Epiphone Guitars

[LtKojak]

If I didn't come across the '81 Emperor

Well, that's a dream instrument, if what you found was in excellent condition.

Matsumoku was at its peak in 1981. Not only because of the construction techniques and skilled craftmanship of their luthiers, also because of the tone-wood stock they had at that time; something would make even Gibson pale in comparison!

You can consider yourself a very lucky man!

Enjoy it in good health for many, many years to come!

Yours very truly,

[Brian B]

Well, that's a dream instrument, if what you found was in excellent condition.

Matsumoku was at its peak in 1981. Not only because of the construction techniques and skilled craftmanship of their luthiers, also because of the tone-wood stock they had at that time; something would make even Gibson pale in comparison!

You can consider yourself a very lucky man!

Enjoy it in good health for many, many years to come!

Yours very truly,

Thank you.

As a previous owner has already modified it somewhat (pickups and bridge notably, and other cosmetics), and I'm not too keen on all the choices made, it's getting a complete rewire with new pickups.

My thought is to remove the entire harness intact and carefully pack it and save it. Going in is a pair of Seth Lovers, Switchcraft toggle and jack, 550K CTS pots, Vitamin Q PIO caps. I've also got a brand new Frequensator coming from Gibson so the gold plate will match the new pickups (plus it's stamped FREQUENSATOR...)

So this isn't a complete thread derail...it's the current production part for a....Epi Broadway.

I'll post a thread when it's all done with details.

B.

(I return you to your normally scheduled thread.... )

[LtKojak]

Brian, what about a picture for us, uncle Mat lovers?

Pretty please?

[Brian B]

Brian, what about a picture for us, uncle Mat lovers?

Pretty please?

Certainly. Here's a couple (or a few...lol)







Here's the pics I took when I first got it (sorry I'm still on photobucket..I know it's slow loading sometimes); 1981 Epiphone Emperor T by bberryman | Photobucket

Here's pics I took as I went through it and gave it a good cleanup; 81 Epi Emp T Cleaned by bberryman | Photobucket

Cheers!

B.

[LtKojak]

The color simply screams Matsumoku!

Those p'ups are not the original ones, isn't it? IIRC, the neck one should have a 47.2mm polepiece spread, and the bridge 50mm, with non-protruding slugs, one row being threaded.

How am I doing?

[Brian B]

The color simply screams Matsumoku!

Those p'ups are not the original ones, isn't it? IIRC, the neck one should have a 47.2mm polepiece spread, and the bridge 50mm, with non-protruding slugs, one row being threaded.

How am I doing?

Spot on.

The neck pup is a vintage Seymour Duncan SH1b (aka '59 bridge). This isn't so bad in this guitar, but the bridge pickup is a undetermined age/model Dimarzio that just isn't suited well.

That's why I'm keen on swapping the pickups.

I'm thinking the SD SH1b might find a new home in my 2004 Gibson SG when it comes out of the Epi, replacing the lackluster 490T Gibson puts in those.

B.

[jazzimprov]

what is the width of the new Broadway?

Is it the full 17" body and 3" width?

....or thinner?

Thx!

[Brian B]

what is the width of the new Broadway?

Is it the full 17" body and 3" width?

....or thinner?

Thx!

Not sure on the depth of the body, as I don't see it specified, but their site references a 17" lower bout width.

Epiphone Broadway

[jazzimprov]

trying to find out how thick it is --but it looks like a full size

[lawson-stone]

trying to fins out how thick it is --but it looks like a full size

The Elitist Broadways were the same depth as L5ces-- 3 3/8" I think. The Made-In-Korea Broadway that I own is 3". I am pretty certain they are not more than that.

[LtKojak]

The Made-In-Korea Broadway that I own is 3". I am pretty certain they are not more than that.

Did you actually measure it?

I think it's even less than 3"... and I just found out that's a measure I forgot to take for my notes, so would you please be a darling and check it for me?

Pretty please?

[jazzimprov]

...and would this the same as the ones being sold now---?

[lawson-stone]

Did you actually measure it?

I think it's even less than 3"... and I just found out that's a measure I forgot to take for my notes, so would you please be a darling and check it for me?

Pretty please?

My 1990's Peerless MiK Broadway measures 3.07" at the rim near the neck. I expect t that 0.07" is operator error as I did this after a Sunday nap...

[lawson-stone]

...and would this the same as the ones being sold now---?

