Epiphone Century Spanish 1954

The Epiphone Century Spanish is a beautiful example of the elegant hollowbody guitars that Epiphone built in the 1950s, even before the brand became part of Gibson. This 16” wide model from 1954 exudes the atmosphere of great jazz orchestras and early electric guitar music, with its graceful sunburst finish, generous body, and refined craftsmanship. At the time, the Century was intended as a professional instrument for guitarists who wanted to combine a warm, acoustic foundation with the capabilities of electric amplification.

This version features the characteristic Epiphone Small Tone Spectrum pickup, a pickup beloved for its bright, open, and particularly dynamic sound. The fully hollow body delivers rich acoustic resonance, while the pickup faithfully translates every nuance of playing, from warm jazz chords to expressive single-note lines. The combination of the large hollowbody, the long scale length, and the unique pickup gives the Century its own voice that sets it apart from contemporaries and makes this Epiphone a particularly attractive instrument for lovers of vintage jazz and blues guitars.

This Epiphone was built in New York and is in very good condition. Wear marks can be found on the body and neck, along with craquelé in the lacquer. The binding of the body has various small cracks, and new pieces have been inserted in a few places. The pickup and hardware are original, but the pickguard has unfortunately missing. The guitar has been in the possession of the Dutch Archtop Museum in Dalfsen since 2011, which purchased the guitar that year from a collector in Portland, Oregon, in the United States.

Consignment.