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1946 Epiphone Emperor, Blonde

Status: Pricing and hold status for all instruments currently available is shown on our Instruments page here. If this instrument does not appear on the Instruments page it has been sold, and is no longer available. Photos and descriptions of Previously Sold instruments may by found here. To be notified of examples of this model or similar instruments in the future, please contact [email protected],. Please be specific on which instrument(s) you're looking for, and we'll be happy to contact you as soon as they become available.

Serial#: 55645

Body size at lower bout: 18 1/2". Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut: 1 11/16"

Materials: Extravagantly figured bookmatched tiger flame maple back and sides; hand carved solid Adirondack spruce top; 7-piece maple-walnut neck; 7-ply ivoroid body binding; triple-bound heel cap, neck binding, f-holes and head stock; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with "split-block" mother of pearl and abalone inlay; ornate pearl tree-of-life peghead inlay.

Hardware: 100% original gold hardware, including triple bound tortoise pickguard, Frequensator tailpiece and Epsilon logo 16X1 tuners; original adjustable rosewood bridge with maple base, hex-key truss rod at fingerboard extension.

Notes: It's a mighty good year when we find even one of these blonde beauties. But two in consecutive months? Doesn't happen. Till now.

The glory of the Epiphone line, the Emperor was the largest and most costly instrument produced in the New York factory. With its massive 18 1/2" lower bout, this top-of-the-line instrument is the largest production archtop made. Yet due to its slightly smaller upper bout, many players find the Emperor profile markedly easier to hold than the somewhat bulkier Super 400.

The back and neck of this magnificent instrument are hand carved of spectacular deeply figured tiger maple, masterfully bookmatched, with deep rollers of curl in the sides and neck. The top is hand-graduated from solid quarter-sawn bookmatched Adirondack spruce, the most prized of North American tonewoods. The original deep amber blonde finish has been maintained in gleaming condition, without pick, buckle or fingerboard wear.

Deeply resonant, the instrument has exceptional balance, depth and clarity: brilliant highs glisten with natural reverb, and the mids and lows are warm and buttery. The freshly plated gold Frequensator tailpiece is in perfect conditon, the multi-ply binding is original and tight to the body, and the bridge is fabricated with a rosewood saddle and rock maple base, fitted only on Epis with the blonde finish, and serial numbered to match the guitar. The original bound tortoise guard is pickup ready, and the fingerboard is illuminated with technicolor abalone in deep Brazilian rosewood, with excellent pro fretwork, smooth low action and a very comfy slightly veed C profile neck.

Thrilling to play, glorious to behold, ruler of all lesser guitars. Step up to The Big One: call now.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished as required; 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.

Case: Original arched brown deluxe Lifton plush lined hardshell case.