Epiphone Masterbilt 1933 truss rod bar?

[archtopdream63]

does the old epi masterbilt has non adjustable rod bar?

[deacon Mark]

I don't think they have truss rods. A reset is a different issue as such than possible neck bowing.

[wintermoon]

truss rods, yes
adjustable, no, that came a few yrs later

[skykomishone]

I have a '36 Emperor. Do these have a truss rod? I've always assumed no.
Regardless, The neck is straight as an arrow and plays like a dream. Thankfully.

[wintermoon]

I have a '36 Emperor. Do these have a truss rod? I've always assumed no.
Regardless, The neck is straight as an arrow and plays like a dream. Thankfully.

see my previous reply sky.
the first adjustable ones came around '37, called a thrust rod, adjustable at the base of the neck.
they moved access to the headstock ala Gibson around '52/'53 iirc

[omphalopsychos]

They weren't adjustable. I believe luthiers make adjustment through fretboard planing, fret size changes, etc. to correct bow on these kinds of necks.

I also heard that the reason Epiphone put the truss rod adjustment at the base of the neck is because Gibson patented the headstock-accessible truss rod. Anyone know if that's true/have a reference if so?

[ThatRhythmMan]

According to Felix Wiedler, the adjustable “thrust rod” became standard in 1937. My 1936 Deluxe does not have one. It had a slight backbow and Mark Lacey did a heat set to the neck to correct it. It’s been perfect ever since.


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[archtopdream63]

They weren't adjustable. I believe luthiers make adjustment through fretboard planing, fret size changes, etc. to correct bow on these kinds of necks.

I also heard that the reason Epiphone put the truss rod adjustment at the base of the neck is because Gibson patented the headstock-accessible truss rod. Anyone know if that's true/have a reference if so?

what kind of rod they have? T bar? square bar like martin?

[skykomishone]

Thanks WM, O, TRM. My Emperor is a cannon. Ridiculous volume. Excellent action and intonation with a level board. I'm always amazed when I play it because of that sound.

[wintermoon]

Thanks WM, O, TRM. My Emperor is a cannon. Ridiculous volume. Excellent action and intonation with a level board. I'm always amazed when I play it because of that sound.

I remember when you got that '36.
A long time ago I had a '36 that at the time was the 2nd earliest documented example of an Emperor.
I got it from the orig owners daughter a couple blocks from my house and It needed a ton of work but was orig apart from a loose neckset. When I got it up and running I was stunned at how it sounded. Most of us have played factory made archtops w good bass and mids but what set this apart were the top strings, which were thick and round like a great D'Angelico w zero harshness, usually an archtops weak point. I've had a ton of Epiphones and handled a zillion more but that one and a '39 Deluxe I sold to a friend a few yrs ago and a '34 Deluxe I had that now resides in a prominent collection in Nashville were head and shoulders above all I've ever played.

[powerwagonjohn]

My 1950 Triumph is the same way, a true cannon and almost as much bass as a flattop. I have aluminum bronze string on the guitar. It has an allen wrench adjustment at the base of the neck. My 52 Zenith has the adjustment at the top/peghead with a nut. Both work just fine.
Thanks john