Product Description

In the late 20s Epiphone transitioned from a full-on banjo maker to making guitars, and their first guitars, with the same model designations of Recording Model A to E, kept the banjo peghead, complete with banjo tuning pegs and engraved pearloid veneers, and a body shape that was loosely derived from Gibsons F model mandolins. These guitars have some very special qualities, can be extremely loud, often extremely sweet toned. Everyone is unique. They are possibly the first American cutaway guitar.

They came in two sizes: an approximate 00 and an approximate 000, this one being the smaller and the highest grade. It is a carved top, X braced with a pin bridge, back and sides are a triple lamination of maple with an arched back with no braces, all refinished which happens frequently because the original finishes often didn't last well. It is unusual in that it has a 14-fret neck (most have 13 frets to the body) and that it has a pearloid backstrap - the veneer on the back of the peghead. The tone can't be described, you have to come play it. I'm sure you will be very pleasantly surprised.