Epiphone Byron Model Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1951), made in N.Y. City, sunburst lacquer finish, mahogany body, spruce top, maple neck.
One of Epiphone's less expensive instruments retailing originally around $70.00, this Byron is still a finely-crafted carved top guitar. It carries relatively simple appointments (strip tuners, decal logo, dot inlay, and single binding on the body only), but still built to the original Epiphone standards. The pickguard is a very hefty piece of unbound tortoise celluloid with a metal "E" logo, the neck a three-piece laminate with a rosewood fingerboard. The Byron is a relatively obscure model, built only in this era and not often seen, and this is a particularly nice example.
By 1951, Epiphone was already encountering the financial problems which would lead to the company's demise and eventual sale to CMI/Gibson, and the New York factory would soon be closed�production shifting the factories to Philadelphia and elsewhere before trailing off in the mid-'50s. This guitar is likely from the last days of the original New York Epiphone factory. With a loud and cutting sound (like many Epiphones), this is a good playing guitar suitable for a number of acoustic styles.
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm.), 15 1/8 in. (38.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 7/16 in. (8.7 cm.) deep.
All original except probably the bridge, which looks more recent. Very clean overall with only minor dings and checking. Plays excellent. A really nice small carved-top guitar from one of the finest builders at a reasonable price. Excellent Condition.
