Epiphone Broadway 1938

Challenging the Gibson L5
The Epiphone Broadway was with his 17 3/8" body larger than his rival the Gibson L5. That was no coincidence. The New York based Epiphone factory clearly challenged the monarch of the jazz guitarists. Today the Broadway is often considered as a poor man’s L5. In the late 1930’s however, these guitars were considered as masterly built with a unique sound among jazz guitars.



This finish was called tobacco sunburst.
The solid spruce top was hand carved.

Abalone vine pattern peghead inlay in bound headstock.



Remarkable: the open-back butterbean tuners.



And of course the Frequensator tailpiece made his entry.