Epiphone Triumph 1937

The 1937 Epiphone Triumph is a rare archtop with a remarkable story behind its beautiful natural finish. It is an instrument that has been expertly restored and has found its way to our store from, among others, the workshop of the legendary luthier Dan Erlewine.

The Triumph was introduced in the 1930s as one of Epiphone's top models, a period in which the New York brand was fiercely competing with Gibson for the favor of the professional jazz guitarist. The model was characterized by a carved maple body with a carved spruce top, the characteristic Frequensator tailpiece, and a refined finish with multi-layer binding. In those years, the Triumph was the instrument of choice for serious musicians, and this is evident in every detail of its construction.

This particular example has a remarkable history. The guitar was once owned by Dan Erlewine, the renowned American guitar builder and repairer, after which it found its way to the Dutch Archtop Museum via Fretware Guitars and a private collector in Chattanooga. At Fretware Guitars, the guitar underwent a professional restoration, during which multiple cracks in the soundboard and body were repaired. The guitar was subsequently given a transparent refinish, a choice inspired by the beautiful grain pattern on the back. It was noticeable that Epiphone constructed the body from four sections instead of the usual two, presumably because the available wood was not wide enough for the full bottom bolt. A fine testament to the fact that Epiphone was economical with good tonewood back then!

On the back of the body, an imprint of a stand is visible in the lacquer, and there are some small gaps around the bindings of the body and headstock due to material shrinkage. Some dings have been repaired on the back of the neck. The guitar is further equipped with a vintage DeArmond FHC pickup with a single volume control, which provides an authentic archtop sound that does not deny its origins in the 1930s.

Consignment.