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1946 Epiphone Spartan, Primavera
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Serial #: 54483, blue New York label
Body size at lower bout: 16 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 11/16"
Finish: Original limed blonde finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type
Materials: Hand carved solid bookmatched quartersawn Adirondack spruce top; solid carved Primavera (white mahogany) back and sides; three piece maple neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard; triple-bound body, bound fingerboard and headstock; original bone nut.
Hardware: Original hardware includes Pat. Pend. Frequensator tailpiece, contoured tortoise pickguard, adjustable hex-key truss rod. Adjustable compensated rosewood bridge, hand antiqued nickel Kluson Deluxe tuners.
Notes: One of the scarcest models in the Epiphone line, the Spartan was introduced in 1934 as a round hole archtop with a maple body, like the Gibson L-4. By 1936 the model was converted to f-holes and became Epi's top-of-the line 16" guitar. The Spartan was never produced in large quantities, and by the dawn of the 50's had disappeared altogether. Rarely seen on the vintage market, this is one of only a handful of blonde examples we have found to date.
The Spartan was the only postwar 16" Epiphone with professional grade features like the solid carved back and the Frequensator tailpiece, neither of which are found on the Blackstone, Zenith or other small Epis. This blonde Spartan is further distinguished by a body of solid Primavera wood, a rare tropical tonewood also known as white mahogany, now quite rare and highly desired for its lustrous figure.
This instrument is notably lightweight and resonant; at a phenomenal 4lb 12oz., she's loud and bright as a trumpet. The voice is forward and aggressive, with projection surpassing many larger guitars. One of the last Epis with a solid Adirondack spruce top, this featherweight cannon also shows spectacular grain in its deeply figured back. The guitar is remarkably free of pick, buckle or fingerboard wear, and shows only some good honest thumbwear on the neck, a clue to it's outstanding open voice. Apart from a single short hairline crack soundly resealed in the side at the neck heel, she shows no other evidence of repair. With its long 25 1/2" scale for punch and projection, 1 11/16" nut for easy fingering, fine professional medium jumbo fretwork with smooth low action, and a comfy gentle C neck profile, she's ready to roll, with a fresh high-precision setup.
A striking and powerful example of one of Epiphone's rarest guitars. 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-.057). 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: Deluxe arched tweed plush lined hardshell case. 
