Epiphone Zephyr Deluxe Regent Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1951), made in New York City, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated maple body, spruce top; laminated maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
The Zephyr Deluxe Regent was originally the top of the line New York-made Epiphone electric; in 1950 the company upped the ante with the larger and grander 3-pickup Emperor Zephyr Regent, but the Deluxe model remained a high-end and popular guitar. This is a full 17" two-pickup archtop with quite fancy trim, including 5-ply body binding and split abalone/pearl blocks on the fingerboard.
The pickups are Epiphone's "New York" units with adjustable poles. This guitar, like many older Epiphones, appears to have gone back to the Gibson factory for a warranty overhaul after CMI's purchase of the company. The guitar carries a Gibson sunburst finish from the early '60's and is housed in a period Gibson black/orange case. All hardware and fittings are original except the bridge (a later rosewood replacement) and the voulme pot and switch-both originals are included in the case (the pot is dated 20th week of 1950). The guitar is currently wired to allow an out-of-phase option in the center position with a push pull pot-sonically useful but earily restored to original if desired. This is a very fine player and a nice example of the Epiphone/Gibson electric archtop tradition.
Overall length is 42 in. (106.7 cm.), 17 7/16 in. (44.3 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.). Very little wear since the re-work 40+ years ago. Some gold plating tarnished and pigkguard had shrunk slightly, otherwise this guitar is extremely clean. Excellent Condition.
