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Serial #: 849069

Body size at lower bout: 17 1/4" Body depth: 2 7/8" Scale length: 25 1/2" Fingerboard width at nut: 1 9/16"

Finish: Original cherry finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type.

Materials: Slab cut birdseye maple top, back and sides; maple neck with walnut center stripe; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with mother of pearl block inlay; compensated adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge, pearl peghead inlay, three-ply body binding, bound peghead; bone nut.

Hardware: All-original hardware includes twin mini-humbucking pickups, Frequensator tailpiece and pickguard bracket; nickel double ring Kluson Deluxe tuners; black reflector cap knobs; three way pickup selector switch; adjustable truss rod, original medium jumbo frets. Vintage correct bound tortoise pickguard installed (original in case).

Notes: Just two years after Gibson acquired the Epiphone company, the E-252 Broadway was introduced in 1959 in the first flight of Kalamazoo-built Epiphone models. Its full depth Venetian cutaway body was both slightly wider and slimmer in depth than the Gibson ES-350, which had ceased production some three years before. And the Tal Farlow wouldn't arrive for another three years yet, leaving the Broadway as the only full size Gibson-built laminate body archtop.

Built on the same factory line as the L-5 and Super 400, the Broadway is one of the scarcest of Gibson made electrics as well, disappearing from the catalog by 1970. An innovative design, the E-252 incorporates a number of player-friendly features. The deep Epiphone cutaway (2 frets more than L-5C) allows unrestricted access to the uppermost reaches of the fingerboard, and the slimmer body is decidedly more comfy than traditional L-series archtops. Finally, the neck profile is exceptionally slim and inviting: one of the fastest Gibson necks ever. The adjustable mini-humbucking pickups are another Epiphone innovation. With their clear, detailed response, they quickly made their way as a floating pickup onto the Johnny Smith, L-5, Super-400 and other premium Gibson archtops.

Built in the only year for the cherry finish, this remarkable guitar is one of just 24 Epiphone Broadways ever produced in that rarest of body colors. Well cared for over the years, the instrument has been maintained without pick, thumb or fingerboard wear. Apart from a bit of buckle rash and some neck wear near the heel from an old guitar stand, the guitar shows remarkably little playwear altogether. Binding, hardware and electronics are all original and in excellent condition, with unbroken solder joints and original shielding cans still in place.

At just 6lb. 10oz. the guitar is nicely lightweight, and well balanced on the lap or the strap. Both fingerboard and bridge are carved of solid Brazilian rosewood, the signature Frequensator tailpiece still gleams like new, and the double ring Kluson tulip pegs have the patina of fossil ivory. Action is smooth and low over fine original medium jumbo fretwork, with a neck that simply glides through the palm. Body shows handsome slab cut figure with no cracks or repairs; only a few small chips on the peghead are clues to its long career. The voice is clear, clean and elegant, with silky response through the amp.

An exceptionally rare find, and a delight for the player and collector alike. 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 strings (.012-.054). 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: Deluxe period Epiphone black arched hardshell case, with gold lining.

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