I have no idea. I haven't tried a later one. Google, I'm sure, is your friend on this.

[pubylakeg]

The color simply screams Matsumoku!

Those p'ups are not the original ones, isn't it? IIRC, the neck one should have a 47.2mm polepiece spread, and the bridge 50mm, with non-protruding slugs, one row being threaded.

How am I doing?

Were the original p/ups for the Matsumoku Emperors made by Maxon ?

Were the same models fitted in both the Emperor F + T models ?.

Are those unusual string spread specs ? (with thanks )

[Brian B]

Were the original p/ups for the Matsumoku Emperors made by Maxon ?

Were the same models fitted in both the Emperor F + T models ?.

Are those unusual string spread specs ? (with thanks )

Yes. Maxon MMK 75's.

Yes, both models used them.

That I'm not sure on. My Epi had them replaced long before I got the guitar. They did not stay with it.


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[LtKojak]

Were noiiginal p/ups for the Matsumoku Emperors made by Maxon ?

I don't know for sure. In my notes I have two entries, the one has no references, the other says "Gotoh" on the baseplate. All two the baseplates were brass, measured about 10K each, about 5,000 turns of AWG#43 poly wire, the one red-colored, the other copper-colored. In both the polepiece spread was 47.2mm (consistent with old, neck PAFs found in archtops with narrow fingerboards) for the neck p'up and 50mm for the bridge p'up. Covers were made of brass as well. Not the most articulated p'ups I've ever encountered, mind you.

Were the same models fitted in both the Emperor F + T models ?.

No idea.

Are those unusual string spread specs ? (with thanks )

Not for jap instruments from the late '70s, early '80s era. For the record, the TOM strings spread was 50mm as well.

HTH,

[LtKojak]

Hey Brian, would you please measure the thickness of the body on your uncle Mat's Broadway?

Is it 3" or less?

Your very truly,

[LtKojak]

I expect t that 0.07" is operator error

I'd say is more likely to be the paint coat thickness.

[Brian B]

Hey Brian, would you please measure the thickness of the body on your uncle Mat's Broadway?

Is it 3" or less?

Your very truly,

Enroute to work, so it's about a 10 hour wait to actually measure, but mine it the "T" (thinline) model, definitely under 3". Think ES335 spec thick.

Will measure when I get home tonight...

B.


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[LtKojak]

mine it the "T" (thinline) model, definitely under 3". Think ES335 spec thick

Well, that's what I thought, but I can never be sure of what I've perceived may or may not be the case of far too many or not nearly enough drugs, you know?

[Brian B]

Well, that's what I thought, but I can never be sure of what I've perceived may or may not be the case of far too many or not nearly enough drugs, you know?

LOL...fair point.

I'm not always the best at gauging size anyway... All my life I've been telling women that this is eight inches...

[pubylakeg]

Thanks for the info guys,

this thread has aroused my curiosity, I went and googled the 47.2 mm string spacing humbucker spec, and found, as Lt Kojak pointed out, that particular string spacing is associated specifically with some archtop neck p/ups. (One website referred to it as "jazz spacing")

So I guess this pretty drastically reduces the potential options for anyone hoping to change (neck) p/ups on a Matsumoku built
Emperor ?

Maybe whilst we're on the subject LtKojak, would you happen to have truss rod specs for the Matsumoku built Emperor ie for a replacement T/R hex nut, inner/outer diameter, length & thread standard ?

[LtKojak]

So I guess this pretty drastically reduces the potential options for anyone hoping to change (neck) p/ups on a Matsumoku built Emperor ?

Well, there are bobbins with the 48mm polepiece spread still sold today. But what's preventing you of using the 49.2mm standard?

Maybe whilst we're on the subject LtKojak, would you happen to have truss rod specs for the Matsumoku built Emperor ie for a replacement T/R hex nut, inner/outer diameter, length & thread standard ?

None of the samples had neck problems, so I don't have any specs for truss rods. That also means that I already had a key to adjust it, so it must be a pretty standard one.

HTH,

[pubylakeg]

Well, there are bobbins with the 48mm polepiece spread still sold today. But what's preventing you of using the 49.2mm standard ?

Would that 2 mm not result in some string/polepiece misalignment, or is that degree of difference fairly negligible ? (I've actually never really been one for swapping out p/ups before ?).

Just for the record I have an 84 Emperor F that I might do some tweaks on, but I'm not really too great on the technical aspects of guitar modification.