Brand: Epiphone
Instrument Categories: Acoustic Steel String, Archtop, Guitars, SOLD
In the 1930s and 1940s, Epiphone was the top of the archtop world, and was one of the very few banjo-focused companies to shifted their production lines to guitars.
This is a 1951 Epiphone Zephyr Regent model E312, in nearly original condition. This model was built between 1950 and 1958, in natural finish (model E311) and sunburst (model E312).
The 1951 Epiphone Zephyr Regent uses a 17.375 inch wide, fully hollow body with a single pickup. Electric Epiphone archtops used maple laminate for body construction; this is partly for feedback reduction as laminate is somewhat less responsive and reactive than carved maple plates. The neck is a three-piece mahogany construction, with a rosewood fingerboard and notched block inlays. The scale length is 25.5 inches and the nut width is 1.68 inches, and the truss rod adjuster is at the body end (this was changed to the head in 1952). The Epiphone logo is on a metal plate.
The Zephyr Regent uses Epiphone’s ‘New York’ style pickup, which was used from 1949 to 1961, carried in a celluloid mount; master volume and tone controls with distinctive octagonal ‘carousel’ knobs. The output jack has been moved, due to side damage that was repaired long ago. The tuners are original, Epiphone branded with rectangular celluloid buttons and the pickguard is nitrocellulose faux tortoise. The original rosewood bridge is in place.
This instrument is in overall good condition, with lots of lacquer checking and one repair on the side where the jack was originally located. Fret wear is fairly heavy, with corresponding fingerboard wear; this guitar has been played, but it sounds like it. Acoustically, it’s very lively and the action is quite good, making for easy chording.
Serial Number: 61710, built at the Epiphone shop in New York, New York.
- Model: Zephyr Regent
- Year: 1951
- Finish Sunburst
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: 61710
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Good
- Date Posted: 22/10/2014
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Required CITES documentation
- Including Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 6.93lbs 3.15kg
- Scale Length: 25.5in 647.7mm
- Nut Width: 1.692in 43mm
