FlatTops      

AG - 000194 1915 Gibson Style O Guitar     VG ++   Gibson's top of the line during this period with it's innovative cutaway and classic scroll. Technically an archtop but of interest to flatop enthusiasts as well. When I got this black 1913 model awhile ago I thought it might be a prototype due to it's unique bracing / strut interior construction details. But now, here's this 1915 model with the same odd struts inside so they might have made quite a few like this. This one happens to be one of the best playing and sounding ones I've run across and I've owned several and played quite a few more. It is original but for one side of the tuning pegs and it is missing it's pickguard. Classic sunburst finish on the crack free spruce top and dark stain finish on the birch back and sides. There is one stable hairline crack on the back near the bottom on the bass side and there is one stable crack on the bass side rim. And there is the typical hairline stable crack on the heel which 99% of these old Style O's have in common. It's as if they occurred during construction. Beautiful color in the abalone inlaid fleur de lys on the headstock. Original end pin and tailpiece but with a Loar period adjustable bridge with the 1921 Patent Stamp date on it. There is nothing stamped or written on the end block but the label bears the serial number #28815. Big custom ordered Harptone hard shell case.
Price:   $4750.00

VF - 00012 ca. 1938 Vega Flat Top Guitar     EXC -   Another great sounding late thirties Vega Flat Top in nice original condition. Spruce top is crack free as is the mahogany back. There is one small repaired crack in the upper bout of the bass side. The original finish on the mahogany back and sides has aged with light streaks in it which I've also seen on other old Vega's from this period. Everything appears to be original from the tuning pegs to the end pin with the exception of the one black bridge pin although maybe it's the original one? Vega logo on the headstock and label in fine condition. Lower bout - 13 1/2"     Scale Length = 25"     Nut Width = 1 3/4"     It's had a neck set and plays comfortably and in tune with action at the 12th fret, 6th string of 4/32" and first string of 3/32". Ladder braced. Big sound from this medium size body. Chipboard case.
Price:   $2750.00

MF - 00080 1937 Martin D-18     EXC Restored   First of all, this thing does have the sound. Really strong, really pre war-like. But .... the consignor bought it 20 or so years ago and discovered later that it had been retopped. Looks maybe like Martin factory work from the fifties. The top is crack free and has a quasi matte finish as do the back and sides ... all crack free. The bridge is no doubt a replacement and the tuning pegs are Waverly relic nickel #4078 replacements. The headstock appears all original and the end pin probably not. There is a patch in the bass side near the bottom. Neck appears original and nut width measures 1 23/32". The action on the bass side is 3/16" and on the treble side 5/32". It plays great. A wonderful bluegrass guitar. Serial # 66490. Many historically interesting stickers on the hard shell case. This guitar was used on the David Grisman / Jerry Garcia CD "Shady Grove".
Price - Consigned at:   $12,500.00

AG - 00107 ca. 1939 Le Domino "Big Boy" by Regal     VG +   This Big Boy has a 15 1/4" lower bout and a scale length of 25 1/2 " with a nut width of 1 7/8" and it is a great fingerpicking guitar. Sorta like an archtop, sorta like a flat top. The top appears to be solid spruce and the back looks like birch. It is all original from the tuning pegs to the tailpiece, bridge and pickguard. The script on the headstock is in unusually good shape as is the Regal label. There is a bit of wear to the dominos on the fingerboard but the dominoes just above the tailpiece are in pristine condition. Fancy soundhole rosette. It looks like a 2 piece heel construction or a very perfectly horizontal hairline crack repair. Hard to tell. It sounds really good and plays nicely with a comfortable action. Ratty old oversize chipboard case.
Price:   $1750.00

Mf - 00078 1953 Martin D- 28     EXC -   I own a 1944 D-28 and it replaced a 1934 D-28 that I had because the 44 sounds better when I play songs on it. This 53 sounds just as good ! And the perfectly matched Adirondack straight grained spruce top looks remarkably similar as does the classic straight grain Brazilian rosewood back and sides. Original from the end pin to the tuning pegs to the Martin decal on the headstock. All original finish with just a bit of pro touch up around the most worn areas near the pickguard. Some capo dings on the back of the neck but I don't notice them when playing it. (I've been playing it at all my acoustic gigs since I got it) There's a strap pin installed in the heel a little blemish of some sort as if some tape was once near the edge, and a very well done jack hole repair. Love that volute. The serial number is # 134047. Older Gibson Hard Shell Case .
Price:   $13,950.00

MF - 00077 1898 Martin 0-28     Exc   A lovely example of this model and a great sounding one that is set up to play very nicely. Herringbone trimmed top has a well done center seam repair and has been french polished. The beautiful Brazilian rosewood back and sides are crack free and have been oversprayed. Bridge and bridgplate appear to be original. Pretty ivory end strip and nice original tuning pegs with engraved back plates and the elegant rosewood headstock veneer. The zipper stripe on the back is 'to die for'. A few old capo dings on the back of the neck but it feels fine - you don't notice them while playing. It is stamped CF Martin New York 1833 on the back of the peghead and CF Martin & Co New York on the inside back strip and also CF Martin & Co New York on the neck block. It is signed and numbered and dated "26/1898" with the signature being hard to read. It is X-Braced and currently carries D'Addario Extra Light Bronze strings just fine and sounds great. Lower Bout = 13 9/16"   Nut Width = 1 13/16"   Scale Length = 24 7/8"   Newer hard shell case.
Price - Consigned at:   $5850.00

