Theres something about guitar players from your generation that just can't be copied... There is a certain tasteful sensibility about your playing which is just beautiful.
Wow! I don't play jazz, nor do I have a hollowbody, but I was looking for a guitar with the NY single coils and found this beautiful (in every way) vintage archtop. Classy guitar, very natural tone and superb playing. Thanks for the video :)
Thank you. I decided a full-thickness 17" archtop was too big for me. Have been playing a very nice Heritage 575, but still miss the tension and feel of the 25.5" scale, as well as the definition of that lovely single-coil New York pickup.
Thanks! This was done a while ago now, but I'm pretty sure that the strings were Pyramid Gold flats, the set that starts with a .050 low E. The top strings were .013 and .017, which is probably a couple of notches stiffer than what came with the set. Those flatwounds are a brighter alternative to Thomastiks, but just as flexible and beautiful sounding, I think.
With the reissue of original Epiphones lately I’d love to see them do some with the New York single coils. I love mini humbuckers but the NYs were great too.
I LOVE the New Yorker! Yes, they mostly came installed in archtops, but that isn't surprising, as they were world famous for building the best jazz guitars. However, they were also installed in early Crestwood solid bodies (late 50's, very early 60's) and Coronets. Vigilante Carlstroem of The Hives plays one of those.
We have the same guitar with a modification with pickup . It was replaced by a former owner with a vintage Acrylic Bobbin P90 ( likely a first of Gibson P90). It is true that something unique exists with These New York pre Gibson guitars beyond historic significance and few will come to experience this as the availability must be low. As the guitar is laminated and not a carved top the misconception will be it is not a artisan crafted guitar and inferior to deluxe custom Gibson’s carved tops . In any event no such guitar neck exists in manufacture of hollow body / semi hollow in history with a neck like what is on these Epiphones New York made guitars . The guitar can easily be used as a rock guitar with a nice set of strings . The feedback problem when playing hard Rock can be mastered by using feedback and manipulating guitar position from amp . If it were to be lost or stolen or sold any owner of the epiphone zephyr would immediately know all hopes of finding another guitar like it was thrown to the wind . The only problem with the guitar is how frightened one is when playing it . You know you have the holy grail of hollow body guitars in your hand and the guitar actually owns you and not the other way around .
This is just an outstanding guitar! I was born in 1960 and never played on the guitar, which was older than me. My oldest guitar was made in 1969. This Musima Record and it's already no playability. I'll restore it, but very slowly :(
Thanks! There's another video listed in the description that I like better, please check that one out too. By the way, the guitar is for sale on eBay. The New York pickup is great, isn't it? But it always comes with an Epiphone archtop attached, doesn't it?
I have exactly this same model but mine is a 1955 which I inherited from my father years ago. The binding has also shrunk a bit as well. At this point I'm thinking about selling it to a proper player.
Wow awesome video, great description. I'm looking to pick up a zephyr deluxe, 45-47 non regant (non cutaway) have you ever played a kind like that? I'm trying to find some info on that guitar
Interesting. I sold this guitar several years ago, but I recall that the label said 'Zephyr Cutaway', which is why I didn't list it as 'Regent'. Curious. If anyone understands this, please chime in!
I'm hoping now that Gibson Memphis is getting flushed by CEO Ego that Terada starts making historical Epiphones for a Blue Collar Price - under 3k - that actual Working Musicians can save up for. How 'bout that G-Farce?!?!Oh Henry...
Common problem with these guitars-- the Cellulose Nitrate binding shrinks over time, eventually resulting in breaks and gaps. Some of them have it and some don't; not sure what conditions make the difference.
Yes, but getting a string that can make the trip from the short half of the tailpiece to the farthest tuner is an issue. I've found that it's easier to get a G string than a D string that's long enough.
Vic Schrader I see. Well, that's a good enough reason, although I've never experienced that problem with the Epiphones that I have had. The D string always was long enough.
