1945 Epiphone Blackstone Carved-Top Archtop Guitar

Overview: Aside from celluloid-melting stains (yes, the old pickguard did that!) all over the top, this Epi Blackstone is pretty spiff. It's played-in and opened-up, for sure, and post-repairs is a ding-dang rocket in sound and carrying-power. It cuts just as good as you'd expect!

I like these guitars a lot for chord-backup in brass bands and trad jazz but in a string-band setup they can also do killer lead work as they've got the volume and zip to do the job and just enough warmth to switch into "backup" mode on the fly.

Repairs included: I gave it a neck reset, Molly leveled and dressed the frets, and then I added new thumbwheels at the bridge, compensated the saddle a bit, fit a replacement (but period-correct Epi) tailpiece, reglued a few seams, cleaned it up, and set it up. The nut is also a replacement. It's playing spot-on and ready to go!

• Weight: 4 lbs 10 oz
• Scale length: 25 1/2"
• Nut width: 1 11/16"
• Neck shape: medium C softest V
• Board radius: ~8"
• Depth at first fret: 0.94"
• Depth at seventh fret: 1.00"
• Body width: 16 1/4"
• Body depth: 3 1/4"
• Top wood: solid carved spruce
• Back & sides wood: ply maple
• Bracing type: tonebar
• Bridge: adjustable rosewood
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: mahogany or walnut
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 54w-12 lights
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium/lower

Condition notes: There's finish checking, light scratching, and moderate use throughout. The back of the neck has a lot more distress. The top has long black streaks where the celluloid pickguard had shattered and then melted into the top while it was in storage. The tailpiece is correct but not original to the guitar. The nut is not original. I have found no cracks!

It comes with: It has a period semi-hard case.

Consignor tag: PKLD