1935 Epiphone Olympic Masterbilt

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 1935 Epiphone Olympic Masterbilt
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Serial #: 9716, Long Island Masterbilt label

Body size at lower bout: 14 1/2" Scale length: 25

1/2" Nut width: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th
frets: .87/1.01

Materials: Hand carved solid spruce top; arched

figured curly mahogany back and sides; one-piece
mahogany neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard;
single-bound body, solid bone nut.

Hardware: All original hardware includes

adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge; nickel
trapeze tailpiece; nickel open back three-on-a-plate
tuners with ivoroid buttons, contoured black
bakelite pickguard.

Notes: One of the first flight of Epi archtop

models, the Olympic first appeared in 1931, and
remained in the catalog until 1949. Unlike the
Gibson archtops of comparable size, the Olympic
has a true long scale neck and suspended
fingerboard, enhancing its formidable projection,
and permitting installation of a floating pickup if
desired.

We'd assumed for years that these models would be fairly plentiful, but once alt-country guitar hero David Rawlings
adopted a '35 Olympic as his all-purpose touring and recording guitar, we began getting requests for them that we just
couldn't fill at any price. And when collectors began searching them out in earnest, it quickly became apparent just how
seldom these rarities come to market, much less in such fine condition.

With an nicely figured back of rare curly mahogany, the guitar has 100% original hardware and finish. Weighing in at

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1935 Epiphone Olympic Masterbilt

barely 4lb, the instrument is phenomenally light in weight, and beautifully balanced. Fine pro fretwork is newly
installed, and the classic C profile neck has smooth low action over a high- precision setup.

The voice is bright, forward and punchy, with exceptional clarity and projection. The instrument shows normal
playwear, mostly confined to the top and back, with a grainline crack on the bass side resealed long ago, along with a
short hairline crack on top near the tailpiece. Finally, a deluxe recent fitted hardshell case is included, complete with
shoulder strap.

A rare find from the heyday of the acoustic archtop guitar. One only: call now.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished as required; bridge height adjusted; bridge
compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to
top as necessary; bridge radius inspected and recurved as necessary; bridgewheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard
and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.

This instrument is strung with medium gauge phosphor bronze strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier
gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for
acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable
bridge.

https://www.archtop.com/ac_35olympic_417.html[27/11/2020 10:22:15]
1935 Epiphone Olympic Masterbilt

https://www.archtop.com/ac_35olympic_417.html[27/11/2020 10:22:15]
1935 Epiphone Olympic Masterbilt

https://www.archtop.com/ac_35olympic_417.html[27/11/2020 10:22:15]
1935 Epiphone Olympic Masterbilt

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1935 Epiphone Olympic Masterbilt

https://www.archtop.com/ac_35olympic_417.html[27/11/2020 10:22:15]