Emperor Electric Archtop

The Emperor was the largest and most costly instrument produced in the New York factory. With its massive 18 1/2" lower bout and 3 1/2" body depth, this top-of-the-line instrument was the largest production archtop made. In 1959 the Emperor was redesigned to be a thinline hollow body with a depth of 1 13/16 inches with mini-humbuckers and the Varitone system was discontinued. By 1963 the Emperor was available by special order only. The 1966 price list estimates a 120 day waiting time from order to delivery.

The Emperor Series Originally Included:

• Emperor - Acoustic Non-cutaway
• Emperor Regent - Acoustic Single-cutaway
• Zephyr Emperor Varitone / Regent / Electric - Electric Single-cutaway

See Also Emperor Acoustic Archtop

Contents 1 Models 1.1 Emperor Electric 1.2 Emperor Regent Tenor 1.3 Emperor-E112T 1.4 Emperor-S 1.5 Emperor (F) 1.6 Emperor (T) 1.7 Emperor-J 1.8 Emperor 1.9 Joe Pass Emperor 1.10 Joe Pass Emperor II 1.11 Emperor Regent 1.12 Emperor Swingster 1.13 Emperor Swingster Royale 1.14 Emperor Swingster Black Royale

Models

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Emperor Electric

Models:

• Zephyr Emperor Varitone (1951)
• Zephyr Emperor Regent (1952-1953)
• Emperor Electric (1954-1957)

Body:

• Maple sides & back
• Plain or flamed spruce top
• 18.5" body width
• 3.5" body depth

Neck:

• Set 7-ply maple/walnut neck
• Rosewood fingerboard with V-block inlays
• Inlaid perimeter marks
• "Vine of Life" inlay on headstock
• 25.5" Scale

Binding:

• 7-ply body
• 3-ply neck, f-hole pickguard & headstock

Electronics:

• Three New York pickups
• 1 Vol. 1 Tone controls
• 6 push-button Varitone controls

Hardware:

• Gold hardware
• Adjustable rosewood bridge and base
• Frequensator tailpiece
• Carousel knobs

Colors:

• Natural
• Blonde
• Shaded

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Emperor Regent Tenor

• 1951-1957
• 4-string tenor guitar

Body:

• Maple sides & back
• Plain or flamed spruce top
• 18.5" body width
• 17.375" body width
• 3.375" body depth

Neck:

• Set 7-ply maple/walnut neck
• Rosewood fingerboard with V-block inlays
• Inlaid perimeter marks
• "Vine of Life" inlay on headstock
• 22.75" scale
• 1.3125" nut width

Binding:

• 7-ply body
• 3-ply neck, f-hole pickguard & headstock

Electronics:

• Three New York pickups
• 1 Vol. 1 Tone controls
• 6 push-button Varitone controls

Hardware:

• Gold hardware
• Adjustable rosewood bridge and base
• Frequensator tailpiece
• Carousel knobs

Colors:

• Natural
• Blonde
• Shaded

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Emperor-E112T

• 1959-1968

Body:

• Curly maple top, back & sides
• 1.8125" body depth

Neck:

• Set 5-piece maple/walnut neck
• Ebony fingerboard with V-block inlays
• "Vine of Life" inlay on headstock
• 20 frets
• 25.5" Scale

Binding:

• Ivroid binding
• 7-ply body
• 3-ply headstock & f-holes
• 1-ply neck
• 5-ply pickguard

Electronics:

• Three mini humbucker pickups
• 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls

Hardware:

• Gold hardware
• Bound tortoise pickguard
• Tune-o-matic bridge on rosewood base
• Frequensator tailpiece
• Gold reflector knobs
• Diecast imperial tuners
• Elevated tortoise pickguard

Colors:

• Natural
• Shaded

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Emperor-S

• Japan Domestic Market only
• 1975-1979
• Made in Matsumoku, Japan

Body:

• Solid spruce top
• Maple back & sides
• Maple/mahogany center block
• 17" body width
• 3.25" body depth

Neck:

• 3-piece set maple neck
• Ebony fingerboard with V-block inlays
• Pearl "Vine of Life" inlay on headstock
• 25.5" scale
• 1.68" nut width

Binding:

• 7-ply top
• 5-ply neck & headstock
• 1-ply back & f-hole

Electronics:

• Maxon MMK-75 humbucker pickups
• 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
• 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

• Gold hardware
• Tune-o-matic bridge on rosewood base
• Deco-style trapeze tailpiece
• Gold reflector hat knobs
• 5-ply pickgaurd
• Diecast "E" stamped tuners

Colors:

• Sunburst
• Natural

See Also:

• Epiphone Japan

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Emperor (F)

• 1980-1984
• Made in Matsumoku, Japan

Body:

