Epiphone Zephyr DeLuxe Regent Electric Archtop w/Case - Natural Blonde (1951)

This guitar is in very good condition for its age with some wear and dings from years of play. Everything looks to be original, from the hardware to the electronics, and all is in good working condition. The frets are original and still have some life left, the neck angle is very good with no sign of needing a neck rest and overall this guitar is ready to be played. The original hardshell case is also included.

The Zephyr Deluxe model was originally released in 1941 and made up to around 1955-56 and was one of the higher end arch tops made by Epiphone at the time. The naming of these models has led to some confusion over time with other Epiphone models sporting the DeLuxe and Regent names with different specs. This model, the Zephyr, was built with a laminated Spruce top & flamed Maple back & sides. The DeLuxe part of the name refers to mostly aesthetics on the instrument such as the V-Block inlays on the fretboard and the Vine of Life inlay on the headstock. The Regent part simply means that this was the cutaway version of this guitar.  This model featured a pair of Epiphone New York Tone Spectrum Pickups, volume & tone controls and a blade pickup selector. Acoustically this one is a little softer volume wise due to the pickups and controls installed in the top. Plugged in the pickups have fairly good output and great clarity both chords and single notes.

This is the writeup from an Epiphone catalog from the early 1950's

"This instrument is the ultimate in tone, appearance, sensitivity, and ease of action. The body measures 17 3/4 inches in width and 20 3/4 inches in length, scientifically proportioned for ease in playing.

Neck of curly maple, hand fashioned in the exacting professional dimensions, with fingerboard inlaid with dazzling patterns of mother of pearl positions.

Heavily gold-plated Frequensator tailpiece and 16 to 1 reation geared enclosed tuners.

The dual tone spectrum pickups enable the guitarist to create tone effects yet unheard of. The switch selector  add the possibilities of tone color, achieved through the use of either upper or lower pickups, separately or both together. Zephyr DeLuxe Regents are equipped with duo pickups.

The Cutaways feature enables one the use of the entire fret range with ease and speed"