1953 Epiphone Zephyr Emperor Regent - Blonde
Description
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:
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 . 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.
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:
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 . 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.