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1944 Epiphone Olympic
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Serial #: 19260, green New York Epiphone label
Body size at lower bout: 15 1/2" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 11/16"
Finish: Original sunburst finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type
Materials: Hand carved solid spruce top; maple back and sides; one-piece mahogany neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard; pearl script peghead inlay, single-bound body, bone nut
Hardware: Original hardware includes contoured celluloid pickguard; original adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge; original nickel trapeze tailpiece with Epi logo crossbar; adjustable hex-key truss rod. Vintage correct nickel Kluson Deluxe three-on-a-plate tuners
Notes: One of the original Epi archtop models, the Olympic was introduced in 1931, and remained in the catalog until 1949. Originally sporting a 13" mahogany body, the Olympic was upsized twice to it's final 15 1/2" body design. Unlike the Gibson archtops of comparable size, the Olympic and its other Epi cousins all had long scale necks and suspended fingerboards, thereby enhancing their formidable projection and bark.
Like many, we'd assumed for years that these models would be fairly plentiful. However, after alt-country guitar hero David Rawlings adopted the Olympic as his all-purpose touring and recording guitar, we began getting requests for them that we just couldn't fill at any price. And when collectors began searching them out in earnest, it quickly became apparent just how seldom these rarities come to market, much less in pristine original condition like this.
An 100% original guitar from one of the leanest production years, this fine example sports a rare tailpiece crossbar with the Epiphone logo. The guitar shows no pick, thumb, buckle or fingerboard wear, and only very light scattered checking in the gleaming original sunburst finish. Smooth low action over fine original fretwork, and a bright forward punchy voice. An under-the-bed-classic in time-capsule condition, this box has the bark to match much bigger dogs, indeed.
Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished as required; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted as required; 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 nickel 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: Plushlined hardshell case.
