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1948 Epiphone Emperor

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Serial #: 58069, blue NY label

Body size at lower bout: 18 1/2" Body depth: 3 1/4" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .094/1.05

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

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

Notes: The pinnacle 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 body markedly easier to hold than the somewhat bulkier Super 400.

An exceptionally fine postwar example, this handsome guitar has back, sides and neck of flame maple, and a hand-graduated soundboard from solid bookmatched spruce, with Adirondack type grain structure. The gold hardware is all original, including the original bound tortoise pickguard, a rarity to find in such excellent condition, and the Pat. Pend. Frequensator tailpiece, soundly brazed at the bend.

Maintained in excellent condition, the instrument shows no apparent cracks, and is notably free of pick or buckle wear. The original binding remains tight to the body, with a small shim added near the heelcap, and an older strap pin moved to the treble side of the heel. The neck shows some older thumbwear under some light clear overspray, and the fingerboard is illuminated with abalone of brilliant luster. The original frets offer smooth low action over a gentle C profile neck, with a fresh high precision setup.

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. Finally, this magisterial instrument remains nestled in its original brown Lifton case, still bearing the Epiphone logo raised in the blue plush under the lid. An instrument of exceptional performance, this super jumbo model is a rare opportunity for the demanding player unwilling to settle for anything less than the biggest tone in the room. One only: 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; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.