MF - 00070 1916 Martin 1- 28     EXC -   A terrific sounding herringbone Martin just under the single 0 size. Lower Bout = 12 7/8"     Upper Bout = 9 1/4"     Nut width - 1 13/16"   Scale Length - 24 3/4".   Ivory bound body with red spruce top and beautiful Brazilian rosewood back and sides. Lovely ivory capped heel. Ivory inlaid end strip. Original tuning pegs and Brazilian rosewood overlaid headstock. Replica replacement bridge and rosewood bridge plate and a couple of minor and hard to detect side crack fixes. Expert neck set and fret work has yielded a nice low action with no buzzing and a wonderful crystal clear tone with plenty of volume. This is a splendid instrument. Serial Number 12381.   Nice deluxe Martin hard shell case,
Price:   $8850.00

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 - 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 00075 1955 Martin 5-18     EXC   These are the ultimate travel guitar in my not so humble opinion. They are Terz guitars designed to be tuned up a third to G and this one sounds fantastic. Amazing volume for such a little guy. Someone must have had a piece of tape for some reason on the top for awhile and then someone else took it off and it left a little mark there. The top and back and sides are all crack free and the guitar is all original from headstock to end pin and back up again to the tuning pegs. The chipboard case may be original as well. The action is medium high and while it plays just fine as it is one, would want to reset the neck to get a silky low action on it and the price reflects this.   serial number is #141688 making it a very early 1955 model.
Price:   $2350.00

GF - 00028 1932 Gibson L-0     EXC -   Nice original (but for replaced bridge) L-0 with the 14 3/4" body and the 24 7/8" scale length. Mahogany top is crack free with two teeny little holes from a previous pickup installation expertly filled on either side of the soundhole. Mahogany back has lots of belt buckle and button scratches on it but is also crack free. Same for the mahogany sides. Original tuning pegs and end pin and Gibson script on the headstock. Recent neck set with nice clean heel and great setup. There is a number 99 inside on the neck block. This is a really fun guitar to play and it sounds fantastic. On consignment. Newer hard shell case.
Price - Consigned at:   $3495.00

FPF - 00012 Mid 1800's Lacote French Style Parlour Guitar     EXC   This was initially identified to us as a Lacote but it has no label. So we don't know for sure but we sure know that it is a honey. We have had it completely restored and it plays like butter and the sound is astounding. Three piece spruce top has a spliced crack near the edge and a couple of stable hairlines on either side of the fingerboard. The bookmatched Brazilian rosewood back and sides are crack free. There is one little hole above the end pin. Elegant headstock and replaced tuning pegs. The neck is attached at the heel with a bolt that is tightened and loosened with a key which was fashioned during the restoartion. We have heard from some true experts about this guitar and they insist that it is not a Lacote and that it has German purfling and clearly resembles the wappenform guitars that persisted even into the 1940's in Germany and Austria. So there you have it. Always trust the experts. This guitar is just a ball to play and drop dead gorgeous to boot.   Lower Bout = 12"   Scale Length = 24 3/4"   Nut Width = 1 7/8"   Chipboard case.
Price:   $3750.00

VF - 00011 ca. 1937 Vega Flat Top Guitar     EXC +   It is unusual to find a Vega flat top in this large size ... a shade under 14 3/4" at the lower bout and a maximum body depth of 4 1/2 inches. Combined with the 25" scale length this yields a big strong sound. It is ladder braced and was built for steel strings with a long bridge plate and two tone bars below the plate. The nut width is 1 21/32" (just shy of 1 11/16") typical of the Vegas of the thirties and forties. The serial number is 38969. Someday someone will figure out how Vega serial numbers relate to the date of manufacture and we will thank them profusely. This instrument is in amazing original un-circulated condition with a recent neck set, straight neck, good frets and low action. Adirondack spruce top shows some long checking lines in the original finish as does the mahogany back and sides. Mahogany neck and ebony bridge and fingerboard. This is a simple relatively unadorned model but the quality of woods and craftsmanship in these old Vegas is right up there with the Martins of the same era. Everything is original here from the end pin to the 'jazz era' raised pickguard to the tuning pegs to the stenciled star logo on the headstock. And the original Geib semi- hard case is quite nice indeed.
Price:   $3350.00

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:   $2250.00  

VT - 00023 1935 ViviTone Acousti-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. Sound really great playing Django music. 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. Gig Bag.
Price:   $3895.00

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. Gig Bag.
Price:   $1650.00

To contact Players Vintage Instruments, e-mail us at info@vintageinstruments.com
Or telephone:  415-669-1107   West Coast Time
Or write to: Box 445, Inverness, Ca. 94937
Lowell Levinger - Proprietor