Epiphone Triumph 1933

With its 16.44-inch body, the Triumph was larger than entry-level models like the Zenith, but more compact than the top models. It was characterized by its walnut back and sides and segmented F-holes, a design choice typical of Epiphone's more affordable models of the early 1930s. The Triumph offered guitarists a solid archtop with good projection and a warm tone, ideal for the jazz and blues music of the time. 

This 1933 Triumph features a walnut back and sides, which provides a warm and resonant tone. The five-piece maple and mahogany neck has a comfortable V-profile with a rosewood fingerboard featuring mother-of-pearl dot inlays. The white binding on both the body and neck, combined with the characteristic segmented F-holes and the sunburst finish, give the guitar its authentic 1930s look. The trapeze tailpiece completes the traditional look, while the relatively thin neck at the first fret (20.1 mm) ensures comfortable playability. 

This Epiphone Triumph has undergone several modifications over the years. We suspect that the guitar received a new fretboard that was once installed on a different guitar, given the once wider-spaced dots at the 7th and 12th frets. Furthermore, the guitar was refretted to jumbo frets, and the binding was replaced given the size of the fret nibs on the side. The bridge was also replaced, and the guitar has had an overspray, permanently preserving the playwear on the body. Despite these modifications, the guitar is in very good condition and retains its vintage character. The guitar was purchased by the Dutch Archtop Museum in March 2011 from Paul Piercy of Aguanga, California, and is a fascinating example of Epiphone's craftsmanship from the early 1930s.