Epiphone Electric Archtop Identification

[Chaz4Jazz]

I recently purchased an Epiphone electric archtop. I believe it's a Zephyr or Zephyr Electric. The serial # stamped in the headstock is #25478. I checked the # in BB of electric guitars & it dates it 1961. I also went to guitardaterproject.org website & it confirms the 1961 date. They also put the manufacturing location as Kalamazoo. I emailed Epiphone/Gibson & they believe it to be a Zephyr Deluxe. Here's my dilemma, according to the descriptions & photos I've seen of other Zephyr's, they don't seem to jive with some of the features of this instrument. The guitar came without the pickguard or brackets & does not have the original tailpiece. I would like to restore it to as close to original as possible, but I need help confirming the actual year & model. I have photos, but I'm sure how to post them. Help!!

[charlie brown]

I contacted Gibson/Epiphone too, on a similar problem. Their answer was that they don't have/supply "Vintage parts,"

for old Gibson or Epiphone guitars. This baffled me, as my guitar is a 66 Casino (Like the John Lennon version), and

so I know they have parts! I was totally willing to accept the fact that the part was a "reissue" part, and not an original

1966 part. Didn't matter. They (very nicely) told me, that I would need to check on E-bay, or with some fo the "Vintage

Parts" dealers, around the country, to obtain the part I needed. So, I would assume, they told you the same thing? Or,

did you get that far?

 

Have you contacted Gruhn Guitars, in Nashville? They have a LOT of Vintage guitars, a restoration facility, and a very

helpful staff. Might contact them, and see what you can find out? Good hunting!

 

CB

[charlie brown]

Posting photos is usually done through a site like "Photobucket," or similar. Just download your photos,

to that sight, click on the lilttle "mountain" in the Edit portion of this site, and cut and paste from "Photobucket,"

or whatever other site you choose.

 

CB

[carverman]

A'61 Zephyr deLuxe electric is certainly a rare find. Those were originally

introduced by Epiphone NYC in '48 and discontinued in '57 when Gibson

bought them out. If it is the cutaway model, it is the Zephyr deLuxe Regent

as "regent' was used to signify the cutaway by Epiphone NYC.

 

The Epiphone NYC version is describe as: Laminate body, laminate spruce top.

5 piece maple neck, center dip headstock with vine (tree-of-life), gold h/w?,

rosewood finger board with the split "V block" MOP postion markers, frequensator.

 

The '49 version had the "cloud shaped" MOPs, except for the 15th fret, which was

a rectangular shape.

 

The Gibson version would be similar,but not sure on the pickups or the tuners, as the NYC ones

used the New York style p_ups and the Epihone enclose tuners which had the

"bowtie shaped" buttons.

[Chaz4Jazz]

It's a non-cutaway, with a blonde finish. It does have the laminate body, the lower bout is 17 3/8". It has (1) P90 pup about a 1 1/2" from the neck. It has the (E) marked Kluson tuners with the bowtie buttons, but nickel finish. This is where it gets confusing. As I stated in my 1st posting, the "guitardaterproject" site says that it was produced in Kalamazoo, I don't know how reliable the site is, any input? Next thing is no center dip headstock, it has the Epiphone metal peghead logo plate, no truss rod plate, the adj. is @ the base of the neck which is (3) piece maple?. It does have the split "V block" MOP markers. It has the "Mastervoicer" volume & tone controls. The tail piece has been replaced & I'm not sure what the correct one should be. I'll try to post pics..

 

Thanks for all the info.

[carverman]

It's a non-cutaway' date=' with a blonde finish. It does have the laminate body, the lower bout is 17 3/8". It has (1) P90 pup about a 1 1/2" from the neck. It has the (E) marked Kluson tuners with the bowtie buttons, but nickel finish. This is where it gets confusing. As I stated in my 1st posting, the "guitardaterproject" site says that it was produced in Kalamazoo, I don't know how reliable the site is, any input? Next thing is no center dip headstock, it has the Epiphone metal peghead logo plate, no truss rod plate, the adj. is @ the base of the neck which is (3) piece maple?. It does have the split "V block" MOP markers. It has the "Mastervoicer" volume & tone controls. The tail piece has been replaced & I'm not sure what the correct one should be. I'll try to post pics..

