FlatTops      

MF - 00068 1946 Martin 000- 18     VG++   Well aged spruce top has lots of nicks and scratches but no cracks. Same thing goes for the mahogany back and the mahogany sides and around the end pin. Serial number 96289   puts it puts it in about the middle of 1946. The headstock is in nice shape and the replacement Grover tuning pegs work really well. It is set up great, plays easy and sounds fantastic like an old Martin should. Except for the tuning pegs, it appears all original. It's a good one. Chip Board case.
Price:   $7450.00

MF - 00067 1945 Martin 000-18     EXC-   Serial number 91912 puts this one in early 1945. It's got the stuff alright. Crack free top does have a couple of nicely patched volume and tone knob holes. Mahogany back is also crack free. A couple of cracks on the lower bout bass side have been well repaired. And there is the requisite plugged jack hole on the lower treble bass bout. Clean around the end pin and a few minor wear marks in the back of the neck near the heel. Two teeny holes (all these dang holes are no doubt from the same pickup installation) have been patched on either side of the sound hole. The headstock is in nice shape as are the original tuning pegs. Fresh neck set and setup and good action and saddle height. Loud, punchy and clear with original frets, freshly dressed. Mild play wear in general but all original. OK sixties or so hard shell case.
Price:   $7850.00 .

MF - 00062 1933 Martin OM- 18     VG   Man this is the real stuff here. One strum and it's 'Oh yeah, that's a pre war Martin alright'. Straight from the grandson of the original owner but he took it 'in for repair' and had the brand that grandpa had put on the top with a homemade branding iron sanded off and oversprayed by a 'luthier' before we got to it. Other than that it's original finish on the crack free top. The back had a few hairline cracks repaired by this same 'luthier' who oversprayed it as well as some of the bass side where a couple of hairlines were repaired. But the sides do look good as does the whole darn guitar, providing you like the look of 75 years of an original owner playing the heck out of a guitar and scratching it up a bit in the process. I figure Grandpa played a few cowboy tunes on this instrument and the hayrides just put a lot of scratches on it. I wish his old brand was still there. So it goes. The bass side is relatively scratch free but you can see the scratches on the treble shoulder and the treble side and back. The back of the neck has some play wear also but is original and feels good. Nut width is 1 3/4" or maybe a 64th under. Scale length is 25 1/4".   Original tuning pegs work fine. Original decal on the headstock is in nice shape. And the bridge and bridge plate and end pin all appear to be original. New saddle and nut and fresh professional neck set by Chris Berkov and original bar frets. This is one of very best sounding old Martins I've ever played. And ... the original soft shell case is a bit beat but nice to have. Serial #53533 .
Price:   $18,500

MF - 00046 1969 Martin D- 28S     EXC+   This is a rare beauty. Most of the 12 fret to the body Martins you'll see have a slotted peghead. This one did too but a great job has been done on converting it to a standard peghead with Brazilian rosewood headstock overlay. Now you can change strings easily and it looks great. New Waverly tuning pegs. Nice Brazilian Rosewood back and sides. This guitar has tons of low end, one of the boomiest of the boomers. Hard shell case.
Price:   $5250.00    ON HOLD

GF - 00022 1931 Gibson L-1 Flat Top     VG++   I've only seen a few of these and this one has the classic light cremona sunburst top and bold grained mahogany back and sides. Original end pin and bridge and the banjo tuning pegs are proper period pegs but probably not original as you can see that other style pegs have been on there at one time. The headstock has the cool 'glitter stencil' "The Gibson" at the top. It's triple bound on top and the back and fingerboard as well. This guitar amazIngly light weight and very resonant and responsive with a comfortable action. It's really fun to play.   X- Braced.   Scale Length = 24 1/2 inches.   Nut Width = 1 3/4 inches. Wonderful and possibly original Hard Shell case.
Price:   $6500.00

GF - 00019 1943 Gibson "Banner" LG-2     VG++   Here is a real classic. Light as a feather with the big punchy sound. Great fingerpicker and fine flatpicked as well. Comfy 1 3/4 inch nut. Scale length is 24 3/4" and Lower Bout is 14 3/8".   The sunburst spruce top is crack free and in beautiful shape. The mahogany back has a slight center seam separation at the bottom with a hairline crack right next to that. The mahogany sides have some finish checking but are also crack free. Finish is also worn off the back of the neck and the heel but once again, no cracks. The banner decal on the peghead is in nice shape and the worn out tuners have been replaced with Waverly tuning machines which work so nicely. Newer flat top hard shell case.
Price:   $3450.00    SOLD

