Epiphone Emperor Model Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1941), made in New York City, serial # 16702, sunburst lacquer finish, maple back and sides, spruce top; laminated maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, brown hard shell case.
 
Overall length is 43 1/2 in. (110.5 cm.), 18 3/8 in. (46.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.). This is a lovely example of a prewar Emperor, Epiphone's top of the line instrument. All hardware is original, including the pickguard, tuners and Frequensator tailpiece (which has a small typical repair). The beautiful dark sunburst finish has an old clear overspray overall-not heavy, but noticeable. The heel area has had a darker overspray with more checking, likely done when the neck was re-set. All binding is solid and intact; when a refret was performed some time back the fretboard binding was partially cut through. One of the laminate seams on the back of the headstock has been open slightly at some point and se-sealed. There are small wood blocks added on eack side under the fingerboard extension to facilitate an old Dearmond installation with a fingerboard bracket-removable if desired. This guitar is extremely attractive overall and has the typically huge Epiphone tone in spades; you could easily drive a big band with it! While the guitar has a lot of hi-power sound in reserve it has a subtler side as well, and is an excellent chord/melody machine as well-a very fine all-around archtop. Includes a nice CMI-era HSC. Excellent - Condition.