[/quote']

 

Would be nice to see a picture of it. Are you sure it looks like a dogear p-90?

Epiphone did have their own version of SC pickups, the NY Style which is square metal edges

with a single mtg screw hole on each side of the pickup. The pickup was moved to the

middle position after 1947.

 

The "E" stamped on the sealed tuning pegs is Epiphones own tuning pegs with the plastic "bowtie buttons",

and not Klusons which were used by Gibson back then.

 

The metal V shaped logo plate is (typically) characteristic of pre Gibson Epiphones.

If it has two white octagon shaped knobs lower down in the lower bout and the pickup around the

middle between the fingerboard and bridge, it sounds more like it could be a NYC made model.

 

Depending on the year it was made, those could probably have a trapieze style tp, not the frequensator.

 

"Mastervoicer" was an Epiphone term. By'43 it had separate volume and tone controls mounted

on "mastervoicer"plates. A single "Master" pickup was used with adjustable pole pieces and it

could have been placed in the middle position being a non cutaway model.

[Chaz4Jazz]

I'm trying to post some photo's, can't seem to figure it out. Can anyone walk this newbie through it?

[Chaz4Jazz]

Here are some photos. Hope someone can give me some input.

 

Thanks

 

[Bender 4 Life]

Are you sure thats not the origional tailpiece?

 

Just an idea here, don't know how helpful they'd be, but you might want to contact Epi. directly,

send them the pics and a description.

Maybe whoever wrote the "History" page on their website could help you?

[Chaz4Jazz]

Hey Bender,

Yea, I'm sure. Pics. don't show it but the strap peg is not in the tailpiece & the screw holes don't line up. The part was made in Germany. Did some research & it looks like someone put an old Kay one on it. I'm not sure if this model came with the "frequensator" or the trapeze. I'm also on the hunt for the pickguard & brackets.

 

I did contact Epiphone & sent them pics., they seem to think it's a Zephyr Deluxe, but as I said in my previous post, all the info I've seen doesn't quite add up.

 

DOES ANYONE OUT THERE OWN ONE?! Would love to get some dimensions & info..

 

Thanks

[carverman]

Hey Bender' date='

Yea, I'm sure. Pics. don't show it but the strap peg is not in the tailpiece & the screw holes don't line up. The part was made in Germany. Did some research & it looks like someone put an old Kay one on it. I'm not sure if this model came with the "frequensator" or the trapeze. I'm also on the hunt for the pickguard & brackets.

 

I did contact Epiphone & sent them pics., they seem to think it's a Zephyr Deluxe, but as I said in my previous post, all the info I've seen doesn't quite add up.

 

[u']DOES ANYONE OUT THERE OWN ONE?![/u] Would love to get some dimensions & info..

 

Thanks

 

From my Epiphone: House of Stathopolo book, except for the tailpiece, pickup and knobs, I

would place it as a Zephyr DeLuxe circa 1947-53. The reason I'm thinking that is that

the position markers are 4 way split block type. However the knobs would have been

the more traditional Epi white 12 faceted type with a pointer.

 

Some of the later versions in '49 had a "cloud" shaped position markers with the single Epi "Tone Spectrum" pickup in the middle and a frequensator tp, white knobs, and they went from the "Kay style" plastic headstock overlay

to the more traditional Epiphone "vine" aka "tree of life" .

 

Here's a picture of what it might

have looked like originally..

 

 

Here's what the above book says about the Epiphone Zephyr DeLuxe:

"it was either a deluxe or fancy version of the Zephyr or an electric version of

the DeLuxe. Introduced in '41 and remained in the product line until '54,

however the "Regent" or cutaway version remained in production until 57..at

the time Gibson bought them out (I believe). The 50 catalog indicated that

it was fitted with the frequensator, but sometimes the trapieze was used.

By '53 on , some were fitted with the DeArmond SC p_up and some had

clear plastic knobs instead of the traditional white.

 

It was the flagship of the Epiphone archtop line until the Emperor came along.

Maple used was spectularily figured sometimes with birdseye. Natural blonde

finish was standard.

 

From what the book says, Epiphone had a lot of production problems in the early

50s, and production was moved from NYC to Philadelphia (for a while) to get around

union issues. Some parts might have been substituted then, as the main factory

was closed down at that point.

