1947 Epiphone BlackstoneHome / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips / Friends
archtop.com
1947 Epiphone Blackstone
Price and Status: For pricing and hold status of this instrument, please check here. If this instrument does not appear on the Instruments page it has been sold. To be notified of examples of this or any other model in the future, please email your specific requests to [email protected].
Serial #: 56244, blue New York label
Body size at lower bout: 16 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 11/16"
Finish: Sunburst finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type
Materials: Solid carved Adirondack spruce top; arched figured maple back and sides; solid one piece mahogany neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with trapezoid inlay; bound body and fingerboard, solid bone nut.
Hardware: Original hardware includes adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge, with serial # stamped under foot; nickel open-back tuners; nickel trapeze tailpiece; hex-key adjustable truss rod. Vintage correct bound tortoise pickguard, Kent Armstrong floating humbucking pickup with volume and tone controls, endpin jack.
Notes: The Blackstone was introduced in Epiphone's original archtop line of 1932, with a 14 3/4" body that was upsized to 15 1/2" in 1934. By 1936, the Blackstone took its final form with the 16 3/8" lower bout, and the center-dip headstock appeared in 1939. Epi's most popular 16" guitar, the Blackstone remained in the catalog continuously until 1949.
With a solid carved bookmatched Adirondack spruce top, this this pro-played postwar guitar shows a nicely figured tiger maple back, and a fingerboard and bridge of solid Brazilian rosewood. It's also one of the last Blackstones to bear the prewar diamond headstock inlay. The long scale neck produces exceptional volume and projection, with cutting power that is quite remarkable. And all in a body size that sits smartly in the lap or on the strap.
The neck profile is slim and very gently veed, contemporary and comfortable, with a hex-key adjustable truss rod under the fingerboard extension. A vintage correct contoured bound tortoise pickguard is installed, and the action is smooth and low over fine medium jumbo frets. The brown sunburst finish is all original, with fairly light playwear for a guitar of this era: a few scratches on the upper bout, a bit of buckle, elbow and neck wear typical of a bandstand veteran. Binding is all original and tight to the body, neck angle and bridge height are excellent, and a short side crack near the neck heel has been soundly resealed.
To complete the package, a Kent Armstrong 2D Ultraslim floating humbucking pickup has been installed with volume and tone controls and endpin jack, a $400 upgrade. A handsome and versatile example of one of Epi's most popular models, and a best buy in a true vintage New York Epi, ideal for acoustic or electric play. 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; 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 black plush lined hardshell case.
