FlatTops      

GF - 00027 Gibson HG-20 ca.1931     VG-   These HG series instruments are among the oddest that Gibson ever made. The standard round hole flat top with four added f-holes in the spruce face. But that's not the half of it. There is an inner baffel that extends down from the inside of the f-holes almost to the bottom to form an inner wall creating a resonating chamber inside the guitar. The sound of this one is LOUD and punchy and has tons of character. Closer to a flat top sound than an archtop f-hole sound but with some of that archtop slice to it. This one has certainly had the heck played out of it as evidenced by the wear on the top. And the top has a bit of warping to it as well especially where the main area of wear is. I think this is partially due to the bracing design which of course does not extend all the way to the sides. But I've had this guitar in my collection for a number of years now and played it regularly and it is solid, stable, and strong not only structurally but tonally as well. And, guess what? No cracks. The back and sides are dark stained mahogany and the neck is mahogany with a nice comfortable "C" contour with elevated fingerboard and a lovely almost French cut style heel. Original tuning pegs and "Gibson" script on the headstock. Lower Bout = 14 5/8"     Body Depth = 3 7/8 to 4 3/8"     Nut Width = 1 11/16".   There are a couple of ancient screws in the bridge which probably are not original and again the bridge along with the rest of the guitar appears original and solid and stable. Although these guitars carry the HG Hawaiian designation, all the ones I've seen are set up for normal Spanish style and seem to have been shipped that way. Newer chip board case.
Price:   $2895.00

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

MF - 00073 1944 Martin 00-17     EXC   Ever since I got this album lo these many decades ago I have been enamored of the wartime Martin 00-17. This one is a gem. Crack free top and a couple of solidly repaired hairlines on the back at each side of the waist. No side cracks. Original finish and everything else except end pin. The original tuners work great and this guitar has about the best set up I've ever had on any Martin. It plays so easily that it's just a ton of fun and it sounds great with loads of warmth and fullness and punch. Sounds like an old pre war Martin for sure. Gold Martin script on the headstock. Serial number 88595 puts it with the earlier 1944 models with scalloped braces. New hard shell case.
Price:   $3995.00    ON HOLD

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 - 00069 1942 Martin 00- 18     VG++   These old 14 fret 00 size Martins often seem to put out way more sound than one would expect and this one will stand right up there with the 000's. It is totally crack free and the action and frets are just fine. The bridge has been replaced and there has been some touch up where a larger bridge once resided. Other than that the top has its original finish. The mahogany back and sides are original and have nicks and scrapes but are crack free except for a well done patch in the lower treble side where some trauma must have occured. The area around the bottom has a few minor dings. Original tuning pegs and the peghead is in fine shape. Martin Deluxe hard shell case.
Price:   $5995.00

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:   $7450.00  

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

GF - 00026 1936 Gibson HG L Century Hawaiian Flat Top Guitar     EXC ++   Here's an incredible specimen. This guitar has a huge deep bright sound and absolutely sings. And it is in amazing all original condition. You could convert it to regular Spanish style but it is such an original gem and sounds so great Hawaiian style (and the neck is huge) that it seems a shame so we're selling it in its original configuration. Absolutely crack free with no issues. Sunburst spruce top and beautiful flamey maple back and sides. Big round "C" profile mahogany neck has a subtle dark sunburst. Perfect bridge, pickguard, original tuning pegs. Pearloid peghead with rosewood inset and the pearl "Gibson" logo and fancy slotted diamond inlaid into that. The fingerboard receives the same pearloid with inlaid rosewood and pearl treatment. The endpin is gone but not needed for lap playing. It has its original case in tattered but functional condition. So many of these guitars have been converted that it is a joy to find an all original one in such splendid condition that sounds so good.
Price:   $5250.00

GF - 00025 1950 Gibson CF - 100     VG ++   This is Gibsons first cutaway flat top guitar and this one is from the first year of production. They generally sound great but this one is surprising in that it has the punch and focus you'd expect to find in an old Martin, really nice. Sunburst top has plenty of wear but no cracks same as the mahogany back and sides. There is come discoloration to the finish on the bottom and the lower part of the back probably due to humidity getting through the scratches. It's got its original tuning pegs which work fine and the Gibson logo with the dot on the 'i' touching the top of the "G" on the tapered peghead. FON number 5745    32. This is a fine playing and excellent sounding axe. Hard shell case.
Price:   $3750.00  

GF - 00024 1939 Gibson J-55     EXC Restored   A rare model Gibson Jumbo with all the desireable features like the mustache bridge and the stairstep peghead and the "Original Gibson" tuning pegs. Mahogany back and sides. Replacement bridge. The entire guitar has been professionally refinished and the hairline crack repairs are hard to see. I've got large pictures for those who need them. The neck has been reset and one can see evidence of an older refinish at the heel. It is set up beautifully and sounds big and bright and clear. Nice comfortable action and plenty of saddle. Lower Bout = 16"   X- Braced   Scale Length = 25 1/2"   Nut Width = 1 3/4". The FON # appears to be   808 F ( or maybe 806 or 805 ... hard to read). There is a faint EA on the back of the peghead and also scrawled inside which would place its year of manufacture to 1939. Used non original hard shell case.
Price:  Reduced : $15,000.00  : Now:  :$11,500.00

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  

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 - 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. Nice travelite type zippered semi hard shell case.
Price:   $6850.00    SOLD

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:   $2950.00    SOLD

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. 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. No case.
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. 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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