1948 Epiphone FT-79 Jumbo Acoustic Guitar

Overview: This big bruiser was a lot of work to turn it back around into a player, but all of it run of the mill for its era. It's a big, robust, in-your-face sort-of guitar and the folks that these tend to appeal to are players of the same type -- band-leading chord-chompers, jam-group flatpickers, and the like. It's the sort-of guitar that likes to be given some gas but it also has plenty of reserve power, too.

It's definitely led an interesting life. The neck appears to have been completely refinished (save the headstock) at some point. I'm not sure if the whole body has been refinished or if it's had finish topcoated/oversprayed. The top looks like it's been oversprayed but the back and sides are likely refinished because these usually have a much darker-brown/almost black color to the finish when they've come through our doors the last 3 or 4 times. It has a brushed satin sort-of look, now, compared to the thin gloss it would have had when new. The original finish is often flaking-off on these old Epi flattops so I can understand why this all happened.

Repairs included: I gave it a neck reset. Jacobi leveled and dressed the frets, made a new bone saddle, and set it up. Jose patched a small hole in the treble side near the endpin area (likely from a broken-in jack placement), reglued the bridge, made a reproduction pickguard (beveled, too), and did some other adjustments. It's playing spot-on, has a healthily-tall saddle with room to adjust, and is ready to go.

• Weight: 5 lbs 0 oz
• Scale length: 25 1/2"
• Nut width: 1 5/8"
• Neck shape: medium-deeper soft V
• Board radius: 7 1/4"
• Depth at first fret: 0.94"
• Depth at seventh fret: 0.97"
• Body width: 16"
• Body depth: 5 1/4"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: ply mahogany
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: rosewood
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: not sure -- maple with 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/fairly low

Condition notes: As noted, it has a lot of finish flaws mentioned above. Aside from the refinish work, it also has small scratches, nicks, dings, and discoloration here and there just from age and use. It's missing its metal truss cover. The saddle is non-original and the pins are replacements. The tuners are older replacements. The binding was broken in several places and reglued, leaving small gaps that have been mostly filled here and there. The endpin is a replacement, too.

It comes with: It has an old chip case.

Consignor tag: SKWN