GF - 00018 ca. 1932 Gibson HG -20     EXC   Restored. This is a very rare model and the only blonde one I've ever seen.The spruce top has one round sound hole and an additional four f-holes which preside over the inner chamber created by the internal walls inside the body that go down from the top to about an inch from the bottom. It's voice is unique and very useful and full and clear. Nut Width = 1 3/4" and Lower Bout = 14 3/4". Mahogany back and sides are finished black as per original. The whole guitar has been nicely refinished and the three little top cracks well repaired. The peghead is also unusual and this may have been a prototype or one off model as it has the elevated fingerboard of the HG-22 but other characteristics of the HG-20. Original 3 on a strip tuning pegs. This is a great fingerpicking guitar that does pretty darn well flat picked as well. New chip board case.
Price:   $3750.00

SF - 0003 No Label Stencil Guitar     EXC++   No makers name anywhere but possibly from Oscar Schmidt from the mid to late twenties, this baby is in astounding condition and sounds great too. It's certainly a 'looker' alright with it's fancy stencil designs adorning the lovely aged solid spruce ladder braced top as well as the maple sides. The back is beautiful solid birds eye maple! The top, back and fingerboard and headstock are set off with checkerboard binding. The bridge is in the Washburn / Lyon & Healy style. And the whole thing is crack free and all original from the end pin to the tuning pegs. Plus the slip on fabric case may also be original and it is in excellent plus condition also. This is quite a find and a fun guitar to play as well. However it does not have a low action. The action is medium and a strong player will have no problem with it. But a sensitive singer songwriter who wants to play tender ballads to woo the hearts of the laydies might want a lower action. The price refelcts this.   Nut Width = 1 3/4"     Scale Length = 24 1/16"   Nice chunky neck.
Price:   $895.00

TF - 0001 ca. 1890 Tiltons Improvement Guitar     EXC +   This is the best example of one of these that I've seen. It arrived in exquisite cosmetic condition but with the top severly sinking and needing a neck reset. Luthier John Knutson did a beautiful structural restoration and re-braced the top with a classic X-brace pattern. The result is by far and away the best sounding one of these I've ever played. And with it's new frets and great neck angle it plays like a dream. Spruce top with diagonal grain. Book matched Brazilian rosewood back and sides and peghead overlay. Crack free other than some teeny surface cracks on the sides near the heel. Beautiful original tuning pegs. The 'improvement' is a dowel running the length of the inside of the body on which is mounted a wooden disc (think Virzi) on which is secured a wonderful label. Surely this must be an improvement. And ... a fabulous original coffin case. Lower Bout Width = 12 1/8"     Nut Width = 1 7/8"     Scale Length = 24 3/4"     Thin mahogany neck with "V" profile and ebony fingerboard. A truly fine parlour guitar.
Price:   $2450.00

VF - 0009 1928 ca. Vega Style 83 Guitar     EXC   13 9/16" Lower Bout and 1 7/8" Nut Width combine with outstanding volume and tone and a 25" scale length to make this guitar a great one for fingerpickers. Crack free spruce top with colorful marquetry binding and beautiful Brazilian rosewood crack free back and sides with a couple of teeny hairlines at the corner of the lower bass bout side that pose no threat. Ebony bridge with engraved mother of pearl inlays and bound ebony fingerboard with engraved mother of pearl inlays. Brazilian rosewood peghead overlay and orignal tuning pegs. Non original hard shell case in fair shape.
Price:   $2850.00

VG - 0008 1939 Vega Profundo Flat Top     EXC+   Here's Vega's "Dreadnought" model. It's a fine example, crack free with nicely aged spruce top and fine mahogany neck, sides and back with a colorful center stripe. Great Art Deco peghead and replaced tuning pegs. Non original chipboard case.
Price:   $1695.00

LF - 00011 1932 Washburn Model 5202     EXC-   Fresh neck set and set up and it plays great and sounds fantastic with it's angled bracing and aged spruce top which has some dings and scrapes but only one ancient hairline. Gorgeous Brazilian rosewood back and sides freshly french polished by John Knuston. Elegant pearl inlaid headstock with the serial number imprinted in the back and magnificent engraved tuning pegs. Lower Bout = 13"   Nut Width = 1 13/16"   Newer chipboard case.
Price:   $2250.00

