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1946 Epiphone Deluxe
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Serial # 54673, Blue New York label
Body size at lower bout:17 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2". Nut width: 1 11/16"
Finish: Amber blonde 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: All original gold hardware includes 16x1 Epsilon-logo tuners, gold-plated Frequensator tailpiece, Brazilian rosewood bridge, hex-key adjustable truss rod; original bound tortoise pickguard included, additional bound firestripe guard attached.
Notes: Introduced in 1932 at the debut of the Epiphone archtop catalog, the Deluxe 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. The maple body shows the spectacular figured maple typical of the model, and especially so for the blondes, for whom the builders reserved their most dramatic tonewood.
This most attractive example has been maintained in superb condition, with all original gold hardware and amber blonde finish, free of cracks, and showing only some honest thumbwear on the neck, and a few scattered pick marks. The multi-ply binding is all tight and original, and the guitar is equipped with a gorgeous tiger stripe pickguard, and the original unstamped Frequensator tailpiece, seen this model year only.
At a mere 5 lb. 4 oz. this blonde beauty is over a full pound lighter than the typical L-5 of it's vintage, and it's a difference you can both feel and hear. The voice of this instrument is simply entrancing, with depth, clarity and exceptional projection. Neck profile is a comfy gentle C, with none of the clubbiness of many guitars of the era, and the action is smooth and low over fine original fretwork. We can never find enough of these magnificent instruments to satisfy demand. 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 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 deluxe brown Epiphone plushlined arched hardshell case.
