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EPIPHONE BROADWAY ARCHTOP NONCUT, VINTAGE BEAUTY, '51, CREMONA HONEYBURST
Estimated price for orientation: 3 445 $
Category: Epiphone Archtop
Class:
Description Brand: Epiphone Dexterity: Right-Handed MPN: 61022 Exact Year: 1951 Model: Broadway Country/Region of Manufacture: United States Series: Archtop Acoustic String Configuration: 6 String Body Type: 17" NonCut
The old Epi archtops are the best sounding of the golden era archtops (1930's 40's, & early 50's) because of the best instrument woods that this company had long established access to, having been in business since the late 1800's, originally a quality cello maker. Plus the company employed some of the finest old world craftsman.This particular 17" Broadway Archtop Noncut model is from my personal playing collection, there4 it was selected because of the Sound (tonal quality + projection volume). This means the guitar was played over the years, which makes the guitar "ring out" over time. & there is no substitute for good old time & being played to bring out the sound of these excellent woods.I always liked some minor vintage dings which adds character to the instrument (& also reduces the price). There is a very small area of some very slight binding shrinkage on the back in the area betw the upper & lower bouts (see photo). This is of no structural significance, not visible from the front, not really noticeable, & adds to the vintage character of the guitar. This one has a beautiful amber Cremona finish (in the tradition of a Stradivarius violin).It has a "beefy" V neck shape, no fretwear or fingerboard wear. The playing action neck profile is prefect up and down the neck, with a working truss rod(correct allen adjustment wrench included in case compartment, - but well aged necks like this have "settled in" nicely over time and rarely need any tweaking).The bridge is a period L-5 Gibson high quality archtop bridge which fits this guitar's arch. The bridge position small ink mark indicator is visible on the top. This typical little mark is not significant and not very noticeable, & it is helpful in adjusting the bridge position if necessary.The Frequensator tailpiece is original with it's beautiful vintage patina finish (Pls do not polish this in the future. It looks very vintage cool the way it is.It features what can be called "The Invisible Pickguard", which is how I play many of my archtops, leaving the original gold bracket in place without the guardplate attached: this functions as a sort of "avant guard" design. It doesn't get in the way at all of playing and it looks cool. It's a conversation piece and "something to look at". The original pickguard is included, but it has curved and warped over time. Personally I like & even prefer some of these old F-Hole Archtops without the pickguard, since it doesn't block the sound at all. The back of the guitar has some real nice flame and the famous Epi concept of Non-Book Matched halves on the back which is more interesting to look at, plus it picks up more variety of harmonic overtones in the varied wood grains.The vintage case is strong and sturdy and has a nice red interior which matches the Sunburst of the guitar very nicely.Enjoy, to the next lucky owner and player of this great "blast from the past". It's a goodie.Ozzy
Description
| Brand: | Epiphone | Dexterity: | Right-Handed |
| MPN: | 61022 | Exact Year: | 1951 |
| Model: | Broadway | Country/Region of Manufacture: | United States |
| Series: | Archtop Acoustic | String Configuration: | 6 String |
| Body Type: | 17" NonCut |
The old Epi archtops are the best sounding of the golden era archtops (1930's 40's, & early 50's) because of the best instrument woods that this company had long established access to, having been in business since the late 1800's, originally a quality cello maker. Plus the company employed some of the finest old world craftsman.This particular 17" Broadway Archtop Noncut model is from my personal playing collection, there4 it was selected because of the Sound (tonal quality + projection volume). This means the guitar was played over the years, which makes the guitar "ring out" over time. & there is no substitute for good old time & being played to bring out the sound of these excellent woods.I always liked some minor vintage dings which adds character to the instrument (& also reduces the price). There is a very small area of some very slight binding shrinkage on the back in the area betw the upper & lower bouts (see photo). This is of no structural significance, not visible from the front, not really noticeable, & adds to the vintage character of the guitar. This one has a beautiful amber Cremona finish (in the tradition of a Stradivarius violin).It has a "beefy" V neck shape, no fretwear or fingerboard wear. The playing action neck profile is prefect up and down the neck, with a working truss rod(correct allen adjustment wrench included in case compartment, - but well aged necks like this have "settled in" nicely over time and rarely need any tweaking).The bridge is a period L-5 Gibson high quality archtop bridge which fits this guitar's arch. The bridge position small ink mark indicator is visible on the top. This typical little mark is not significant and not very noticeable, & it is helpful in adjusting the bridge position if necessary.The Frequensator tailpiece is original with it's beautiful vintage patina finish (Pls do not polish this in the future. It looks very vintage cool the way it is.It features what can be called "The Invisible Pickguard", which is how I play many of my archtops, leaving the original gold bracket in place without the guardplate attached: this functions as a sort of "avant guard" design. It doesn't get in the way at all of playing and it looks cool. It's a conversation piece and "something to look at". The original pickguard is included, but it has curved and warped over time. Personally I like & even prefer some of these old F-Hole Archtops without the pickguard, since it doesn't block the sound at all. The back of the guitar has some real nice flame and the famous Epi concept of Non-Book Matched halves on the back which is more interesting to look at, plus it picks up more variety of harmonic overtones in the varied wood grains.The vintage case is strong and sturdy and has a nice red interior which matches the Sunburst of the guitar very nicely.Enjoy, to the next lucky owner and player of this great "blast from the past". It's a goodie.Ozzy