Century Series

The Century range of instruments included the Century Banjo, Century Mandolin, Century Archtop Guitar, Electar Century Lap Steel Guitar and Century 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. Century amplifers were available in AC or AC-DC models. Century instruments were available in a variety of configurations, including Plectrum and Tenor versions for guitars and banjos. Century Lap Steel guitars were available in 6, 7 & 8 string versions. The Century series intruments were outfitted with Epiphone Master pickups and a Mastervoicer controls. They also sported the metal "Bikini" logo plate, as did othe Epiphone intruments at the time. The "Electar" name was given to most of Epiphone's electric intruments throughout the 1930s and 1940s.

See Also: Zephyr Series

Contents 1 Models 1.1 Century Spanish Guitar 1.2 Century Banjo 1.3 Century Mandolin 1.4 Century Hawaiian Lap Steel Guitar 1.5 Electar Century Amplifier

Models

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Century Spanish Guitar

• 1939-1957

Models:

• Century Spanish Guitar (6-string conventional)
• Century Tenor Guitar (4-string short-scale)
• Century Plectrum Guitar (4-string long-scale)
• Model E421/E422 (1950-1957)

Body:

• Grand Concert size body
• Laminated mahogany body
• 14.75" body width (1939-1941)
• 15.25" body width (1942-1945)
• 16.375" body width (1946-1957)

Binding:

• 1-ply body
• Bound fingerboard (1939-1945)
• Unbound fingerboard (1946-1957)

Neck:

• Set mahogany neck
• Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
• Metal peghead logo plate
• Bone nut
• 25.5" scale

Electronics:

• Epiphone Master pickup with metal cover in bridge position (1939)
• Epiphone Master pickup in bridge position (1940-1945)
• Epiphone Master pickup in neck position (1946-1949)
• Tone Spectrum pickup with non-adjustable poles (1950-1957)
• Some with NY pickup (1950-1957)

Controls:

• 1 Vol. 1 Tone controls
• Vertical, black carousel knobs below tailpiece (1939-1945)
• Vertical, Square control plates with radial markings below tailpiece (1946-1949)
• Horizontal, white carousel knobs behind pickguard (1950-1957)

Hardware:

• Adjustable rosewood bridge with trapeze tailpiece
• Bakelite tortoise pickguard
• Individual tuners with plastic buttons
• Output jack on Top of guitar (1939-1941)
• Output jack on Side of guitar (1942-1957)

Colors:

• Highlighted Walnut Brown
• Shaded Sunburst
• Blonde (E421)
• Sunburst (E422)

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Century Banjo

• 1939-1954

Body:

• Laminated mahogany body

Neck:

• Set mahogany neck
• Rosewood fingerboard with pearl inlays
• Metal bikini logo plate on headstock
• Block fingerboard inlays (1939-1940)
• Dot fingerboard inlays (1941-1954)

Binding:

• White pyralin binding on top & back
• No neck binding (1939-1940)
• Pyralin neck binding (1941-1954)

Electronics:

• Non adjustable Epiphone Master pickup
• Epiphone Master pickup with bakelite handrest (1939-1940)
• Epiphone Master pickup with no handrest (1941-1954)
• 1 Vol. 1 Tone controls
• Volume and tone controls of opposites sides

Hardware:

• Inlaid bakelite tortoise shell pickguard
• Individual tuners with plastic buttons
• Adjustable rosewood bridge
• Trapeze tailpiece
• Carousel knobs
• Bone nut

Colors:

• Shaded Brown

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Century Mandolin

• 1939-1954
• 8-string configuration

Body:

• Laminated mahogany body
• No f-holes 1939-1940
• Standard f-holes with binding 1941-1954

Neck:

• Set mahogany neck
• Rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays
• Metal bikini logo plate on headstock

Binding:

• White pyralin binding on top, back & neck

Electronics:

• Non adjustable Epiphone Master pickup
• 1 Vol. 1 Tone controls
• Volume and tone controls of opposites sides

Hardware:

• Inlaid bakelite tortoise shell pickguard
• Individual tuners with plastic buttons
• Adjustable rosewood bridge
• Trapeze tailpiece
• Carousel knobs
• Bone nut

Colors:

• Shaded Brown

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Century Hawaiian Lap Steel Guitar

• 1939-1957
• Designed by Herb Sunshine

Models:

• HC6 - Six String Lap Steel
• HC7 - Seven String Lap Steel
• HC8 - Eight String Lap Steel

Body:

• Maple body
• Electar Hawaiian Teardrop shaped body (1939-1949)
• Rounded guitar-like body bouts (1950-1957)
• Scooped corners with deep belly (1939-1949)
• Scooped corners with shallow belly (1950-1957)

Neck:

• Metal fingerboard
• Bowtie fret markers
• Metal "Bikini" logo plate on headstock
• 22.375" scale
• 2.375" nut width (6-string)

Binding:

• No binding (1939-1949)
• Bound top (1950-1957)

Electronics:

• Blade pickup
• Control knobs on opposite sides of guitar (1939-1949)
• Control knobs on same side of guitar (1950-1957)

Hardware:

• Black or white bakelite control knobs
• Felt covered access plate on back
• Aluminum nut & bridge
• Nickel plated individual open-back tuners
• Black plastic pickguard (1939-1949)
• No pickguard (1950-1957)
• Black narrow metal pickup cover/handrest (1939-1949)
• Nickel wide pickup cover/handrest with "E" emblem (1950-1957)

Colors:

• Black (1939-1949)
• Sunburst (1950-1957)

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Electar Century Amplifier

• Designed by Nat Daniels of Danelectro

Models:

• Electar Century 1939-1954
• AMP-10 Century 1955-1957

Power:

• Beam powered tubes
• Alternating & Direct current control 1939-1948
• Alternating Current only 1949-1958
• 4 watts - 1st Generation
• 10 watts - 2nd Generation
• 15 watts - 3rd Generation (1955-1958)

Speakers:

• 12" Rola field coil speaker

Inputs:

• Two inputs - 1st Generation
• Three inputs - 2nd Generation

Controls:

• 1 Volume control - 1st Generation
• 1 Vol & 1 Tone controls - 2nd Generation
• Vibrato with on/off switch - 2nd Generation
• Vibrato with foot switch - 3rd Generation (1955-1958)
• On/off switch
• Fuse mount
• Controls on back of amplifier - 1st Generation
• Controls on top of amplifier - 2nd & 3rd Generation

Chassis:

• Rounded top corners
• Waterproof Mackintosh slip cover
• Closed back with ventilation slots
• Rubber-cushioned chasis
• Carrying handle on top of amplifier

Size:

• 16.5"T x 13.8"W x 7.5"D - 1st Generation
• 16.1"T x 20.5"W x 8.7"D - 2nd Generation
• 19"T x 19"w x 8.5"D - 3rd Generation (1955-1958)

Cabinet Materials:

• Laminted maple cabinet - 1st Generation
• Plastic-coated cloth cabinet - 2nd Generation
• Pressed fibre cabinet 1955-1958 - 3rd Generation (1955-1958)

Grille:

• Cloth grille cover with Electar "E" cutout - 1st Generation
• Cloth grille with slotted grille cover - 2nd Generation
• Cloth grille with Epiphone "E" printed logo - 3rd Generation (1955-1958)

Carrying Handle:

• Metal carrying handle (1939-1954)
• Rubber carrying handle (1955-1958)

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