Great Deal on an Epiphone Triumph

[omphalopsychos]

1942 Epiphone Triumph Natural Arch Top Guitar- Used – Gryphon Strings

bunch of you are always looking for affordable archtops with great tone. here you go. hard to beat. you can cancel your yunzhi order.

[AllanAllen]

I just bought an Eastman for almost that price.

[Woody Sound]

Wow, probably won't last long. Is the Triumph 16" or 17"? I had one several decades ago, but I don't remember.

[wintermoon]

Wow, probably won't last long. Is the Triumph 16" or 17"? I had one several decades ago, but I don't remember.

17" by the 40s.

[Woody Sound]

Tnx, I think I've shrunk an inch or so since the 70's. 17" is the new 18"

[Hammertone]

Wider than 17".
More like 17 3/8".

[wintermoon]

Wider than 17".
Moore like 17 3/8".

Well yeah nominally, in Epiphone's quest to outdo Gibson.
Same applies to the earlier 16" models.

[Hammertone]

The later Epi Triumph / Broadway / Deluxe models were purposefully wider than the Gibson 17" models.
The Epi Emperor was purposefully wider than the Gibson Super 400.

I suspect that Epi was kicking Gibson's ass with these guitars in the late 1930s. I suspect it was this ass-kicking that forced Gibson to significantly change its "Advanced" L-5 / L-7 / L-10 / L-12 and Super 400 designs, in order to respond to their competitor.

[wintermoon]

I suspect that Epi was kicking Gibson's ass with these guitars in the late 1930s. I suspect it was this ass-kicking that forced Gibson to significantly change its "Advanced" L-5 / L-7 / L-10 / L-12 and Super 400 designs, in order to respond to their competitor.

I think that was the intent and it certainly put Gibson on notice but there's far less prewar Epiphones than Gibson.
Postwar was a different story, I think Epiphone outsold Gibson in the 40s.

[omphalopsychos]

For a lot of folks 17" is good enough, but you buy an Epiphone when 'good enough' isn't good enough.

[Stringswinger]

For a lot of folks 17" is good enough, but you buy an Epiphone when 'good enough' isn't good enough.

Nah, you buy an Epiphone when you cannot afford the Gibson.

[andrew]

Nah, you buy an Epiphone when you cannot afford the Gibson.

And you buy a Gibson when you cannot afford the D’Angelico!

[Hammertone]

I think that was the intent and it certainly put Gibson on notice but there's far less prewar Epiphones than Gibson. Postwar was a different story, I think Epiphone outsold Gibson in the 40s.

Yeah, they were real comers until their internal family squabbles destroyed the company.

[omphalopsychos]

Nah, you buy an Epiphone when you cannot afford the Gibson.

I'm just riffing on their marketing slogan when their prices were closer to parity.

[AllanAllen]

Nah, you buy an Epiphone when you cannot afford the Gibson.

I’ve never played a Gibson that was worth the added cost over an Epiphine.

[omphalopsychos]

I’ve never played a Gibson that was worth the added cost over an Epiphine.

I love Epiphones and have played many that far surpass their Gibson parallels, but hard disagree on average.

[skykomishone]

I love vintage Epiphone's. I own a 1936 Emperor. The model is known as 'the horn killer'. I've played many other vintage Epiphones and have always had a great affinity towards them. They built some fantastic guitars with exceptional quality and artistic craftsmanship, especially the Masterbuilt models in the 30's. GLWTS.

[Woody Sound]

but you buy an Epiphone when 'good enough' isn't good enough.

[AllanAllen]

I love Epiphones and have played many that far surpass their Gibson parallels, but hard disagree on average.

Most people don’t understand my point the same way you don’t understand it.

I’m not saying Epi is better, I’m saying an $8k Gibson L-5 is not 900% better than an $800 Epiphone Broadway.

[Woody Sound]

I'm just riffing on their marketing slogan when their prices were closer to parity.

Yer showin' yer age.

[garybaldy]

Most people don’t understand my point the same way you don’t understand it.

I’m not saying Epi is better, I’m saying an $8k Gibson L-5 is not 900% better than an $800 Epiphone Broadway.

If I had a Broadway I'd still want an L5. I don't have a Broadway but I do have an L5 so I've saved $800.

[omphalopsychos]

I think the whole question of Asian made Epiphones is off topic. We’re talking about the NY based guitar manufacturer here. This builder no longer exists.

[AllanAllen]

I think the whole question of Asian made Epiphones is off topic. We’re talking about the NY based guitar manufacturer here. This builder no longer exists.

Being on topic isn't jazz mannnn. Don't be so vanilla.

We can change it to an $21k acoustic L5 and the topic $2,200 Epiphone then. Which is still likely not 800% better.

[Stringswinger]

Being on topic isn't jazz mannnn. Don't be so vanilla.

We can change it to an $21k acoustic L5 and the topic $2,200 Epiphone then. Which is still likely not 800% better.

You keep comparing apples to oranges.

Here is the direct comparison of vintage, non-cut acoustic archtops made in the USA:

Gibson L-7, Epiphone Triumph, D'Angtelico Style A-1

Gibson L-10, D'Angelico Style A (Epihone did not compete in this segment)

Gibson L-12, Epiphone Broadway, D'Angelico Style B

Gibson L-5, Epihone Deluxe, D'Angelico Excel

Gibson Super 400, Epiphone Emperor, D'Angelico New Yorker.

At today's Prices, collector value makes the DA's and the Gibsons more valuable than the NY/Philadelphia Epiphones. Are the more expensive ones better? Sometimes yes and sometimes no. Each guitar needs to be evaluated on it's own merits. Having owned three vintage Epi Triumphs, IMO, they are the best bang for the buck, but I would rather have a great Gibson or DA than a mediocre Epi (and vice-versa). I would also argue that Gibson had the best neck system with their adjustable truss rod in the headstock (the proof is that both Epiphone and D'Angelico went to the Gibson system once Gibson's truss rod patent expired).

I do believe in general that Gibsons and D'Angelicos are a bit sweeter in tone (generally) than are the Epiphones whereas the Epis are louder. But this is not always the case. They are all different.

[omphalopsychos]

I think your concept of % better is actually your subjective willingness to pay. A consumer's WTP curve it totally personal, so I wouldn't treat it as some objective measurement of the quality of the instrument.


People get to buy things and get to determine how much they want to spend. It's pretty cool, actually.