• Solid spruce top
• Maple back & sides
• Maple/mahogany center block
• 17" body width
• 3.25" body depth

Neck:

• 3-piece set maple neck
• Ebony fingerboard with V-block inlays
• Pearl "Vine of Life" inlay on headstock
• 25.5" scale
• 1.68" nut width

Binding:

• 7-ply top
• 5-ply neck & headstock
• 1-ply back & f-hole

Electronics:

• Maxon MMK-75 humbucker pickups
• 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
• 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

• Gold hardware
• Tune-o-matic bridge on rosewood base
• Frequensator tailpiece
• Gold reflector hat knobs
• 5-ply pickgaurd
• Diecast "E" stamped tuners

Colors:

• Vintage Sunburst (VS)
• Cherry Sunburst (CS)
• Natural (NA)

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Emperor (T)

• Japan Domestic Market only (1975-1979)
• Worldwide distribution (1980-1984)
• Made in Matsumoku, Japan

Body:

• Solid spruce top
• Maple back & sides
• Maple/mahogany center block
• 17" body width
• 2.125" body depth

Neck:

• 3-piece set maple neck
• Ebony fingerboard with V-block inlays
• Pearl "Vine of Life" inlay on headstock
• 25.5" scale
• 1.68" nut width

Binding:

• 7-ply top
• 5-ply neck & headstock
• 1-ply back & f-hole

Electronics:

• Maxon MMK-75 humbucker pickups
• 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
• 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

• Gold hardware
• Tune-o-matic bridge on posts
• Frequensator tailpiece
• Witch hat knobs
• 5-ply headstock
• Diecast "E" stamped tuners

Colors:

• Vintage Sunburst (VS)
• Cherry Sunburst (CS)
• Natural (NA)

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Emperor-J

• Japan Domestic Market only
• 1987-1998
• Made in Terada, Japan (orange label)

Body:

• Full-depth single-cutaway hollow body
• Carved solid spruce top
• Maple back & sides
• 17" body width
• 3.25" body depth

Neck:

• 3-piece set maple neck
• Rosewood fingerboard with pearl/abalone V-block inlays
• Pearl "Vine of Life" inlay on headstock
• 3-screw truss rod cover
• 25.5" scale
• 1.68" nut width

Binding:

• 5-ply body & pickguard
• 3-ply neck & headstock
• 1-ply f-hole

Electronics:

• Two humbucker pickups
• 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
• 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

• Gold hardware
• Ebony bridge & base
• Frequensator or trapeze tailpiece

See Also:

• Epiphone Japan

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Emperor

• 1984-1990

Body:

• Laminated Maple body
• Select Spruce top
• Figured maple back
• 16" body width

Neck:

• Set 3-piece Maple neck
• Rosewood fingerboard with pearl block inlays
• Clipped-ear headstock with "Vine of Life" inlay
• 24.75" scale
• 1.68" nut width

Binding:

• 5-ply body, headstock & pickguard
• 7-ply neck
• Single-ply f-hole

Electronics:

• Two Alnico Classic humbucker pickups
• 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
• 3-way selector switch on treble horn

Hardware:

• Gold hardware
• Adjustable rosewood bridge with rosewood base
• Ornate trapeze tailpiece
• Simulated tortoise shell pickguard with "Joe Pass" signature
• Diecast tuners
• Gold tophat knobs

Colors:

• Vintage Sunburst (VS)
• Natural (NA)
• Cherry Sunburst (CS)

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Joe Pass Emperor

• 1991-1993

Body:

• Laminated Maple body
• Select Spruce top
• Figured maple back
• 16" body width

Neck:

• Set 3-piece Maple neck
• Rosewood fingerboard with pearl block inlays
• Clipped-ear headstock with Vine inlay
• 24.75" scale
• 1.68" nut width

Binding:

• 5-ply body, headstock & pickguard
• 7-ply neck
• Single-ply f-hole

Electronics:

• Two Alnico Classic humbucker pickups
• 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
• 3-way selector switch on treble horn

Hardware:

• Gold hardware
• Adjustable rosewood bridge with rosewood base
• Ornate trapeze tailpiece
• Simulated tortoise shell pickguard with "Joe Pass" signature
• Diecast tuners
• Gold tophat knobs

Colors:

• Vintage Sunburst (VS)

See Also: Joe Pass Signatures

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Joe Pass Emperor II

• 1994-Current

Body:

• Laminated Maple body
• Select Spruce top
• 16" body width

Neck:

• Set 3-piece Maple neck with SlimTaper "C" profile
• Rosewood fingerboard with pearl block inlays
• Clipped-ear headstock with Vine inlay
• 2-ply truss rod cover with "Joe Pass" inscription
• 12" fingerboard radius
• 24.75" scale
• 1.68" nut width

Binding:

