I hesitate to do this, but...

[tweed2]

The only reason I'm mentioning this here is that these don't come around often, so if you've ever been looking, here's the deal. I bought this guitar 3 years ago, so that a friend of mine could play at my step daughters wedding. We paid for his flight here and back from NY and would have been responsible for his guitar, unless I could provide one. I bought the ZBD for not much more than what I would have paid for getting one of his here and back (I sold this plan to my wife as a money-saving deal.....). He's used it once or twice a year, since, when he comes back to visit his family and/or play locally. But, he just bought an Epi Triumph, that he keeps here at his parents, so he no longer needs the ZBD. I don't play it enough to justify keeping it and I have a new project that I need to fund (more on that later).

 

So, before I put this up on eBay, I thought that I'd give anybody here that's ever wanted one of these, a shot at it. If you are interested, PM me, no need in boring everyone else with our conversations. Here's a few pictures to whet the appetite.

 

[fromnabulax]

Very tempting... very, very tempting.

[Steve112]

The only reason I'm mentioning this here is that these don't come around often, so if you've ever been looking, here's the deal. I bought this guitar 3 years ago, so that a friend of mine could play at my step daughters wedding. We paid for his flight here and back from NY and would have been responsible for his guitar, unless I could provide one. I bought the ZBD for not much more than what I would have paid for getting one of his here and back (I sold this plan to my wife as a money-saving deal.....). He's used it once or twice a year, since, when he comes back to visit his family and/or play locally. But, he just bought an Epi Triumph, that he keeps here at his parents, so he no longer needs the ZBD. I don't play it enough to justify keeping it and I have a new project that I need to fund (more on that later).

 

So, before I put this up on eBay, I thought that I'd give anybody here that's ever wanted one of these, a shot at it. If you are interested, PM me, no need in boring everyone else with our conversations. Here's a few pictures to whet the appetite.

 

That is a stunningly beautiful guitar, tweed2. Being relatively new to the Epiphone lineup, I must confess I don't have a clue as to what ZBD stands for. But daaaammmn that is one fine looking guitar. How about a little more info on these beauties? You know, history, dates, any technical stuff? Thanks, been coming back to your photos the last couple of days and my curiosity finally made me reply!

[tweed2]

EPIPHONE Zephyr Blues Deluxe

• 1999-2005

• Based on the Gibson ES-5

Body:

• Single rounded cutaway

• Maple body & top

• Flame maple veneer

Neck:

• Set Maple neck

• Rosewood fingerboard with block inlays

• "Vine of Life" inlay on headstock

• 20 frets

• 25.5" Scale

• 1.68" nut

Binding:

• 5-ply body, neck & headstock

Electronics:

• 3 P-90 Pickups

• Middle pickup reverse polarity for hum cancelling

• 3 Vol. 1 Tone controls

Hardware:

• Gold hardware

• Tune-o-matic bridge with rosewood base

• Frequensator tailpiece

• Gold speed knobs

• 3-ply elevated pickguard

.

 

My guitar is a 2ND (stamped on the headstock), but two nationally known luthiers in the area have looked at it and could find no reason for the stamp. I've replaced the bridge and neck PUs with Biltoft P-90s. I chose the Biltofts for their ease (by design) of changing the magnets, to adjust the tone. I have several optional magnet sets that will go with it. Great pickups, close to Lollars (which I have in my casino). The Master Tone was replaced with a BigD Vari-tone. Among a list of other improvements, I fabricated a longer bass bale, to eliminate the biggest purported issue with frequensators, string length on the lower 3 strings. These are great guitars, but I no longer need it, and I have another Epiphone project to complete, so it needs a new home. I've been amazed at the prices there are fetching these days, $800-$1000! They don't come around too often, either. It's been up on eBay for 7 hours and I've had 60 hits on it, hottest item I've put up in 800+ listings.

[Steve112]

EPIPHONE Zephyr Blues Deluxe

• 1999-2005

• Based on the Gibson ES-5

Body:

• Single rounded cutaway

• Maple body & top

• Flame maple veneer

Neck:

• Set Maple neck

• Rosewood fingerboard with block inlays

• "Vine of Life" inlay on headstock

• 20 frets

• 25.5" Scale

• 1.68" nut

Binding:

• 5-ply body, neck & headstock

Electronics:

• 3 P-90 Pickups

• Middle pickup reverse polarity for hum cancelling

• 3 Vol. 1 Tone controls

Hardware:

• Gold hardware

• Tune-o-matic bridge with rosewood base

• Frequensator tailpiece

• Gold speed knobs

• 3-ply elevated pickguard

.

 

My guitar is a 2ND (stamped on the headstock), but two nationally known luthiers in the area have looked at it and could find no reason for the stamp. I've replaced the bridge and neck PUs with Biltoft P-90s. I chose the Biltofts for their ease (by design) of changing the magnets, to adjust the tone. I have several optional magnet sets that will go with it. Great pickups, close to Lollars (which I have in my casino). The Master Tone was replaced with a BigD Vari-tone. Among a list of other improvements, I fabricated a longer bass bale, to eliminate the biggest purported issue with frequensators, string length on the lower 3 strings. These are great guitars, but I no longer need it, and I have another Epiphone project to complete, so it needs a new home. I've been amazed at the prices there are fetching these days, $800-$1000! They don't come around too often, either. It's been up on eBay for 7 hours and I've had 60 hits on it, hottest item I've put up in 800+ listings.

Thank you tweed2, it is a standout instrument for sure. I doubt that you'll have any problem with prospective buyers and a decent price. It looks like it's mint or near enough. The Vari-tone immediately caught my eye, IMO that is a great mod, hugely practical and it looks like its always been there. Not often does a mod add as much to the overall look and vibe as well as the technical side, very good choice!

With your choice of magnets and quality of the pups the tone must alternately chime and growl and everything in between. I`m not experienced with the frequensator but those that like them swear by them. Thanks for all the info & specs it is beautiful eye-candy as well.

Very cool guitar, tweed2.

[tweed2]

Thanks for the kind words. Mt next project will be a Sorrento 50th Ann.'62 (most likely a refurb), that I will put a set of Dearmond gold foils in. Probably add a Bigsby, too. Those '62 redos make excellent modding platforms. The Sheraton I did last year (Firebird PUs and a vibrola t.p.) is one of my favorite guitars.

[lengle1981]

Thanks for the kind words. Mt next project will be a Sorrento 50th Ann.'62 (most likely a refurb), that I will put a set of Dearmond gold foils in. Probably add a Bigsby, too. Those '62 redos make excellent modding platforms. The Sheraton I did last year (Firebird PUs and a vibrola t.p.) is one of my favorite guitars.

 

That looks amazing. Love the vibrola and always loved how they look on a 335/semi. Great work👍🏻

[stein]

Thanks for the kind words. Mt next project will be a Sorrento 50th Ann.'62 (most likely a refurb), that I will put a set of Dearmond gold foils in. Probably add a Bigsby, too. Those '62 redos make excellent modding platforms. The Sheraton I did last year (Firebird PUs and a vibrola t.p.) is one of my favorite guitars.

Let me know when you want to have the same conversation about this one.

 

Hopefully by then, I will have enough cash to make it worth your while.

[lengle1981]

Let me know when you want to have the same conversation about this one.

 

Hopefully by then, I will have enough cash to make it worth your while.

 

Lovely guitars to play. I had one and loved it. We unfortunately ran into serious money problems a few months ago and I'm now left with no guitars amps or studio equipment. Family comes first in a situation like that, but we're back on our feet again at last and that's the main thing, so I'm starting again from scratch and can't wait to get my hands on one of these again!