1934 Epiphone Spartan Carved-Top Archtop Guitar

My friend David Richard over in Corinth, Vermont did all the work on this guy and it's roaring. I will be quoting him a lot from the "cover letter" he gave me with the instrument when he dropped it off for sale. Suffice to say, David is one of the only guys in our area that I trust to refer people to. He's meticulous and tasteful in his repair decisions and goes the extra mile.

This guitar is done-up to the point it makes a perfect player's instrument but looks a treat, too -- it's rock-steady, loud, punchy,  plays perfectly, and it's fiery. 1934 is pretty early-on for an Epi of this size as well. I mostly see '40s instruments in my shop but David sort-of specializes in old Epiphones so he gets to see a lot of choice boxes. This is one he's been playing-out with for some time and it's a hum-dinger. It's even got Waverly machines at the headstock!

Per David's letter, "The bridge is a period-correct, original Epiphone piece -- which came with the guitar -- but the faint, illegible number stamped on the bottom does not appear to match the serial number on the body label. The tailpiece and pickguard are original."

"The guitar is structurally excellent, as is the playability. It's in great cosmetic condition and is a rare, early variant -- the first documented Spartan (on the Unofficial NY Epiphone Registry) and the first documented Epiphone with the distinctive 'cello' f-holes (as opposed to the earlier segmented f-holes." See? I knew it was an early weirdo and I hadn't even read that bit yet until just now...! Thanks for saving me some time, Mr. Richard.

If you're not used to old Epiphone carved-tops, the thing to know about them is that they're a bit like a counter to the "Gibson" archtop sound. Gibsons are often excellent chordal-playing instruments and have a chucky, velvety, woody voice with good note separation and a nice, dark attack. Epiphones are generally a lot more forward, louder, and punchier. This one slices-out into a room acoustically like nuts and does it almost with a "dog bark" kind-of attack. It will keep pace with brass if you're doing "backing work" for an acoustic jazz band. I think Epis are much better-suited to chord-melody, lead playing, 3-note-chord chopping, and stuff like that if you're using it to play along with other guitars, though. Gibsons are more-relaxed. Both play fast, though, after work is done to bring them up to snuff.

Repairs included: per Dave's letter, "Neck reset, refret(!), replaced binding on top of body and neck (this is often trashed on period Epis) with color and finish touch-ups, new Waverly tuners, pro repair to the tailpiece (at ben of bracket). My only work was to slightly-adjust bridge position and slightly-adjust the setup. It's currently rocking 55w-12.5 strings which is almost medium gauges and they feel swell.

Top wood: solid spruce (carved)

Back & sides wood: maple

Bracing type: tonebar

Bridge: rosewood

Fretboard: rosewood

Neck wood: mahogany

Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 55w-12.5 medium-ish

Neck shape: medium C

Board radius: ~10"

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: medium-modern

Scale length: 25 5/8"

Nut width: 1 11/16"

Body width: 16 1/2"

Body depth: 3 1/2" + arching

Weight: 4 lbs 14 oz

Condition notes: no cracks, in great shape aside from a "strap rash" to the back (vinyl strap was laid against the body in the case -- this makes ugly marks in the finish). There are some nicks, dings, and marks on the back of the neck and also here and there on the top and throughout. It's an old guitar, folks. The replacement binding is done well and looks authentic. The tuners are replaced but Waverly units (yip). The bridge is possibly a replacement (but from my thinking: unlikely). The tailpiece is original but repaired (working swell -- Epi ones tend to break at the fold-over). The neck is straight and it's ready to go -- please check pictures thoroughly.

It comes with: its original hard case. David did some repairs: "...OHSC with minor repairs (new ribbons and lid stay, some reglued seams, recovered handle... case is worn but sold..."