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1945 Epiphone Deluxe
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Serial # 54085, blue New York label
Body size at lower bout: 17 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2". Nut width: 1 11/16" Neck Depth: .91/1.06, 1st/10th frets
Materials: Solid curly maple back and neck, birdseye maple sides, solid bookmatched handcarved spruce top; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with mother of pearl cloud fingerboard inlays; mother-of-pearl vine peghead inlay, five-ply body binding, bound fingerboard, headstock and soundholes.
Hardware: Original gold hardware includes 16x1 Epsilon-logo tuners, Pat. Pend. Frequensator tailpiece, compensated adjustable bridge with rosewood saddle and maple foot, hex-key adjustable truss rod. Vintage correct bound tortoise pickguard.
Notes: Introduced in 1931 in the debut Epiphone archtop catalog, the Deluxe model was the top of the line in every respect. From the ornate 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 lovely instrument shows attractive flamed maple in the back and neck, a graduated spruce soundboard of exceedingly fine grain, and sides of true birdseye maple, rarely seen in archtops of any vintage. At just 5lb 12oz. 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 superb condition, and is remarkably free of pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. The lustrous original lacquer finish has aged to a deep amber, and apart from some scattered age checking and a few incidental nicks, shows few signs of play altogether. The original binding remains tight to the body, and the original postwar unstamped Frequensator tailpiece is solid at the bend. A short grainline crack near the treble waist has been soundly cleated, and the guitar appears to have been fitted at some point with a DeArmond floating pickup, with the tailpiece retainer slightly notched at its side, perhaps to accommodate its control.
A special touch, the rosewood bridge saddle is fitted to a maple base, a cosmetic feature Epi reserved only for its blonde guitars. Action is smooth and low over the comfy gentle C neck profile, with fine pro fretwork and a fresh high precision setup. Finally, this striking guitar remains fitted in its original Epiphone deluxe arched plushlined hardshell case.
Epi's premium 17" guitar, the Deluxe was always crafted with the most premium tonewood, and top drawer appointments. 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.
