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1953 Epiphone Emperor Regent
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Serial #: 66194 Body size at lower bout: 18 1/2" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .94/1.01
Materials: Highly figured solid curly maple back, neck and sides; solid carved quartersawn bookmatched spruce top; 9-piece maple-walnut neck; 13-ply body binding; triple-bound heel cap, neck binding, f-holes and head stock; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with "split-block" mother of pearl and abalone inlay; MOP tree-of-life peghead inlay in stained holly headstock veneer.
Hardware: Original gold hardware includes Pat. Pend. Frequensator tailpiece, epsilon-logo 16X1 tuners, multi-bound tortoise pickguard, hex-key truss rod. Adjustable compensated ebony bridge, gold DeArmond reissue Model 1100 Adjustable Rhythm Chief pickup, with volume control and 1/4" endpin jack.
Notes: The glory of the Epiphone line, the Emperor was introduced in 1935 as the largest and most costly instrument the company ever made. Epiphone produced several prototype cutaway examples as early as 1941, but for reasons unknown, dawdled until 1949 to add them to the regular catalog, a full decade after Gibson started offering the cutaway Super 400.
The Emperor Regent (or "Cutaway") model, had a run of just five years until the last known example was crafted in 1954. As a consequence, the Emperor Regent remains one of the rarest and most desirable guitars of the classic era. With its massive 18 1/2" lower bout, this mammoth guitar was the largest production archtop of its time. Though bigger even than the mighty Super 400, the Emperor is paradoxically more comfortable to hold, as the upper bout is a full inch smaller than its Gibson counterpart. In addition, the extended Emperor cutaway offers several frets more access in the uppermost register than the S-400.
Premium priced over sunburst examples, the cutaway Emperor in natural finish was the most expensive offering in the Epi catalog. Not to mention the most spectacular, as the most vividly figured tonewood was generally reserved for the blonde guitars, which showcase it to greatest advantage. And this magnificent instrument is no exception, with its rich, warmly ambered nitro lacquer finish. The back, sides and neck are carved of gorgeous flame maple, and lavished with an astounding thirteen plies of binding. The neck itself is nine-ply tiger maple with walnut centerstripes as well, unusually ornate even for this top-line model. And finally, this striking guitar is one of the few late examples with the truss rod nut mounted conveniently in the peghead, rather than under the fingerboard.
Carefully maintained, the guitar shows no cracks or structural repairs, and remains equipped with its original gold hardware, including the epsilon-logo 16:1 tuners, and Pat. Pend Frequensator tailpiece. Apart from some light thumbwear and some scattered lacquer dings on the top, the instrument shows notably little wear for its long playing career. The natural blonde finish has ambered to a deep golden hue, and is distinctly free of the typical checking one normally finds in an instrument of its vintage. And finally, the original multi-bound tortoise pickguard remains fitted to the guitar, a rarity in itself. Still straight and unwarped, it shows a few wrinkles in the lustrous translucent tortoise, but no signs of crystallization or outgassing.
The extravagant multi-ply binding is original and tight to the body as well, and the newer compensated ebony bridge has room to adjust the action up or down. The traditional C profile neck has a solid, gentle feel, with smooth low action over a fresh, high-precision setup. Completing the package is the classic bop tone of the DeArmond reissue Model 1100 Adjustable Rhythm Chief pickup, with its volume control and 1/4" endpin jack.
The soundboard is hand-graduated from solid quarter-sawn bookmatched spruce, with streaks of reddish grainline suggestive of the Adirondack variety. The tone is rich and full, with massive acoustic projection, warm lower register, and clear, shimmering highs of tonewood now aged over seven decades. With exceptional dynamic range, this guitar has the power to cut through the most raucous horn section, yet mellow enough for the most intimate vocal accompaniment. And the original Epiphone case is every bit as nice as the guitar itself, a deluxe brown Lifton hardshell, with Epi's epsilon logo raised in the plush lining under the lid..
An instrument of exceptional rarity, performance, and appeal, this remarkable find is a outstanding opportunity for the player and collector alike. The very pinnacle of the Epi catalog, and a true acoustic cannon, this is an instrument that simply commands attention on any bandstand or jam session. The ruler of all lesser guitars: 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.
