12/07/2023, 18:24 1951 Epiphone Emperor Regent

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1951 Epiphone Emperor Regent
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been sold, and is no longer available. Photos and descriptions of Previously Sold instruments
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Serial #: 63138

Body size at lower bout: 18 1/2" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th
frets: .90/1.04

Materials: Highly figured solid flame maple back, neck and sides; solid carved quartersawn
bookmatched spruce top; 9-piece maple-walnut neck; 9-ply body binding; triple-bound heel
cap, neck binding, f-holes and head stock; solid ebony fingerboard with "split-block" mother
of pearl and abalone inlay; ornate pearl tree-of-life peghead inlay.

Hardware: Original gold hardware includes Pat. Pend. Frequensator tailpiece, epsilon-logo
16X1 tuners, hex-key truss rod. Adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge, vintage correct multi-
bound tortoise pickguard. Gold DeArmond reissue Model 1100 Adjustable Rhythm Chief
pickup, with volume control and 1/4" jack.

Notes: The glory of the Epiphone line, the Emperor was introduced in 1935 as the largest and
most costly instrument the company ever made. Epiphone produced several prototype
cutaway examples as early as 1941, but for reasons unknown, dawdled until 1949 to add
them to the regular catalog, a full decade after Gibson started offering the cutaway Super
400.

The Emperor Cutaway (or "Regent") model, had a run of just five years until the last known
example was crafted in 1954. As a consequence, the Emperor Regent remains one of the
rarest and most desirable guitars of the classic era. With its massive 18 1/2" lower bout, this
mammoth guitar was the largest production archtop of its time. Though bigger even than the
mighty Super 400, the Emperor is paradoxically more comfortable to hold, as the upper bout
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12/07/2023, 18:24 1951 Epiphone Emperor Regent

is a full inch
smaller than its
Gibson
counterpart. In
addition, the
extended
Emperor cutaway
offers several
frets more access
in the uppermost
register than the
S-400.

Premium priced
over sunburst
examples, the
cutaway Emperor
in natural finish
was the most
expensive
offering in the
Epi catalog. Not
to mention the
most spectacular,
as the most
vividly figured
tonewood was
generally
reserved for the
blonde guitars,
which showcase
it to greatest
advantage. And
this magnificent
instrument is no exception, with its rich, warmly ambered nitro lacquer finish. The back,
sides and neck are carved of gorgeous flame maple, and lavished with a full nine plies of
binding. (The neck itself is nine ply as well, unusually ornate even for this top-line model.)
And finally, this striking guitar is from the last year for the graceful prewar peghead, with its
ornate tree-of-life inlay unencumbered by a truss rod cover, and its hex-key rod mounted at
the end of the fingerboard.

Carefully maintained, the guitar shows no apparent cracks or structural repairs, and remains
equipped with its original gold hardware, including the epsilon-logo 16:1 tuners, and Pat.
Pend Frequensator tailpiece. Apart from some light thumbwear and some scattered lacquer
dings on the top, the instrument shows remarkably little wear for its long playing career. Now
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fitted with a handsome recent multi-bound tortoise pickguard, it appears the guitar may have
once been equipped with a larger pickguard, as a pair of additional filled mounting holes
would suggest.

The extravagant multi-ply binding is original and tight to the body as well, with a pair of
small shims added to the neck binding at the nut. The traditional C profile neck has a solid,
gentle feel, with smooth low action over a fresh, high-precision setup. Completing the
package is the classic bop tone of the DeArmond reissue Model 1100 Adjustable Rhythm
Chief pickup, with its volume control and 1/4" jack both mounted to the pickguard.

The soundboard is hand-graduated from solid quarter-sawn bookmatched spruce, and has the
massive acoustic projection, warm lower register, and clear, brilliant highs of tonewood now
aged over seven decades. Make no mistake, this guitar simply thunders, with exceptional
headroom and dynamic range, and cutting power to slice through the brassiest horn section.

An instrument of exceptional rarity, performance, and appeal, this remarkable find is a

outstanding opportunity for the player and collector alike. It's been a full five years since we
had the pleasure to present our last one, and it went fast. The ruler of all lesser guitars: one
only, call now.

Setup: Trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge
compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot
contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge radius inspected and recurved as
necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck
cleaned and hand polished.

Case: Deluxe brown Lifton arched plush lined hardshell case.

 
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