Epiphone Devon versus Triumph

**dixiehwy25** · 11-25-2024, 03:26 PM

Well, I go look at the Triumph tomorrow. I think it's a 1947 but it could be a '48. I was pretty impressed with the Devon, and I'm pretty inclined toward it but I'm trying to see if I can finagle possibly getting both, if the Triumph works out to be pretty decent.

I'm not being greedy, am I?

I really do appreciate all you guys pitching in on this, thanks!

**ThatRhythmMan** · 11-25-2024, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by dixiehwy25

Well, I go look at the Triumph tomorrow. I think it's a 1947 but it could be a '48. I was pretty impressed with the Devon, and I'm pretty inclined toward it but I'm trying to see if I can finagle possibly getting both, if the Triumph works out to be pretty decent.

I'm not being greedy, am I?

I really do appreciate all you guys pitching in on this, thanks!

I’ve been around some Triumphs and Broadways from that era that are absolute killers. Good luck! I hope it’s a great one.

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**dixiehwy25** · 11-28-2024, 01:37 PM

I looked at the Triumph Tuesday. I was told beforehand there was a crack in the back, indeed there was. About 10" long and off to the right. The Devon had no sign of flaws outside of the cosmetics in the pics above. so it's my choice at this time

I have a new wrinkle though, something else to look into. I came across a 1935 Cromwell G-4, not far from my sister's where I am for Thanksgiving. I'm going to check it out tomorrow. From the pics it looks to be in fine shape, cosmetically and (I am told) structurally. I know there's no truss rod, only a steel stiffener rod, so I'll check for warpage. It's a couple hundred less the a new Loar LH-600. Curious to see what the Cromwell is like.

Still digging the Davon though. Ordered that book on Epis, too!

**SierraTango** · 11-28-2024, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by ThatRhythmMan

I’ve been around some Triumphs and Broadways from that era that are absolute killers. Good luck! I hope it’s a great one.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So how did your time with the Triumph go? And, hey, there is is nothing wrong with getting both if you can swing it!
I owned a '49 Triumph "Cutaway" (that's what the label said prior to the "Regent" designation for cutaway models) that was absolutely a cannon. I put a lot of funds into that guitar for restoration work-loose braces, binding, etc. Sadly, I traded it off to Fred Walecki at Westwood Music for a Parker Fly Artist. I needed the Fly to gig, so it was a bittersweet trade. Happily the '53 Regent came into my life later and it's every bit as wonderful as my '49.
Let us know how the audition went!

**dixiehwy25** · 12-06-2024, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by SierraTango

So how did your time with the Triumph go? And, hey, there is is nothing wrong with getting both if you can swing it!
I owned a '49 Triumph "Cutaway" (that's what the label said prior to the "Regent" designation for cutaway models) that was absolutely a cannon. I put a lot of funds into that guitar for restoration work-loose braces, binding, etc. Sadly, I traded it off to Fred Walecki at Westwood Music for a Parker Fly Artist. I needed the Fly to gig, so it was a bittersweet trade. Happily the '53 Regent came into my life later and it's every bit as wonderful as my '49.
Let us know how the audition went!

Sorry to be late with the response, but I had to wrap up the Thanksgiving holiday and then it was back to work. The time with the Triumph went well even with that crack in the back. It turned out to be a 1947. Yet the Devon still has a pull on me. Since the Triumph is at a shop, I may pick it up first. It would be the easiest to buy. but I would very much like to have both of them, so when tax time comes I may get the Devon if it is still available. They are both excellent archtops as far as I'm concerned.

I'm going to ponder for a while, and let the holidays pass...

So I'm going to go back to practice and work on my skills on what I have right now. I'm spending most of my time on my Aria FA77, but I'm rotating between that, my Aria FA70, and the 2023 Epi Sheraton that I picked up last month. I am enjoying the elegance of the FA77. I may take some pictures of it and post it, it's kind of a mystery guitar and it's tough to find much on the net about it. But I like its luxury binding, the ebony pick guard, tailpiece, and fret board- the elegant inlays are very nice as well. The acoustic tone is great on it with the floating neck pickup. Many differences between that and an Aria FA 71.

But yeah, there's an Epi in my future and I'm pushing myself to see if I can't get two.