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1945 Epiphone Triumph
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Serial #: 51974
Body size at lower bout: 17 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st /10th frets: .94/1.05
Materials: Handcarved solid Adirondack spruce top; solid handcarved maple back and sides; five-piece cherry neck; rosewood fingerboard and bridge; diamond-pattern fingerboard inlay and "fleur-de-lis" style peghead inlay, both in ambered enamel; triple-bound body, bound fingerboard and headstock, original bone nut.
Hardware: 100% original hardware includes rosewood bridge; original nickel-plated 16:1 epsilon-logo tuners; Pat. Pend. Frequensator tailpiece; hex-key adjustable truss rod; bound fire-stripe tortoise pickguard.
Notes: An original New York Epiphone in fine shape, this instrument is powerful, bright and easy to play. Built in the final year of WWII, the guitar has several features of wartime production, including the semi opaque sunburst finish, and the hexagonal wheels on the rosewood bridge. The headstock retains the graceful snowflake inlay of the prewar era, as well as the lustrous mother of pearl inlay, which was replaced by plainer enamel in the following few postwar years.
At just 5;b 9oz, the guitar is happily light in weight, well balanced, and deeply resonant. The all-original finish is notably free of pick, buckle, or thumbwear, showing mostly some typical age checking and scattered lacquer nicks here and there. The nickel hardware is all original and the tailpiece remains strong at the bend.
The solid quartersawn soundboard is carved of Adirondack spruce, as used in the fabled prewar Martins: this strong light tonewood lends the instrument a particularly powerful, brilliant voice. All binding and seams are tight to the body, and the original pickguard is a rare and attractive example of classic fire-stripe celluloid, in gleaming condition. The back centerseam at the endblock has been soundly resealed, and the instrument retains excellent neck angle and bridge height. Action is smooth and low, with fine pro fretwork, and a fresh high-precision setup over a gentle, C profile neck, solid and comfy in the hand.
Our most popular Epi model, and an outstanding value in a well maintained and warmly aged New York archtop from the golden era. One only, call now.
Setup: 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; bridge wheels 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: Deluxe black arched plush lined hardshell case.
