Ok. Imagine it’s 1953. Imagine you’re one cool guitar playing cat and you want everyone to know it. What kind of guitar do you get? A Les Paul? No, too basic. One of those new-fangled Telecasters that some guy named Leo is cranking out? Nope. You want something as flashy as your Cadillac. Enter the Epiphone Zephyr Emperor Regent, the guitar that just screams “I’m hip, daddy-o”.

This guitar was literally at the top of the Epiphone electric guitar pyramid at the time. It graced the cover of the catalog. Equipped with not one, not two, but THREE pickups (because more is more) and not only that, but the ability to instantly switch between any pickup combination you want thanks to 6 typewriter key style pickup selector buttons (take that, ES-5!). A whopping 18-⅜” wide archtop made with some of the finest laminate maple available, sporting some amazing looking inlays, tuners, tailpiece, knobs, you name it! 

For a 73 year old instrument, it’s in pretty darn good shape. There is obviously some play wear and small nicks and dings, but no structural issues at all. The guitar is all original, save for the wiring harness. The original pots were begging to show their age and it required only one solder joint to swap the whole harness. The originals are included and can be returned to the guitar if desired. The binding had begun to do the typically shrinking thing, but an expert repair person was able to heat it back up and get it back where it belonged with very little visible evidence remaining. I wish I could say the same for the pickguard. It was also warping and was heated up. It is completely flat and level now, but it’s visually a little worse for the wear. The plastic rear strap button has broken off.

The guitar plays well with very low action, and there is room on the bridge to go down even further. No neck issues. The original frets still have life in them. Includes an original brown Lifton case.

Nut width: 1.72”

Neck depth at 1st fret: .89”

Neck depth at 9th fret: .98”

Weight: 8 lbs 2 oz

Feel free to reach out with any questions.