Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips / Friends
archtop.com
1964 Epiphone Triumph A-412
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 #: 70776
Body size at lower bout: 17 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2" Width at nut: 1 19/32" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .75/.93
Materials: Solid carved bookmatched Sitka spruce top; arched maple back and sides; solid mahogany neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with mother of pearl inlay; compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge, pearl peghead inlay, three-ply body binding, bound peghead; bone nut.
Hardware: Original hardware includes Gibson Johnny Smith floating humbucking pickup, with volume control and endpin jack, New York style Frequensator tailpiece and pickguard bracket, bound tortoise pickguard, adjustable truss rod with epsilon logo cover, and gold reflector cap knob. Recent Kluson Deluxe tuners installed, original double ring Kluson Deluxe tuners included.
Notes: Introduced in 1932, the Triumph was the Epiphone company's best selling professional sized guitar. The cutaway version, dubbed Triumph Regent, made its debut in 1949, and was offered until the firm ceased production in 1956. Gibson purchased the Epiphone company the following year, and by 1959 had revived the model, building them on the same factory line as the L-5 and other pro-series Gibson archtops.
The Gibson/Epi Triumph was given the model number A-412, and comparably priced to the Gibson L-7C. With its slightly larger body, deeper cutaway, and sleeker neck, the cutaway Triumph offered an attractive alternative to the serious guitarist.
This fine example is one of a mere 42 Triumphs produced by Gibson in this model year, just four years before the model was discontinued in 1968, making it one of Gibson's rarest archtop models. Gibson had acquired a small quantity of old-stock parts and bodies from Epiphone, and the long tail Pat. Pend. Frequensator is one of that small stash, which was quickly expended.
This fine example has been maintained in gleaming condition, with all original hardware, including its factory fitted original Johnny Smith floating pickup. The wide pattern sunburst finish is all original, without pick or thumbwear, and the Brazilian rosewood fingerboard retains its fine original medium fretwork in excellent condition. The arched maple back body shows fine slab cut figure, and the deep Epiphone cutaway (2 frets more than L-5C) allows unrestricted access to the uppermost reaches of the fingerboard. The carved spruce soundboard has exceptionally tight grain, and shows abundant crossgrain silk as well.
The neck has a sleek, elegant D profile, effortless in the hand, ideal for the player unwilling to wrestle with the chunky necks often found on older archtop guitars. The voice is clear and bright, with excellent projection, and the depth of tone only decades of seasoning can convey. A special plus is the original Johnny Smith floating pickup, factory installed with its volume control and shielding can mounted to the pickguard, with a 1/4" endpin jack. A few finish nicks are visible near the rims, and a small superficial grainline crack near the bass f-hole does not extend through the top. Otherwise, the guitar looks much as it must have when it left Kalamazoo almost six decades ago.
A rare find, and one of the most intriguing instruments Gibson ever produced. 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 flatwound strings. 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: Deluxe heavy black leather Reunion Blues plush lined gig bag.