• 5-ply pickguard, body & headstock
• 7-ply neck
• Single-ply f-hole

Electronics:

• Two Alnico Classic humbucker pickups
• 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
• 3-way selector switch on upper bass bout

Hardware:

• Gold hardware
• Adjustable rosewood bridge with rosewood base
• Ornate trapeze tailpiece
• 16:1 ratio Grover die-cast tuners
• Simulated tortoise shell pickguard with "Joe Pass" signature
• Gold tophat knobs

Colors

• Natural (NA)
• Vintage Sunburst (VS)
• Heritage Cherry Sunburst (HS)

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Emperor Regent

• 1995-2011

Body:

• Select spruce top
• Laminated Maple back & sides
• 17" body width

Neck:

• Set 3-piece Maple neck with SlimTaper "C" profile
• Rosewood fingerboard pearl V-Block inlays
• Clipped-ear headstock with "Vine of Life" inlay
• 25.5" scale
• 1.68 nut width

Binding:

• 7-ply body
• 5-ply neck & headstock
• Single-ply f-hole

Electronics:

• One floating mini-humbucker pickup
• 1 Vol. 1 Tone controls mounted to pickguard

Hardware:

• Gold hardware
• Adjustable Rosewood bridge with rosewood base
• Frequensator tailpiece
• 16:1 ratio Grover die-cast tuners
• Elevated tortoise pickguard with metal "E" emblem

Colors:

• Natural (NA)
• Antique Sunburst (AS)
• Vintage Cherry Sunburst (VCSB)
• Vintage Sunburst (VS)
• Ice Blue (IB)
• Metallic Green (??) 1996-1997
• Metallic Light Blue (ML) 1996-1997
• Gold Flake (GF) 1996-1997
• Silver Flake (SF)
• Turquoise (TQ)

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Emperor Swingster

• 2011-Current

Body:

• Select spruce top
• Laminated maple back & sides
• Flame maple veneer
• Hand-scalloped bracing and sound post

Neck:

• Set 3-piece hard maple neck with SlimTaper profile
• Rosewood fingerboard with mother-of-pearl block inlays
• Clipped-ear headstock with "Vine of Life" inlay
• 14" fingerboard radius
• 20 medium-jumbo frets
• 24.75" scale
• 1.68" nut width

Binding:

• 5-ply headstock, neck and body
• 1-ply F-hole

Electronics:

• Epiphone Alnico-V Swingbucker pickups
• 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls with push-pull series/parallel
• 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

• Nickel hardware
• Tune-o-matic bridge with roller saddle and rosewood base
• Licensed Bigsby B30 vibrato tailpiece with wire handle
• 14:1 ratio Grover tuners
• Black reflector knobs

Colors:

• Sunrise Orange (OR)
• Wine Red (WR)
• Translucent Black (TB)

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Emperor Swingster Royale

• 2011-Current

Body:

• Select spruce top
• Laminated maple back & sides
• Hand-scalloped bracing and sound post

Neck:

• Set 3-piece hard maple neck with SlimTaper profile
• Rosewood fingerboard with mother-of-pearl block inlays
• Clipped-ear headstock with "Vine of Life" inlay
• 14" fingerboard radius
• 20 medium-jumbo frets
• 24.75" scale
• 1.68" nut width

Binding:

• 5-ply gold binding on headstock, neck, and body
• 1-ply gold binding on F holes

Electronics:

• Epiphone Alnico-V Swingbucker & Swingbucker Plus pickups
• 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls with push-pull series/parallel
• 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

• Gold hardware
• Tune-o-matic bridge with roller saddle and rosewood base
• Licensed Bigsby B30 vibrato tailpiece with wire handle
• 14:1 ratio Grover tuners
• Black reflector knobs

Colors:

• Pearl White (PW)

See Also: Royale Series

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Emperor Swingster Black Royale

• 2012-Current

Body:

• Select spruce top
• Laminated maple back & sides
• Hand-scalloped bracing and sound post

Neck:

• Set 3-piece hard maple neck with SlimTaper profile
• Rosewood fingerboard with mother-of-pearl block inlays
• Clipped-ear headstock with "Vine of Life" inlay
• 14" fingerboard radius
• 20 medium-jumbo frets
• 24.75" scale
• 1.68" nut width

Binding:

• 5-ply Silver Sparkle binding on headstock, neck, and body
• 1-ply Silver Sparkle binding on F holes

Electronics:

• Epiphone Alnico-V Swingbucker & Swingbucker Plus pickups
• 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls with push-pull series/parallel
• 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

• Gold hardware
• Tune-o-matic bridge with roller saddle and rosewood base
• Licensed Bigsby B30 vibrato tailpiece with wire handle
• 14:1 ratio Grover tuners
• Black reflector knobs

Colors:

• Black Pearl (BP)

See Also: Black Royale Series

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