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Epiphone Triumph Archtop - 1944 / Here's Your Stardust Melody! - $4,000 (Abington)
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The Epiphone Triumph was the third fanciest archtop in the original 1931 Masterbilt lineup, behind the Deluxe and the Broadway. While less ornate than the others, it was an entirely professional grade instrument at a working musician’s price. The original Triumph featured a sunburst finished Spruce carved top on top of laminated Walnut back and sides. In 1934, the back was upgraded to carved Maple, and in 1940 the option of a Blonde finish first became available. Also in 1934, the signature notched diamond inlays first appeared on the fretboard. The first Epiphone Triumph models had a 15” lower bout, which was upgraded to 16” in 1933 and again to (nominally) 17” in 1936. The Triumph stayed in production until the mid-1950s.
Here are the Specs on this Triumph:
Pre-Gibson takeover of Epiphone
Made in Brooklyn, NY in 1944
25 1/2” Scale
1 3/4” Nut Width
2 1/4” String Spacing at Bridge
17 3/8” Lower Bout
3 3/8” Body Depth
7 1/4” Neck Radius
Carved Spruce Top
Carved Maple Back, Maple Sides
5 Piece Maple Neck (Cherry Center Stripe?)
Epiphone Frequensator Tailpiece
Truss Rod adjustment at end of fretboard
Action at 12th fret: Low E = 5/64”, High E = 1/16”
As the photos reveal, this is one gorgeous guitar, and will be a prize among any collector’s archtops. Coming into he shop, it was in very fine condition, needing only some minor repairs to make it just right.
Beyond a thorough cleaning of the body, fretboard and hardware, we replaced missing binding along the bass side of the neck, replaced the original bridge with a Benedetto Rosewood Bridge, replaced the deteriorating original pick guard with a period correct Rosewood pick guard, glued a couple sections of loose binding, and cleated and repaired a Center seam separation to the top, and a similar separation to the back. The original bridge and original pick guard, for posterity’s sake, will be included with the guitar (which comes in its original hard case).
As is often the case, the Frequensator tailpiece was cracked on each side of the 90 degree bend, so we sent it to the kind folks at National Guitars, who rebrazed it, ground it smooth and had it replated for us. Their workmanship is beautiful.
At this point, with a fast playing action and a properly fit bridge, this sweetheart is just shy of perfect. There are some very minor nicks and dings to the body, but no cracks, splits or open seams. The neck is straight and cozy, the tuners work perfectly, and the voice is a sweet song emanating from a stunning body. Who could ask for anything more?
Please be sure to study the photos carefully, and zoom in on them, as we have tried to capture this Epiphone Triumph from all angles.
Serial #: 19110
Price: $4000.00
For a video demo of this guitar, please follow this link to our YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/zV3nCLUHrRE