Great Deal on an Epiphone Triumph

[SierraTango]

Guys, I stopped by Sylvan Music today.

The Epiphone Deluxe was sold several years ago. They had some (4 Gibson and 1 Epiphone) vintage archtops and I played 3 of them.

They had an Epiphone Blackstone that needs a neck reset and they are asking $2500. Stay away from this one. I played it and I was underwhelmed on all fronts.

They had a round hole L-4 from the 30's that I did not play as well as a non cut L-7 that I did not play.

They had two L-5's that I did play. A 51 L-5 C that they are asking $12,800 for and a 47 noncut L-5 that they are asking $9500 for. Both sound great, have great neck profiles and they have lots of cosmetic issues (checking, scratches etc.) AND they may need work (both had a higher action than I like). I would insure that the truss rod works and that the necks do not need a reset before considering a purchase of these L-5's.

Honestly, before buying any of those guitars, I would consider a Campellone. My 2 Cents. HTH

Dang SS I apologize for giving you a bum steer! I'm always puzzled by vendors that keep long sold instruments on their websites, but I guess it does create interest in their available stock. It's nice if they mark it as sold or out of stock though.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, last year we took our camper over to Moss Landing and spent a day in Santa Cruz. I, too, went to Sylvan and played the same two L-5's you did. I had much the same impressions as you. Honestly if I was seriously shopping for L-5 of that vintage I would move on.

As I also mentioned I am quite happy with my 53 Triumph Regent for the role of acoustic archtop in my life. However if I was to make a change a Campellone would be my first choice.

[AGM]

I think that was the intent and it certainly put Gibson on notice but there's far less prewar Epiphones than Gibson.

Epiphone Inc. was a smaller company and consequently smaller production levels too.