1954 Epiphone FT 210 DeLuxe Cutaway Jumbo Guitar

You want an Epiphone flattop from the original company? You want to go upmarket? You want a cutaway? This is it and boy is it it. Epiphones have become increasingly-collectible and due to the fact that they did not make a ton of flattops (afterall, when I think "guitar" and "real Epiphone" -- not Gibson-made -- I think... archtop!), their old flattops are now getting a bit astronomical. This particular model was only made between '54 and '57.

This one's quite "fancypants" with its 17 3/8" lower bout, curvy body shape, cloudy fretboard inlays, and lovely headstock veneer inlays. It also has an amazing pickguard. How "East Coast cowboy" is that?

It's mostly original save for saddle, pins, and strap buttons... but the whole guitar has binding that's cracked into smaller pieces (outgassing woes) and there's been a coat of varnish applied ("overspray") all over as well. This gives it a bit of a "fading glory" look, though it still looks alarmingly-cool.

The neck is slim and quick and sports a 1 5/8" nut like the Epi archtops of the time. It plays really fast because of these specs and is a perfect chord-banger or band-backing guitar. It has an arched back and ladder bracing on the top which yields an oomphy, full-on, forward voice. It sounds like a really aggressive flattop with the good projection of an archtop. The notes leap right out into the crowd and it's hecka-loud... with a strange sort-of rumbly-grumble to the bottom-end. I like it.

My work was very light -- just a glorified setup -- but someone had gone through it before and I expect it had fretwork, a neck reset, and some bridge work done in the past. It was playing almost perfectly when it arrived.

Repairs included: fret level dress, setup, etc. -- and previously, probably a neck reset, bridge mod/repairs, fretwork/refret, and whatnot...

Made by: Epiphone

Model: FT 210 DeLuxe Cutaway

Made in: USA

Serial number: 67757

Top wood: solid spruce

Back & sides wood: ply figured maple

Bracing type: ladder

Bridge: rosewood

Fretboard: ebony

Neck wood: mahogany

Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 54w-12 lights

Neck shape: slim-med C/soft V

Board radius: ~10"

Truss rod: adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: medium

Scale length: 25 1/2"

Nut width: 1 5/8"

Body length: 20 3/4"

Body width: 17 3/8"

Body depth: 4"

Weight: 6 lb 0 oz

Condition notes: there's a topcoat of non-professionally-applied varnish over the original finish throughout. The saddle and pins are replacements. The binding has cracked throughout the body's edges but is still extant and looks to have been "tack-glued" in place as needed. The (possibly replacement?) pickguard is in good order and looking great. I'm pretty sure it's been refretted in the past. There are non-original strap buttons. I didn't find any cracks but the finish does show use-wear throughout, as you'd expect. The truss rod works and the neck is straight. There's an old, patched, electric jack hole in the treble-side at the 3/4 position.

It comes with: a good hard case.