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1953 Epiphone Zephyr Deluxe Regent
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Serial #: 65339, blue New York label
Body size at lower bout: 17 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2". Nut width: 1 11/16"
Finish: Amber blonde finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type
Materials: Highly figured arched flame maple laminate back and sides; arched laminate spruce top; solid maple neck with 3-ply walnut/maple centerstripe; ornate vine style mother-of-pearl peghead inlay and V-block fingerboard inlays; Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with inlaid perimeter stripes, deluxe five-ply body binding, triple-bound fingerboard and headstock.
Hardware: Original hardware includes gold epsilon logo tuners, original gold "New York" pickups, original Frequensator tailpiece; original white octagonal pointer knobs and three way toggle switch; original compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge; hex-key adjustable truss rod. Vintage correct bound firestripe tortoise pickguard, newer replacement switchtip.
Notes: Honestly, is there anything prettier than an old blonde Deluxe?
Introduced in 1948, the Zephyr Deluxe Regent was Epiphone's electric cutaway version of their legendary Deluxe model archtop. Epi's top-of-the line 17" instrument, the Zephyr Deluxe Regent was the equivalent in price and prestige to its main competitor, the Gibson L-5CES. Featuring a deeper cutaway than its Gibson rival, the Zephyr Deluxe Regent facilitates upper fingerboard access by two to three frets over the cutaway L-5. By 1950, the slender "New York" style pickups debuted, with the cream colored housing on either side of the gold cover. This may be the most desirable version of the model, in blonde finish, with twin New York pickups, the ornate peghead vine, and the cloud inlays in a brilliantly figured Brazilian rosewood fingerboard.
The guitar is in superb original condition, with all its original amber blonde sunburst finish and gold hardware intact. The electronics work flawlessly, and the neck profile is gently rounded and remarkably contemporary in feel. Apart from a few traces of pickwear between the pickups, and a bit of smooth thumbwear on the neck, the guitar shows remarkably few signs of play for its six-decade career. The arched spruce top is aged to a deep rich pumpkin color, and the maple body is highly flamed throughout. The multi-ply binding is all original and tight to the body, and the tailpiece is solid and gleaming. The action is particularly fine: smooth, low and fast, with sweet original frets that just glide under the fingers. The single-coil "New York" pickups are clear and detailed, and the laminate body offers superior feedback resistance, with classic bop tone.
The pride of the Epi line: and a true classic jazzer from the golden era. One only: call now.
Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished; 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 flatwound 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: Original deluxe brown Lifton Epiphone arched hardshell case with epsilon logo in plush under lid.
