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1945 Epiphone Deluxe
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Serial # 52855, blue New York label
Body size at lower bout: 17 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2". Nut width: 1 11/16" Neck Depth: .93/1.03, 1st/10th frets
Finish: Nitrocellulose lacquer type
Materials: Extravagantly figured tiger maple back and sides; solid bookmatched handcarved spruce top; solid flame maple neck with 3-ply walnut/maple centerstripe; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with mother of pearl "cloud" style fingerboard inlay; fancy vine style mother-of-pearl peghead inlay, five-ply body binding, bound fingerboard and headstock.
Hardware: Original hardware includes 16x1 Epsilon-logo tuners and hex-key adjustable truss rod. Vintage gold Pat. Pend. Frequensator tailpiece, recent vintage correct bound tortoise pickguard and compensated rosewood bridge.
Notes: It's all about the wood.
Introduced in 1931 in the debut of the Epiphone archtop catalog, the Deluxe model was the top of the line in every respect. From the vine peghead inlay to the signature clouds in the fingerboard, the Deluxe represented a pinnacle of art-deco design, with power to burn on the bandstand.
This spectacular instrument shows intensely flamed maple in the back and sides, and a solid, tap-tuned Adirondack spruce soundboard. At just 5lb 8oz. the guitar is remarkably light in weight, and powerfully resonant, with a soundboard graduated to exceptionally fine tolerances. Not surprisingly, the instrument has huge acoustic projection, clarity and cutting power, with volume to burn.
The guitar has been maintained in fine condition, and is remarkably free of pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. A pair of hairline cracks near the tailpiece have been soundly resealed, along with the back centerseam, and the instrument given a lustrous true nitro amber blonde finish some two decades ago. Binding is in excellent condition, tight to the body, and the vintage gold Frequensator tailpiece is solid at the bend, with just a tiny typical crack at one side. Action is smooth and low over the comfy gentle C neck profile, with fine recent fretwork and a fresh high precision setup.
Epi's premium 17" guitar, the Deluxe was always crafted with the most highly figured tonewood in the shop. And we've never seen one more breathtaking. With a voice to match its looks, this stunning guitar is an outstanding example of one of our most sought-after models. 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; 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-.056). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" 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: Molded arched formfit plushlined hardshell case.
