Epiphone 1953 Zephyr Emperor Regent Blonde New York Pickups

No sales tax for US customers outside California.

The name this beautiful Epiphone design was not chosen randomly: Zephyr stood for the electric variant, Emperor was the model name, and Regent indicated that the body had a cutaway. The Zephyr Emperor Regent was the pinnacle of Epiphone's New York-made electric guitar line — the firm's most costly electric guitar, discontinued after Gibson purchased the Epiphone company in 1957. It competed directly with the Gibson ES-5, the three-pickup top of the Gibson electric archtop line — and in at least one important technical respect, surpassed it. The six-button Varitone pickup selector permitted unprecedented variation in tone colors at the touch of a button, and was later copied by Guild for their X-375 model — its versatility has never been matched by Gibson to this day.

The six Varitone settings represent each pickup separately — bridge alone, middle alone, neck alone — along with each of the three possible combinations of two pickups together. The New York pickups are a unique Epiphone design based around a side-wound coil that gives a truly unique tone — clear and detailed, with a character distinct from both Gibson humbuckers and standard single-coil Fender pickups. All three original gold-plated nickel-covered New York pickups are present and functional. The original Bakelite carousel pointer knobs, Frequensator tailpiece, original two-control layout, and Epiphone Kolb tuners with E-stamped buttons are all intact. The six-button Varitone switch is original and functional. Wiring and solder joints are original.

The body specification calls for a spruce top with maple back and sides, 18.5" wide and 3.5" deep, with 7-ply body binding and triple-bound f-holes. The V-block pearl and abalone fingerboard inlays and Vine of Life headstock inlay are correct and present. The 7-ply maple and walnut neck carries a C profile at .885" at the first fret and .948" at the tenth. Honest condition notes throughout: body finish is fair with wear consistent with 70 years of age; body binding is fair to poor with many spliced and re-glued areas; fretboard binding has been repaired throughout; bone nut has been replaced; not all pickguard screws are original; a strap button has been added at the center neck heel. These details are fully visible in the photos. The rosewood fretboard, bridge, and saddle are in very good to excellent condition. Action is set at 3/32" on both strings at the twelfth fret. Non-original Guardian hardshell case included.

This is a killer sounding, great playing guitar!  It is a true beauty as well.

SPECS:

• Weight: 8lbs 4oz
• Color: Blonde
• Body Material: Maple
• Body Condition: fair
• Body Original?: yes
• Body Date: n/a
• Body Markings: n/a
• Body Repairs: none
• Body Binding: 7-ply
• Body Binding Condition: fair to poor
• Body Length: 21-3/4"
• Body Finish Original?: yes
• Body Finish Condition: Good
• Lower Bout: 18-3/4"
• Waist: 10-1/4"
• Upper Bout: 12-7/8"
• Body Depth/Thickness: 3-1/2"
• Pickguard Color: black
• Pickguard Original?: yes
• Pickguard Condition: good
• Pickguard Screws Original?: some, not all
• Strap Buttons: yes
• Strap Button Added?: yes Location: center neck heel
• Scale Length: 25.5"
• Neck Material: maple
• Neck Profile: C
• Neck Thickness At 1st Fret: .885"
• Neck Thickness At 10th Fret: .948"
• Action 1st String At 12th Fret: 3/32"
  
• Action 6th String At 12th Fret: 3/32"
• Neck Condition: good
• Neck Repairs: none
• Neck Finish Original?: yes
• Neck Date: n/a
• Neck Markings: Pearl/Abalone V-block, full length double pinstripe
• Neck Plate Color: n/a
• Neck Plate Material: n/a
• Neck Plate Original?: n/a
• Neck Screws Original?: n/a
• Fretboard Material: rosewood
• Fretboard Condition: very good
• Fretboard Repairs: binding repairs throughout
• Fretboard Radius: 12"
• Fret Condition: good
• Fret Repairs: none
• Fret Count: 20
• Nut Material: bone
• Nut Repairs: replaced
• Nut Width: 1-11/16"
• Bridge Brand: n/a
• Tremolo Or Fixed Bridge?: floating
• Bridge Original?: yes
• Tremolo Arm Original?: n/a
• Saddle Material: rosewood
• Saddles Original?: yes
• Bridge And Saddle Crews Original?: n/a
• String Spacing At Bridge: 2.099"
• Bridge Condition: good
• Tuner Brand And Model: Epiphone Kolb
• Tuners Original?: yes
• Changes To Headstock For Tuners?: no
• Tuner Condition: good
• Tuner Markings: E <
• Tuner Screws Original?: yes
• Truss Rod Cover: yes
• Overall Length: 44"
• Documentation: none
• Case Brand: Guardian
• Case Original?: no
• Case Condition: good
• Case Smells?: none
• Pickup Brand: "New York" single coil
• Pickup Count: 3
• Pickup Reading: n/a
• Pickup Original?: yes
• Pickup Bobbin Color: n/a
• Pickup Markings: n/a
• Pickup Condition: good
• Pickup Screws Original?: yes
• Pickup Cover Color: gold plated nickel
• Pickup Cavity Condition: n/a
• Knob Color: white
• Knob Count: 2
• Knobs Original?: yes
• Knob Condition: good
• Control Cavity Cover Material: n/a
• Control Cavity Cover Original?: n/a
• Control Cavity Condition: n/a
• Potentiometer Count: 2
• Potentiometer Manufacturer Code: n/a
• Potentiometer Date Code: n/a
• Potentiometers Original?: yes
• Potentiometer Condition: good
• Solders Original?: yes
• Wiring Original?: yes
• Switch Brand: "Vari-Tone" six-button switching system
• Switch Condition: good
• Switch Original?: yes
• Switch Tip Color: white
• Switch Tip Original?: yes
• Output Jack Plate Color: n/a
• Output Jack Plate Condition: n/a
• Output Jack Plate Color?: n/a
• Screws Original?: n/a
• Output Jack Original?: yes
  
• Smells?: no
• Accessories Included: none
• Tailpiece Brand: Epiphone Frequensator
• Tailpiece Color: Gold plated
• Tailpiece Condition: good
• Tailpiece Original?: yes

Shipping policy:

There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site.  Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver.  For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for Eastern states - customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air.  Otherwise, ground shipping will be used.  Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.