphone
Triumph
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Serial #: 18142, green New York label
Body size at lower bout: 17 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2". Nut width: 1 11/16"
Finish: Amber blonde finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type
Materials: Solid handcarved bookmatched spruce top; solid flame back and sides; five-piece cherry/walnut neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with mother of pearl inlay; ornate "fleur de lis" style mother-of-pearl peghead inlay and diamond fingerboard inlays, bound body, fingerboard and headstock.
Hardware: Original nickel plated Epiphone 16X1 epsilon logo tuners; original nickel plated Frequensator tailpiece; original compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge. Vintage correct hand- antiqued bound tortoise pickguard.
Notes: The war was over, and Eugene Coates was ready to pick. So he hoofed it on up from Covington, Kentucky to Cincinnati, Ohio, for the 43rd annual convention of the American Guild of Banjoist, Mandolinists and Guitarists, held that June (where else but) in the stately Gibson Hotel. We know this, because the stickers are still affixed to the faux pigskin case of his blonde 1942 Triumph, and his membership card remains tucked neatly away in the accessory compartment.
The Epiphone Triumph was introduced in 1932. Upsized in 1936, the Triumph became Epiphone's most popular full sized guitar until the company closed in the 50's. Though production all but ceased during the war years, a scant number of instruments eked their way out of the factory in this model year, and this blonde example is one of the lucky few. On these rare birds, it's not uncommon to see the sort of highly figured tonewood one associates with the top line Deluxe or Broadway models. Highlighted in the warm amber blonde finish is deeply flamed tiger maple of wonderful satin figure.
The instrument has the big warm voice of 60 year old tonewood, with smooth action on a comfortable neck profile that sits easily in the hand. The original blonde is warmly aged, showing no buckle, thumb, or fingerboard wear, and only some incidental light pickwear and lacquer dings. Apart from a single hairline crack soundly resealed along the tailpiece, the instrument shows otherwise no repairs, and still has its original frets in excellent condition. The voice is loud and punchy, with the bark and projection that can hold its own against an entire horn section.
Opening the case is like peering into a time capsule, hidden in the cornerstone of an old building. The Epiphone epsilon logo is sculpted in the burgundy plush lining under the lid. The forties vintage stickers would be the envy of any Hollywood prop department (450 Rooms With Bath and Radio). And topping it off is an original hangtag explaining the use of the Epiphone 'adjustable thrust rod', the only such example we've ever seen.
Clearly, this old guitar has some great stories to tell. Tune it up and make some brand new stories of your own.
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; 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: Original Epiphone plush hardshell case.
