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1950 Epiphone Triumph Regent
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 be 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 #: 60423, New York label
Body size at lower bout: 17 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut width : 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .94/1.13
Materials: Sold carved spruce soundboard; solid carved maple back, sides and neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with diamond mother of pearl inlay; pearl peghead inlay, triple-bound top, bound fingerboard, back and headstock.
Hardware: Original hardware includes 16X1 epsilon logo Epi tuners; adjustable compensated rosewood bridge; bound tortoise pickguard with epsilon badge. Nickel Pat. Pend. Frequensator tailpiece.
Notes: When choosing an acoustic archtop, many contemporary players find themselves in a dilemma. While seeking the playability of a cutaway design, they are loathe to sacrifice the full-throated voice of the traditional non-cut body. Only rarely are we lucky enough to find an instrument that serves both masters well, and this guitar is one of the fortunate few. From its ringing bass register to clear sparkling highs, this guitar has cutting power to rival the best of the big band boomers.
The cutaway version of Epi's most popular model, the Triumph Regent was manufactured for only about five years, and is accordingly a much scarcer item than either the non-cutaway Triumph, or the competing Gibson L-7C, which was produced for almost a quarter century.
This example is in the scarce and desirable blonde finish, now warmly aged to a deep amber, over handsome slab-cut figure in the carved maple back. Significantly, it's also one of the few Triumph Regents with a solid maple neck, matching the back and sides, as most later examples were two-tones, fitted with necks of laminated cherry wood. It's also one of the last with a peghead unencumbered by a truss rod cover, as the rod adjuster is located under the end of the fingerboard, in prewar Epi style.
A particularly powerful instrument, the voice has exceptional acoustic projection, clarity and generous dynamic range. Indeed, it's one of the few we've seen to have remained all acoustic, without holes of any kind from a previous pickup installation. Carefully maintained, the body is without cracks, pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. Apart from some light scattered checking and a few random nicks, the guitar remains in gleaming original condition. A special plus is the original bound tortoise pickguard in excellent condition, quite a rarity on vintage Epis in general. The vintage Pat. Pend. Frequensator tailpiece has been solidly brazed at the bend, and the action is smooth and low over a fresh high precision setup, on the classic C profile neck, full and solid in the hand.
A true acoustic warrior from the golden age, this rare beauty offers the best of both worlds: a deep contemporary cutaway, and a voice to put meek modern archtops to shame. An exceptional find: one only, 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.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge bronze strings (.013-.056). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" 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: Original deluxe brown arched Epiphone plush lined hardshell case
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