It's a bit confusing as to the actual production date, because Epiphone NYC had a tendency

to change the appearance of some of their guitars during the course of production.

[Chaz4Jazz]

Thanks for the info & pics. That looks like my baby!

[carverman]

According to the Appendix in my book, some serial numbers were derived

from the Epiphone serial number registry to establish at least whether

the guitar in question was made prior to 1950 or post 1950.

 

Your Zephyr guitar's sn 25478 falls in between 25344 and 25484 and indicates

(as far as the list of serial number stated in this book), a "pre 1950".

 

 

Post 1950 Zephyr/Deluxe (Regent) would have sn of 60215 with a final production

sn of 69513 (with cutaway) in '55.

 

Highest known sn in this book shows a FT 210(flat top) being produced as 69633 in '56.

No other serial numbers after that, as the factory was basically being liquidated and sold off.

 

Hope this info is of some use, it's difficult to find any information on Epiphone's

troubled years from 1950 on.

[Chaz4Jazz]

Can you confirm the pickup type, I'm still learnin'!

[carverman]

Can you confirm the pickup type' date=' I'm still learnin'![/quote']

 

It certainly looks like Epiphone's own SC "Master Pickup"....here's what my book says

about it. Check to see what the heads of the adjusting screws are. Are they slots

or Phillips head?

 

In the mid-40s, the Master Pickup was redesigned. Surface mounted with six

individual adjusting pole pieces, and an oblong shaped BLACK PLASTIC cover,

secured to the top with two screws via SMALL EARS at the ends.

 

After 1948, the Zephyr had grown to 17 3/8" with a laminated spruce top...

 

In '47 the first generation of the TONE SPECTRUM pickup first appeared, mounted

between the middle and bridge position. It had six Phillips head adjustable pole

pieces. It was approximately 3 1/2 x 1 3/8. Instruments during the war years

were made with whatever materials were at hand including plastics, so the

colour could vary. Subsequent variations of the Tone Spectrum had all cream coloured

plastic cover (approx 1948) and all metal unit with a cream pickup ring by '49.

The final evolution of the Tone Spectrum pickup became the 'New York pickup".

 

That's all the information I have on the Zephyr electric possible pickups.

[Chaz4Jazz]

Slotted screws.

[carverman]

Slotted screws.

 

 

More than likely it would be Epiphone's "Master Pickup"... which was

similar in some ways to the Gibson P-90.

It's a shame that the original tp was replaced as the original probably had

"Epiphone" imprinted across the string bar (on electric models only).

 

Epiphone also used DeArmond SC between '53 and cessation of operations

in '57 during the Continental Music days. These had occasional use.

[Chaz4Jazz]

Thanks again for all the great info. I'll be starting my quest for the holy grail (tp & pg). If anyone has any help to that end it would be most appreciated.

[carverman]

Thanks again for all the great info. I'll be starting my quest for the holy grail (tp & pg). If anyone has any help to that end it would be most appreciated.

 

The original tp is going to be extremely difficult to find and probably very expensive if

you did find one online at a vintage guitar parts shop.

Why not just go for a Epi style chrome frequensator or chrome Gibson style trapieze from these

guys....http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/gbridge_tailpiece.htm.

 

Either one will be closer to the original tp..whichever one it had. Some came with trapieze and others

may have had frequensators...it's hard to tell with that style of guitar. Neither one will break the bank

and will look a lot more "authentic" than what's on there now.

 

As far as the pickguard..probably custom make one...look at the picture and plot

out a shape on your guitar following that shape contour.

 

Use a piece of bristol board to draw out the shape, cut it out and trial fit it until it

looks the same as the picture. Use the f-hole as a guide in the picture to start the "round off"

and then just cut around your pickup. The bracket should be the same as a Les Paul bracket

available at a lot of on line stores. The screw is just a 6/32 countersunk flathead (phillips)

with a nut on the underside of a chrome LP bracket.

 

You should be able to find some black/white/black pickguard plastic at Stew-Mac,

Once you have your template finalized, drill out the two holes at the places you want and

use a drill countersink to drill out the screw countersinks. The edge of the pickguard can

be bevelled (looks nicer) or just cut out and filed flat to look more like vintage pickguard.

 

Other people may be able to suggest someone that could custom make one for you, but

you would still have to supply the template for that style of pickguard.