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1953 Epiphone Century
Considered the greatest guitarist of the 20th Century, Django Reinhart & his 1950's Epiphone Archtop appear on television during his
first and only American tour. For this tour, Django left his prized D-holed Jazz guitar in his native France; he visited the New York City
factory of Epiphone and chose an natural-finished Zephyr model guitar, almost identical to the guitar shown in this tutorial. Django's
guitar had additional neck binding and block mother of pearl inlays; the New York pickups and other features were unchanged.
first and only American tour. For this tour, Django left his prized D-holed Jazz guitar in his native France; he visited the New York City
factory of Epiphone and chose an natural-finished Zephyr model guitar, almost identical to the guitar shown in this tutorial. Django's
guitar had additional neck binding and block mother of pearl inlays; the New York pickups and other features were unchanged.
This guitar is a forgery!
It seems that sometime during the past fifty years, the owner of this classic
Epiphone archtop guitar (Django Reinhardt played one like it) decided that he
really wanted a Gibson Electric Archtop. Cunningly using the primitive tools of
the guitar-forgery trade, the owner placed a fake Gibson sticker inside the f-hole.
The label proclaimed this guitar as a Gibson Model 400...a product that never
existed! Going further, the beautiful tortoise pickguard, New York pickup, and the
headstock were painted black (poorly). The crowning achievement of the forger
was the removal of the stamped-metal Epiphone nameplate and the carving of a
Gibson logo into the headstock (very poorly).
During the next several pages, we will restore this classic archtop to it's rightful
beauty. This restoration will not be a return to like new condition, but rather a
restoration to the way it should look today if it had been well maintained.
It seems that sometime during the past fifty years, the owner of this classic
Epiphone archtop guitar (Django Reinhardt played one like it) decided that he
really wanted a Gibson Electric Archtop. Cunningly using the primitive tools of
the guitar-forgery trade, the owner placed a fake Gibson sticker inside the f-hole.
The label proclaimed this guitar as a Gibson Model 400...a product that never
existed! Going further, the beautiful tortoise pickguard, New York pickup, and the
headstock were painted black (poorly). The crowning achievement of the forger
was the removal of the stamped-metal Epiphone nameplate and the carving of a
Gibson logo into the headstock (very poorly).
During the next several pages, we will restore this classic archtop to it's rightful
beauty. This restoration will not be a return to like new condition, but rather a
restoration to the way it should look today if it had been well maintained.
This classic archtop is a similar model to the one
played by Django Reinhardt during his American
tour! The owner decided that he'd rather have a
Gibson...
played by Django Reinhardt during his American
tour! The owner decided that he'd rather have a
Gibson...
First, lets remove that forged Gibson label. The best product I've ever used for
removing adhesives and stains, and leaving no residue is Bestine. Load a
syringe with Bestine and soak the label completely. After a few seconds, use
hemostats or needle nose pliers to carefully pull off the phony label.
The Headstock has really been mutilated. To make sure the truss rod cover is
the correct shape and size, I created this template using a photograph of a
pristine Epiphone Zephyr (same headstock as the Century). Just download it
and enlarge the image to 8.5 X 11 inches. The template shows the location of
the Epiphone logo nameplate and the size and location of the truss rod cover.
We will check that the original size and location of the headstock parts are
correct in the next steps. The original holes will re revealed!
removing adhesives and stains, and leaving no residue is Bestine. Load a
syringe with Bestine and soak the label completely. After a few seconds, use
hemostats or needle nose pliers to carefully pull off the phony label.
The Headstock has really been mutilated. To make sure the truss rod cover is
the correct shape and size, I created this template using a photograph of a
pristine Epiphone Zephyr (same headstock as the Century). Just download it
and enlarge the image to 8.5 X 11 inches. The template shows the location of
the Epiphone logo nameplate and the size and location of the truss rod cover.
We will check that the original size and location of the headstock parts are
correct in the next steps. The original holes will re revealed!
Oh, what a tangled web we weave...when
we try first to deceive! The forger created and
applied this label over the original Epiphone
New York label. Can you spot it peeking out
from the bottom?
we try first to deceive! The forger created and
applied this label over the original Epiphone
New York label. Can you spot it peeking out
from the bottom?
Here is the original Epiphone label which
was hidden. Just as we suspected...it really
is an Epiphone Century! The serial number
confirms the manufacture date of 1953.
was hidden. Just as we suspected...it really
is an Epiphone Century! The serial number
confirms the manufacture date of 1953.
Bestine is the most amazing
stuff! It removes adhesive,
grime, and gunk without
disturbing ink or leaving a
residue. Clink on the image
to visit the Bestine website.
stuff! It removes adhesive,
grime, and gunk without
disturbing ink or leaving a
residue. Clink on the image
to visit the Bestine website.
3.
Click images to enlarge