Close-up #40: Reconstructing the 1931 Masterbilt model lineup
"In June 1931, the firm officially announced its already-established line of Masterbilt guitars." Since author Tom Wheeler had stated this information in his groundbreaking 1982 book “American Guitars”, it has been requoted by countless guitar historians and journalists in books and magazine articles. But – strangely – we have never seen any official Epiphone letter, flyer, advert or similar official document about this historically important 1931 product announcement. (If you have, please let us know!)
Well, there is a Masterbilt flyer which some historians (Gruhn, Carter, Fisch/Fred) had dated to the year 1931. However from what we know today, it is clear that this flyer was actually published significantly later – probably in 1933. Some evidence for our claim:
- The Triumph is listed as "Grand auditorium size" (16⅜") while this model was "Auditorium size" (15½") until 1932. The upgrade in size did not happen before early 1933 (first SN 6437).
- The model images are identical to those in the 1932 catalog – including the picture of the Blackstone with a "Type 3" pickguard which was not introduced before well into 1932 (see Close-up 38).
- Carl Kress, one of Epiphone's most prominently featured endorsers in the 1932 catalog and adverts, is not mentioned in the flyer – for obvious reasons: Kress had become a Gibson protégé by 1933, see this advert in "Metronome" magazine.
Left: 1933 Masterbilt flyer, formerly dated 1931 by some historians
Right: 1932 Masterbilt catalog (download catalog PDFs)
The earliest Masterbilt-related advert we are aware of was published in the February 1932 issue of "Metronome" magazine (see picture at top of this page).
Therefore, the catalog "Masterbilt Fretted Instruments" – published later in 1932 – is the earliest available official source offering a detailed overview of the Masterbilt product line. However: The model info presented in that catalog of course doesn't necessarily mean that the instrument lineup and features were the same at the launch one year earlier, in June 1931!
So how can we find out what models Epiphone had launched in 1931? Let's try to assemble the puzzle pieces of what we know, with the goal to reconstruct the initial 1931 Masterbilt lineup – taking into account two sources of information:
a) Surviving instruments with low serial number (< SN 5500):
Our database of documented instruments strongly suggests that the Masterbilt series started with SN 5000, and we estimate approximately SN 5500 was reached by the end of 1931. Thus we can assume: The lower the SN of any documented model example, the higher the probability that the respective model was part of the initial lineup.
b) Product images from 1931 used in later catalogs:
Of some Masterbilt models listed in the 1932 catalog, we haven't been able to trace any examples with a SN from 1931. But we noticed: Some of the product images in the 1932 catalog were obviously produced significantly earlier, since they show features that were already outdated by the time the 1932 catalog was printed – most obvious in the pickguard type which underwent several changes in the 1931–32 period (see also Close-up #38). Example: The Strand mandolin is a model we have no documentation of any first-year examples yet – however we can pretty safely assume this mandolin was offered in 1931 since depicted in the 1932 catalog with an early "Type 1" pickguard.
Distinctive features of 1931 Masterbilt models
When looking at surviving examples of 1931 Masterbilt models we notice that quite a few of them show signs of later modifications – some obvious, some less so. But luckily there are some instruments that survived in pretty original, unmodified condition – historically important examples providing evidence for our research. Our findings in a nutshell:
- Top construction/bracing: The most significant difference between some of the earliest Masterbilt models and 1932 versions is rather difficult to spot from outside: The top construction is not carved to an arch (as specified in the 1932 catalog), but bent into an arch by bracing (or just flat in some low-end models). They are built with a distinctive ladder-bracing pattern which is quite different to the parallel tonebars used in carved-top Epiphones (the latter clearly inspired by the tonebars
of the early Gibson L-5).
Caveat: Note that quite a few of the documented 1931 Masterbilts appear to have been reworked at the Epiphone factory at some point and received a new, carved top – often evident in a later f-hole shape, label, finish or hardware type (examples: SN 5049, SN 5051, SN 5053, SN 5131).
Left: Broadway SN 5319 showing ladder-bracing pattern typical for early Masterbilts with brace-arched or flat tops (photo by DAM)Right: DeLuxe SN 5794, carved top with two parallel tonebars (photo Tony Hendrix)
- Pickguard type: As already mentioned above, a visually more noticeable feature of original 1931 Masterbilt examples is the distinctive pickguard "Type 1" (without screws through the plate, see Close-up #38) – although again caveat: Original pickguards are often missing or replaced on surviving instruments.
- Body sizes: When looking at the body sizes of surviving 1931 Masterbilts we notice that the 6-string guitars are the same sizes as specified in the 1932 catalog. On the other hand: The earliest known 4-string tenor/plectrum guitars have a small 13⅝" wide "Concert" body size; by 1932 the Empire, Bretton, Hollywood + Regent models got upgraded to the 15½" wide "Auditorium" size.
- Model-specific details: We noticed a few "cosmetic" differences between the 1931 and 1932 versions of certain models. Interestingly, some of the model images in the 1932 catalog are shown with 1932 pickguards, even though the model existed in 1931 – for example the Adelphi mandolin. So why did Epiphone produce a new picture? Our guess: because significant changes in the look of the model justified the costs. Example: Note that by 1932 the Adelphi received a fancy
"banner" headstock instead of the plain black veneer (see also Close-up #27).