LF - 0004 1925 ca. Wm. G. Stahl by Larson Brothers     EXC   Here is a fingerpickers dream come true. Easy to play and the sound is amazing. "00" sized X-Braced body has a 13 5/8" lower bout and a 25" scale length.   The nut measures 1 7/8".   Beautiful brazilian rosewood back and sides with zipper stripe down the back. Bound top, back, neck and inlaid peghead. The top and soundhole are trimmed with abalone. Elegant proper replacement bridge with engraved inlays. Light French Polish has restored the finish and there is some touch up from an old oversized bridge. Original tuning pegs. Milwaukee stamped label. No cracks anywhere. This is a rare, beautiful, and powerful instrument. Chipboard case.
Price:   $6850.00

LF - 0009 Mid Twenties Stetson (Larson Bros.)     EXC   Lovely Larson made Parlour guitar with the Stetson Stamp within. She sports a 12 3/4" lower bout and a generous 1 7/8" nut width. Beautiful aged spruce top with three expertly repaired hairlines. Nicely figured bookmatched Brazilian rosewood back and sides. Plain elegant headstock and original engraved tuning pegs. Way cool original (probly - maybe) chipboard case. Plays easy and sounds fantastic. Great fingerpicker.
Price:   $2850.00

VT - 00023 1935 ViviTone Acoutsti-Guitar     Exc-   A rare example of the Acousti-Guitar from The Vivi Tone Company founded by Lloyd Loar after leaving Gibson. There's nicks and scratches but it is crack free both top and back both of which act as soundboards in this radical design complete with elevated fingerboard and adjustable bridge. There is a solidly repaired heel crack which poses no threat. The guitar plays just fine and has a unique sound which is perfect for cowboy songs and many other applications. Original (except for one) tuning pegs. Art deco headstock and tailpiece. Serial number 383 and there is an additional label which guarantees an upgrade to the more expensive Acousti-lectric model. It is unusual to find one of these guitars in this nice condition. No case.
Price:   $3395.00

BF - 0002 Joseph Bohmann ca. 1900 Parlour Guitar     EXC -   A great little fingerpicker all freshly set up with proper bridge, neck angle and compensated saddle. It plays and sounds terrific. Crack free all around with 100 year old spruce top and wild original sunburst back and sides. Plain peghead and rare original enclosed engraved tuning pegs. Beautifully intact label shows the many Gold medals Joseph garnered and states his challenge to all other makers. No case.
Price:   $1450.00

OF - 0005 1930's Oahu "Floral" Flat Top     EXC -   Wow! Such beauty. From the gray-green pearloid dots in the golden yellow pearloid fingerboard to the vine growing into the pickguard, this baby is stunning.   13 inch lower bout;   1 13/16" nut width;   24 1/4" scale length.   Spruce top is highly ornamented with bee-yoo-tee-ful flowers and has one well repaired hairline crack extending from the bridge to the bottom. The rest of the guitar is crack free and the Brazilian rosewood back and sides have wonderful figuring to them. The headstock is also resplendent in pearloid and sports the Oahu Honolulu Conservatory of Music plaque and the original tuning pegs remain intact. It appears that this guitar was originally set up for Hawaiian style playing since there is no end pin hole on the bottom ( a 'reverse bookmatch' bottom at that) and the bridge saddle is straight across. A previous owner did some custom work on the neck at the heel to make it more comfotable. We have had it set up in the normal spanish style and it is fantastic for blues fingerpicking and the like. Even the original case has a floral pattern on it that is almost impossible to photograph.
Price:   $1650.00

KHG - 0003 1905 Knutsen 11 String Harp Guitar     EXC Restored   In 1900 Chris Knutsen moved his family and guitar making business from Port Townsend, Washington to Tacoma and it was here that his harp guitar designs evolved into what would be marketed as Dyer instruments built by the Larson Brothers. This 1905 example has been meticulously and lovingly restored to museum quality and is in fine playing condition. Note the pre-Novax slanted frets (they work folks) and rope marquetry binding edging on the fingerboard of which this is the only known example. The original spruce top has many repairs and the walnut carved bridge is original. Both soundholes are bound with the harp soundhole featuring herringbone whereas the main body rosette has a colorful wood pattern. The intricate details of this entire restoration are available to the buyer of this gem. Knutsen was an early adopter of the solid peghead instead of slotted. The original tuning pegs were long gone and have been replaced with functional ones. The action can be easily adjusted with an innovative bracket system. This system also incorporates the most simple of all neck joints and is quite effective. This Knutsen is missing it's label but if it had one it would be this type of label. This is a rare and wonderful guitar. No case.
Price:   $3850.00

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