Recording Models
From The Unofficial Epiphone Wiki
|
At the height of the banjo boom in 1928, Epi had introduced the Recording series of guitars, each one identified only by a letter ('A' through 'E') and notable for their unusual body shape. The Recording guitars were a combination of spruce and laminated maple, with either an arched or flat top, depending on the price. The Recording guitars were not a success. One problem was a lack of celebrity endorsement. The other was a lack of volume. The Recording guitars were too small and arguably too ornate, particularly in comparison to the mighty size and volume of the Gibson L-5. |
Contents |
Models
Recording Model A
- 1928-1931
- Venetian body style
Body:
- Graduated flat spruce top
- 3-ply figured maple or mahogany back & sides
Neck:
- Set maple neck with "V" profile
- Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay
- Double-dots at 7th fret
- Rounded headstock with pearloid overlay
- Hand-etched & painted banner logo engraving
- 25" scale
Binding:
- 2-ply black body binding
- Multi-ply rosette
Hardware:
- Banjo-style tuners
- Unstaggered rosewood bridge
- Elevated pickguard extending to bridge
Recording Model A Tenor
- 1928-1931
- Venetian body style
- 4-string tenor model
Body:
- Graduated flat spruce top
- Flat 3-ply figured maple or mahogany back & sides
Neck:
- Set maple neck with "V" profile
- Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay
- Pearloid overlay on rounded headstock
- Hand-etched & painted banner logo on headstock
Binding:
- Single-ply black body binding
- 3-ring multi-ply rosette
Hardware:
- Nickel hardware
- Banjo tuners
- Rosewood bridge with staggered pins
- Black non-elevated celluloid pickguard
- Bone nut
Recording Model B
- 1928-1931
- Venetian body style
Body:
- Hand carved spruce top
- Arched maple back & sides
Neck:
- Set maple neck with "V" profile
- Ebony fingerboard with dot inlays
- Plastic pearloid headstock veneer with painted banner logo engraving
- 25" scale
Binding:
- 2-ply body binding
- Single-ply white neckbinding
- Multi-ply pyralin rosette with bound sound hole
Hardware:
- Nickel hardware
- Non-adjustable rosewood bridge
- Unstaggered pin bridge or trapeze tailpiece
- Elevated pickguard extending to bridge
- Banjo-style tuners
- Bone nut
Recording Model C
- 1928-1931
- Venetian body style
- Optional conventional symmetrical acoustic body shape (1928-1929)
Body:
- Hand carved spruce flat top
- Arched figured maple back & maple sides
Neck:
- Set maple neck with "V" profile
- Ebony fingerboard with rounded or pointed end
- Plastic pearloid headstock veneer with painted banner logo engraving
- 25" scale
Binding:
- 3-ply white body binding
- Single-ply neck binding
- 14-ply pyralin rosette
Hardware:
- Non-adjustable bridge with staggered ivory bridge pins
- Elevated pickguard extending to bridge
- Engraved nickel hardware
- Bone nut
1928-1929
- Triangular tortoise pickguard
- Ebony bridge with ornate belly
- Ornately carved with french curves
- Ornate painted flower & banner engravings
- Enclosed brass 4:1 ratio banjo tuners with ivory buttons
- Paired diamond inlays in zig-zag pattern
1930-1931
- Contoured black pickguard
- Rosewood non-belly bridge
- Tombstone style with rounded top
- Less ornate painted banner logo
- Open-back plate-mounted tuners with ivory buttons
- Pearl dot inlays with double-dots at 7th & 12th frets
Recording Model D
- 1928-1931
- Venetian body style
Body:
- Hand carved spruce flat top
- Arched figured maple back & maple sides
Neck:
- Set maple neck with "V" profile
- Ebony fingerboard with rounded or pointed end
- Plastic pearloid headstock veneer with painted banner logo engraving
- 25" scale
Binding:
- Single-ply white body & neck binding
- Multi-ply pyralin rosette with bound sound hole
Hardware:
- Non-adjustable ebony bridge
- Staggered pin bridge or trapeze tailpiece
- Elevated pickguard extending to bridge
- Engraved nickel hardware
- Banjo-style tuners
- Bone nut
Recording Model E
- 1928-1931
Body:
- Hand carved spruce top
- Figured maple sides
- Arched birdseye maple back
Neck:
- Set maple neck with "V" profile
- Rosewood fingerboard with rounded end
- Plastic pearloid headstock veneer with painted banner logo engraving
- 25" scale
Binding:
- 3-ply white body binding
- Single-ply neck binding
- 14-ply pyralin rosette
Hardware:
- Engraved nickel hardware
- Non-adjustable bridge with staggered ivory bridge pins
- Elevated pickguard extending to bridge
- Bone nut
1928-1929
- Triangular tortoise pickguard
- Ebony bridge with ornate belly
- Ornately carved with french curves
- Ornate painted flower & banner engravings
- Enclosed brass 4:1 ratio banjo tuners with ivory buttons
- Celluloid block inlays with floral engraving
1930-1931
- Contoured black pickguard
- Rosewood non-belly bridge
- Tombstone style with rounded top
- Less ornate painted banner logo
- Open-back plate-mounted tuners with ivory buttons
- Pearl dot inlays with double-dots at 7th & 12th frets
Electrics | Archtops | Acoustics | Basses | Bluegrass | Amplifiers | Promotional Guitars