My research has led me to believe that all Epi electric archtops (Zephyr, et al) from the 1930's to the late 1950's were laminated top and back, and who knows about the sides. Some had nicely figured maple on both top and back, some had spruce as the outer layer (My 1946 Zephyr has spruce top and maple back). Bracing varied a lot depending on the pickups. Mine has a top mounted pickup (no routed hole through the top) and absolutely no bracing inside at all. On the other hand, I think all of their acoustics were carved top. If you go to the second link below, and download the 1944 Epiphone catalog there is some great stuff with pictures of the factory, carving and graduating machine-roughed tops, carving necks, etc.
Good site for Epi-lovers: http://wiedler.ch/nyepireg/default.html
Great site for anyone who loves old guitars - a repository of catalogs! http://acousticmusic.org/research/hi...logs/#Epiphone
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Brian Evans
Around 15 archtops, electrics, resonators, a lap steel, a uke, a mandolin, some I made, some I bought, some kinda showed up and wouldn't leave. Tatamagouche Nova Scotia.
Last edited by MC5C; 03-29-2017 at 12:16 PM.
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