The Olympic model is another model shown with a later "Type 2" pickguard. Why? As explained in Close-up #39, we consider that the original 1931 product artwork showed a flat top model with a plain finish (image reused as "Beverly" in the 1934 catalog). By 1932 the Olympic model was upgraded to a carved top with sunburst finish – obviously worth a new catalog picture ...
An interesting case is the Blackstone model – the only instrument depicted in the 1932 catalog with a "Type 3" pickguard as used later in 1932. What could be the reason for this? Two theories: Again, maybe the product specs had changed requiring a new picture – or: Maybe this model didn't exist before! Very plausible indeed, considering we have never seen or heard of a Blackstone example with a 1931 serial number – the earliest documented example being SN 5707 (see Close-up #11).
Finally, there are some other models listed in the 1932 catalog that have not surfaced in examples with a confirmed 1931 SN – the Madrid + Navarre acoustic Hawaiian guitars. Since these also don't have any (revealing) catalog images, we don't know today if they were introduced in 1931 or only later.
1931 Hollywood Tenor SN 5104 – small 13⅝" body, ladder-braced top. By 1932 the model was upgraded to a 15½" wide, carved archtop. Note the 1931 pickguard "Type 1", without screws through the plate. By 1932 the headstock of the Hollywood received fancier pearl banners.(Photo by Archtop.com)
Summary: 1931 Epiphone Masterbilt lineup
6-string guitars:
- 6 models evident: DeLuxe, Boadway, Triumph, Royal, Zenith + Olympic
- Body size: 16⅜" / 15½" / 13⅝" (same as in 1932 catalog)
- Top construction not carved: ladder-bracing, higher models arched, lowest models flat; segmented f-holes
- Pickguard: Type 1 (block + rod, no screw)
- Olympic model: plain top finish (no sunburst)
- No evidence of Blackstone model
- No evidence of Madrid + Navarre models
4-string Tenor/Plectrum guitars:
- 6 models evident: Empire, Bretton, Hollywood, Regent, Melody + Beverly
- Body size: earliest models only 13⅝" wide (Bretton SN 5375 first with 15½" body)
- Top construction not carved: ladder-bracing, higher models arched, lowest models flat; segmented f-holes
- Pickguard: Type 1 (block + rod, no screw)
Mando family instruments:
- 4 models evident: Windsor, Strand, Rivoli + Adelphi
- Top construction not carved: ladder-bracing, arched; segmented f-holes
- Pickguard: Type 1 (block + rod, no screw)
- Adelphi model: plain headstock veneer (no banners)
- No evidence of mandola + mandocello models
Note: This text basically represents our knowledge as of October 2018 – to be revised whenever new evidence surfaces. Again: If you have some additional info or even original 1931 documents about Epiphone Masterbilt instruments, please let us know!
In the table below an overview of evidence material + instruments (size + top construction, first documented examples) relevant for our research findings.
| Model | 1931 (SN 5000–5500) | 1932 (SN 5500–6300) |
| DeLuxe | catalog pic: 1931 pickg first 5009, ladder- braced, modified f-holes | SN 5607, carved |
| Broadw. | catalog pic: 1931 pickg first SN 5053, modified SN 5283, ladder-braced | SN 5641, carved |
| Triumph | catalog pic: 1931 pickg first 5010, ladder-braced | SN 5765, 15½" carved |
| Royal | catalog pic: 1931 pickg first 5119, ladder-braced | SN 5721, carved |
| Blackst. | none documented | catalog pic: later 1932 pickg catalog specs: 14¾" carved first SN 5707, 15½" |
| Zenith | catalog pic: 1931 pickg first SN 5062, modified SN 5128, ladder-braced | SN 5622, carved |
| Olympic | 1934 catalog pic: 1931 pg first SN 5262, 13⅝" flat ladder-braced, plain top | catalog pic: early 1932 pg, sunb catalog specs: carved SN 5752, 13⅝" carved,sunb |
| Empire Tenor | first SN 5137, 13⅝" | catalog no pic catalog specs: 15½" carved none documented |
| Bretton Tenor | catalog pic: 1931 pickg first SN 5375, 15½" ladder-braced | catalog specs: 15½" none documented |
| Hollyw. Tenor | first SN 5044, 13⅝"; SN 5514, 15½", ladder- braced | catalog no pic catalog specs: 15½" carved SN 5691, 15½" carved |
| Regent Tenor | first SN 5287, 13⅝" ladder-braced | catalog no pic, catalog specs: 15½" carved SN 5681, 15½" carved |
| Melody Tenor | first SN 5086, 13⅝" flat ladder-braced | catalog no pic catalog specs: 13⅝" carved SN 6057, 13⅝" carved |
| Beverly Tenor | catalog pic: 1931 pickg first SN 5253, 13⅝" flat ladder-braced, plain top | catalog specs: "standard" size(?), flat SN 5928, 13⅝" flat, sunb |
| Windsor Mandolin | first SN 5167 | catalog no pic catalog specs: carved first SN 5530 |
| Strand Mandolin | catalog pic: 1931 pickg none documented | catalog specs: carved first SN 5550 |
| Rivoli Mandolin | first SN 5162, ladder-braced | catalog no pic catalog specs: carved first SN 6037 |
| Adelphi Mandolin | first SN 5164, plain head, ladder-braced | catalog pic: 1932 pg, banner catalog specs: carved SN 5597, banner head |
| Madrid | none documented | catalog pic: no pg, 4 f-holes none documented |
| Navarre | none documented | catalog no pic first SN 5820, 4 f-holes |
(February 11, 2018 – with later updates)