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1946 Epiphone Emperor

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Serial: #54935

Body size at lower bout: 18 1/2" Body depth: 3 1/4" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut: 1 11/16"

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

Hardware: Original gold hardware includes Pat. Pend. Frequensator tailpiece; epsilon-logo 16X1 tuners; compensated adjustable rosewood bridge. Vintage correct bound tortoise shell pickguard, double acting hex-key truss rod at fingerboard extension.

Notes: 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 remains the largest archtop to be built in a production factory. 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 of this spectacular instrument is carved of exceptionally handsome tight quilted bubble maple, and the soundboard is hand-graduated from solid quarter-sawn bookmatched spruce, with Adirondack type grain structure. Typical of the model, the guitar has massive acoustic volume with exceptionally warm lower and middle register and the clear, brilliant highs of dry aged spruce. The gold Frequensator tailpiece is in excellent condition, and the multi-ply binding is all tight to the body. The fingerboard is illuminated with abalone of exceptionally vivid color, with superb pro frets and smooth low action, over a gentle C neck profile that is remarkably contemporary. The guitar shows no cracks, and is free of pick, buckle, or thumb wear, with an immaculate recent vintage style true nitrocellulose finish.

Finally, this magesterial instrument remains nestled in its original brown Lifton case, still bearing the Epiphone logo raised in the burgundy plush under the lid. An instrument of exceptional performance and remarkable value, this guitar is a rare opportunity for the demanding player seeking the biggest tone in the room. 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; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.

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