1944 Epiphone Zephyr construction - created 02-17-2009

evans, brian - 02/17/2009.11:21:50

I acquired a nice 1944 Epiphone Zephyr archtop over Christmas, down in New Orleans (my contribution to New Orleans seems to be visiting and spending (and eating) a lot...). I was curious about how it is braced, as I am getting ready to restart a long-delayed arch-top project, so I looked inside - lo and behold - no bracing at all on either top or bottom! Now, this is a pretty early electric pickup Epi, and it has a pretty solid laminated top (looks like spruce as the show layer, and seems about 3/16" thick, uniformly over the entire top. No evidence of top sagging at all, in fact it seems in really pretty good shape and has a lovely acoustic tone - quite shimmery and clear, and balanced. So I was wondering if no bracing was common on early laminated top archtops?

Thanks, brian

Harmony did the same in their H60 archtops family introduced around 1954. They were laminated and unbraced. They use to sound lovely unplugged too. Top sagged samples are hardly ever seen. They always made me think how important are tonebars actually, both tonally and structurally. Epis and Harmonys are there to rebate the universal accepted fact that tonebars are a must in all cases.

Interesting observations, especially in light of the recent discussion of Brunner guitars which are "unbraced", but have a lamination.

I measured the thickness of the top of the Epiphone - it is near enough .200 - .205" thick at the F holes, with what looks like 4 equal thickness layers, the top one being close-grain spruce so it looks like a solid top from that point of view. I also have a 1956 Hofner Senator, which is a laminated top archtop with longitudinal "parallel" braces. While I've enjoyed it's tone for the past 25 years, it now is sounding very closed and nasal - honky sounding. Very interesting to me to hear the very distinct difference in sound. The Epi's electric sound is very versatile - with the single coil pickup about 2" or a little less from the bridge you get quite aggressively treble sounds (rather perfect for 50's rock and roll, actually) and the "Master Voicer" tone control rolls that off to a very nice woody, punchy jazz sound.

Brian, this is rather mind-blowing to me, but I am certainly no expert on archtop construction. I'm just a huge fan, and archtops are the guitars that I am mostly interested in building. Now, here is the question: With your new archtop project looming before you, do you have courage enough to make it with an unbraced top? If so, and if you're willing to risk it, then that's totally cool. I will freely admit that I lack that courage. The first archtop guts that I ever saw featured a laminated top with "parallel" braces. (Actually, they weren't completely parallel, but everyone knows what I mean.) Ergo, I got this notion in my head that even a plywood arched top needs braces. Heck, I am probably wrong, but I am not talking about what's wrong or right. I'm talking about the notions that we get in our heads. My notion (save me, please, someone!) is that we need some braces--at least for a modest distance fore and aft of the bridge's down-pressure. Maybe to within a few inches of the perimeter of the instrument.) And there you have the musings of a hobby builder who doesn't pretend to know much about this art and science. Just tossing this out to stimulate further conversation. Brian, pleased be assured I am NOT throwing water on your inquiry. If it worked for Epi, who am I to question it? I'm just stirring a pot that is very full of old notions. But many of those old notions are there for a very good reason. A few others...well.............

Patrick, Don't forget we are talking about affordable laminated guitars with built-in pickups directly attached to the tops, designed with electric purposes in mind. I don't think the guys at Epi or Harmony wanted to spend to much time fine tuning tops for a perfect acoustic performance in pure electric guitars. And at the same time they saved saved time and production costs. These are mass produced and economy driven guitars. I guess the guys at Epi and Harmony did some research to get strong enough plates to withstand the downward pressure yet having some resonance. But once the plates are crafted there is no recurve or braces to alter the tone in any way. Shaving a laminated plate too much might compromise it's strength. In some way these are "closed" guitars. Once the plates are pressed and cut to shape there's not much to do with them. They sound the way they sound wether you like them or not. Bracing always gives further control.

I think Paco is right. Mass produced guitar, mid - late WWII, fairly early in the whole composite construction in industry thing with lamination of structures. I just think it's really cool that the guitar has such great acoustic tone and has stood up so well to time.

My archtop project has a top carved from close-grain, quarter-sawn red cedar (from Home Depot's finest deck supply section). So it will get braced...probably over-braced! Current plan is a 2.25" deep body carved from mahogany, fully chambered but with the body taking a lot more of the string stress since I think the red cedar top is going to be a little weak.

Brian

Brian and Paco: I certainly understand what you guys are telling me. But...like I said...it just sort of goes against the old pre-conceived notions. I guess I need to get some new notions into my thinking process. Thanks to both. I sure do enjoy the exchanges on this forum--even when I am being stubborn and obtuse!

You'll get used to it's existence. I was astonished when I first saw a guitar like this. I considered it a clear no no. Wrongly built guitars. But now I understand it as another alternative way of doing things.

I also work with and fabricate race cars. The Zephyr unbraced laminated construction is a very clear example of a monocoque composite structure with strong similarities to modern race car design. With the compound curves of the molded top and bottom, and the curves of the sides, it has every reason to be an extremely strong structure. The fascinating part is the tone... I read the Brunner website and observed it's top vibration pictures with a lot of interest.

Brian