Zephyr
The Zephyr guitar is easiestly identifiable by the Notched Block fingerboard inlays along with its metal "Bikini" peghead plate. From its introduction in 1939 until 1954 the Zephyr electric guitar was part of the Zephyr range of instruments and amplifiers including the Zephyr Banjo, Zephyr Mandolin, Electar Zephyr Hawaiian Lap Steel Guitar and Zephyr Amplifier. This line of instruments was available in "complete outfits" or "starter packs" as we know them today. These outfits typically included the instrument, case, amplifier and a cord. Zephyr amplifers were available in AC or AC-DC models. The Zephyr guitar was available in Spanish (conventional), Tenor (4-sting short-scale) and Plectrum (4-string long-scale) versions. Plectum versions were usually special order only. The Zephyr guitar, along with the Tenor and Plectrum versions, retailed for $100.00 in 1939. All Zephyr guitars came with a Masterbilt fleece lined case. A Zephyr AC Outfit retailed for $189.50, while the AC-DC outfit cost $204.50. See: Zephyr Series
Early Kalamzoo-made Zephyrs used older, pre-Gibson, Epiphone parts including pickups, and the classic metal Epiphone bikini headstock logo. John Lee Hooker used a thinline Epiphone Zephyr widely throughout the 1960s. Zephyr Guitar Variations from 1939-1963:
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Models
Zephyr
- 1939-1958
- Model E321 & E322
Body:
- Full-depth non-cutaway body
- Maple body with maple top
- 16.375" body width (1939-1949)
- 17.375" body width (1950-1958)
Neck:
- Set mahogany neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with mother of pearl notched-block inlays
- Metal peghead logo plate
- 25.5" scale
- 1.68" nut width
Binding:
- 1-ply pyralin body & neck binding
Electronics:
- Epiphone Master pickup (1939-1949)
- NY pickup (1950-1953)
- DeArmond pickup (1954-1958)
Pickup Position
- Pickup in bridge position with metal cover (1939-1941)
- Pickup in middle position (1942-1949)
- Pickup in neck position (1950-1958)
Controls:
- 2 control knobs on Mastervoicer plate (1939-1950)
- Mastervoicer discontinued (1951)
- 1 Vol. 1 Tone controls (1951-1958)
Hardware:
- Nickel hardware
- Nitrocellulose pickguard
- Rosewood bridge & base
- Trapeze tailpiece (1939-1958)
- Optional frequensator tailpiece (1950-1958)
- Carousel knobs on white pyralin dial with position markers
Colors:
- Natural Blonde - E321
- Sunburst - E322
Zephyr Tenor
- Model 321T & 322T
- 1939-1958
- 4-string short-scale guitar
Zephyr Plectrum
- 1939-1949
- 4-string long-scale tenor guitar
Zephyr Regent
- 1950-1958
- Model E311 & E312
Body:
- Single rounded cutaway
- Maple body with laminated maple top
- 17.375" body width
Neck:
- Set mahogany neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with notched block inlays
- Metal peghead logo plate
- 25.5" scale
- 1.68" nut width
Binding:
- 1-ply body & neck
Electronics:
- 1 & 2 pickup models available
- New York pickups (1950-1958)
- Avaliable with DeArmond pickups (1954-1958)
- 1 Vol. 1 Tone controls (1 pickup version)
- 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls (2 pickup version)
- 3-way selector switch (2 pickup version)
Hardware:
- Nickel hardware
- Nitrocellulose pickguard
- Rosewood bridge & base with trapeze tailpiece
- Carousel knobs
Colors:
- Natural Blonde (E311)
- Sunburst (E312)
Zephyr Electric
- 1959-1963
- Model E312T & E312TN
Body:
- Laminated arched maple top
- Maple sides and back
- Non-cutaway model (1959-1963)
- Single rounded cutaway (1959-1963)
- 17.375" body width
- 1.875" body depth
Neck:
- Mahogany neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with slotted block inlays
- Metal peghead logo plate (1959-1960)
- Inlaid Epiphone logo on the headstock (1960-1963)
- 25.5" scale
- 1.68" nut width
Binding:
- 1-ply body & neck
Electronics:
- 2 New York pickups (1959-1960)
- Mini-humbucker pickups (1960-1963)
- 2 volume and 2 tone controls
- 3-way selector switch
Hardware:
- Nickel hardware
- Adjustable rosewood bridge on rosewood base
- Trapeze tailpiece
- Elevated tortoise pickguard
- Gold reflector knobs
Colors:
- Natural (E312TN)
- Sunburst (E312T)
Zephyr Regent Reissue
- 1999-2008
Body:
- Single Flourentine cutaway
- Full-depth body
- Mahogany body
- Laminated maple top
Neck:
- Set maple neck
- Rosewood fingerboard
- Split parallelogram inlays & crown inlay on headstock (1999-2005)
- Dot inlays & no inlay on headstock (2006-2008)
- Vintage style heel
- 24.75" Scale
- 1.68" nut
Binding:
- 1-ply Body and neck
Electronics:
- 1 Alnico Classic Humbucker
- 1 vol. 1 Tone controls
Hardware:
- Gold hardware
- Tune-o-matic bridge with rosewood base
- Trapeze tailpiece
- Elevated pickguard
- Gold bell knobs
- Deluxe tuners
Colors:
- Vintage Sunburst (VS)
Imperial Series 1950's Zephyr
- 1992-1994
- Made to original Zephyrt specifications
- Made at the Fuji-gen workshop in Japan
Body:
- Solid, handcarved, bookmatched, graduated spruce top
- Solid flame maple back
- Hand-bent rims
- Standard f-holes
- 17.375" body width
Neck:
- 3-piece laminated mahogany neck
- "C" shape profile
- Rosewood fingerboard
- V-block mother of pearl and abalone inlay
- Masterbilt-style offset with pearl Vine-of-Life headstock inlay
- Bone nut
- 24.75" scale
- 1.68" nut width
Binding:
- Multi-ply body & neck
- 3-ply pickguard
- Single-ply headstock
Electronics:
- Two NY-style mini-humbucker pickups
- 1 Vol. 1 Tone controls
- 3-way selector switch
Hardware:
- Gold hardware
- Adjustable rosewood bridge with rosewood base
- Frequensator tailpiece
- Sealed tuners with original style machine head buttons
- Carousel knobs
- Tortoise shell pickguard
Colors:
- Antique Natural (AN)
- Vintage Sunburst (VS)
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