Epiphone Zephyr Blues Deluxe Customized for Elliott Sharp by Peter Florance Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1999)

Epiphone  Zephyr Blues Deluxe Customized for Elliott Sharp by Peter Florance Hollow Body Electric Guitar  (1999)
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Item # 10817
Prices subject to change without notice.
Epiphone Zephyr Blues Deluxe Customized for Elliott Sharp by Peter Florance Model Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1999), made in Korea, burgundy lacquer finish, laminated maple body, spruce top, black tolex hard shell case.

This is a slightly oddball artist instrument, a specially customized Epiphone Zephyr Blues Deluxe belonging to protean New York guitarist/composer Elliott Sharp. It has a custom wine-red nitro lacquer finish done by Peter Florance (RIP), an old friend of our shop and the original mastermind behind Voodoo Pickups. Peter was active building, selling and "Voodooing" guitars in the NYC/Pennsylvania area for decades - this guitar was purchased directly by Elliott from Peter in year 2000.

This 1999 Epiphone Zephyr Blues Deluxe was originally made in Korea at the Peerless factory. This model is a fully-hollow archtop, 16" across the lower bout with a 25.5" scale and nut width of 1.68". The top is laminated spruce, the back and sides are laminated flame maple. By all appearances it was immediately used as a custom/test bed by Peter. The controls appear to have been relocated at least once, as there are several filled holes in the top. The instrument was then completely refinished in burgundy lacquer, to a much finer more "vintage-y" feel than the original Korean Factory finish. The three P-90 pickups were significantly upgraded as well; the bridge and middle are original 1970s Gibson P-90s with clear bobbins and there is a more generic unmarked P-90 in neck position, possibly one of Peter's own creations. The Frequensator Tailpiece is original, the bright red pickguard is a custom edition.

Each of the dog-ear P90s has its own volume control, but, as in the Gibson ES-5 that inspired it, there is no pickup selector switch. The individual controls set levels to blend the pickups with a master tone control on the front cutaway horn. The Middle pickup has reverse polarity for hum cancelling. The guitar offers some great out-of-phase sounds with all three PUs allowing you to channel your inner T-Bone Walker.

This guitar was used by Elliott Sharp on the Ronnie Someck album "Revenge of the Stuttering Child" and on Terraplane "Sky Road Songs" as well as in live concerts.

Terraplane: Sky Road Songs:
Endless Path (solo): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv1EsTusK1o&ab_channel=SkyRoadSongs
Down On The Block (rhythm guitar): https://www.amazon.com/Down-On-the-Block/dp/B008VSM1IC

Terraplane: Secret Life
Katrina Blues: (rhythm guitar) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3k7EofulYI&ab_channel=ElliottSharp-Topic
 
Overall length is 42 in. (106.7 cm.), 16 1/4 in. (41.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).

This guitar is exactly as last used by Elliott Sharp, down to the strings (we will change them if preferred!). There are some dings and dents but no heavy wear and playability is excellent. This is a cool one-of a kind guitar, significantly upgraded from its original state by one master and played by another. It includes a well-fitted HSC. Overall Excellent Condition.