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1943 Epiphone Triumph
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Serial #: 18576, green New York label
Body size at lower bout: 17 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2". Nut width: 1 9/16"
Finish: Sunburst 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 older "fleur de lis" style mother-of-pearl peghead inlay and diamond fingerboard inlays, bound body, fingerboard and headstock.
Hardware: Original hardware includes nickel plated Epiphone 16X1 epsilon logo tuners, nickel plated Frequensator tailpiece. Compensated adjustable ebony bridge, correct bound dark tortoise pickguard.
Notes: 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 between 1942 and '44, and this wonderful 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 rich sunburst finish is deeply flamed tiger maple in the back, and rare true birdseye maple in the sides.
The instrument has the big warm voice of 60 year old tonewood, with smooth action on an exceptionally slim, fast neck profile that glides smoothly through the palm. The instrument is in excellent condition, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, and shows only a few scattered finish nicks and a single soundly repaired grainline crack at the treble soundhole. Some light clear lacquer appears to have been applied over the original sunburst finish some years ago, and the guitar is pickup-ready, with a 1/4" jack pre-installed in the lower side. The voice is powerful and punchy, with the bark and projection that can hold its own against an entire horn section. Built in the depth of WWII, guitars of this period are the scarcest in the 20th century. To find one is always a revelation, and guitars of this era are rarer still with such a sleek, contemporary neck profile. If you've been waiting for a great wartime Triumph, wait no longer: 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; 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 brown arched Epiphone plush hardshell case.
