1915 Larson Brothers Vintage Flat Top Acoustic Guitar – Rare 100% All Original Parlor Maurer Stetson Stahl Brazilian Rosewood X-Braced 12 5/8″ Small Body

– For your consideration is this vintage c. 1915 Larson brothers flat top acoustic guitar.
– This exact instrument was sold by Retrofret for $4,500 several years ago. The only significant difference in the guitar’s condition since Retrofret’s custodianship is that the era appropriate leather tooled case is no longer included, and the non-original bridge saddle was recently replaced with a superior correct fitting bone saddle by John Wescott.
– An incredible sounding guitar with comfortable action, Larson guitars seemingly always sound and feel better than their competitor’s counterparts. This guitar is clear and balanced with incredibly even articulation. It projects beautifully with a very natural and pronounced voicing: it’s not boxy or muted like most parlor guitars from the early 20th century.
– Neck measurements: 1.805″ nut width (very wide), .877″ neck depth at 1st fret, 1.134″ neck depth at 12th fret.
– The neck shape is a quintessential early 20th century V-shaped profile which is remarkably comfortable.
– While Retrofret’s elaborate description is attached below, they forgot to include an important detail regarding the guitar’s construction: this Larson brothers guitar shares the same slightly arched back, with an outward bow profile, as their other builds, as the Larson approach was to assemble their instruments under tension. The backs, more so than the tops, were “forced” into the rims of the sides, giving them a slight radius. This is also a feature that most certainly enhances the projection and clarity of their instruments.
– Please scroll through the entire gallery to view the 58 images available. All photos are of the actual guitar.
– Worldwide shipping available: please inquire for an accurate quote. International buyers please send an email prior to purchase.
– All purchases made through our site include both tax (ALL taxes included) and free domestic shipping!
– From Retrofret, “Made in Chicago, natural varnish finish, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black tooled leather case. This is a lovely and extremely well preserved example of the Larson Brothers’ early 1910s work, which has been in a single family since the WWI era! In this period Carl and August Larson were at the leading edge steel-string flat-top design; Martin was still making pretty much exclusively gut string guitars. This is small “Standard” size 12-fret guitar of traditional design, 12 3/4″ wide at the lower bout with a 24 1/2″ scale neck, about average for the time. It carries no brand name or stamp, but its design and build characteristics mark it unmistakably as Carl and August Larson’s work. This is cosmetically a medium-grade guitar, but built with the same high quality materials as the Larson’s fancier products.The back and sides are nicely grained Brazilian rosewood, with some colorful patterning on the back. The spruce top is X braced but not with the Larson’s patented laminated design, just a standard single layer construction. The interior brace work is somewhat cruder than many of the brother’s guitars but the top remains solid with no distortion after more than 100 years. The cosmetic features represent the “middle-of-the-line” grade of build for the Larsons, not as fancy as their deluxe products. The top, back, and sound hole are neatly bound in grained ivoroid and there is colored wood marquetry around the top edge and sound hole. The mahogany neck has a fairly slim round profile with just a very subtle hint of a “V” spine. The bound ebony fingerboard has mixed pearl inlay, with small shaped pieces and dots intermingled. The headstock has a pearl doodad near the top and a noticeably off center pearl dot. The original tuners are the same Handel strips with ivoroid buttons used by Martin and Gibson, mounted in the 1910s “upside down” gear-up position. The guitar bears no serial number or logo stamp; it is definitely the Larson brothers work. The style of tuner and general features suggest the mid 1910s. It comes from the original owner’s family with a story of being played at War Bond rallies during the FIRST World War! This absolutely lovely little flat top that has survived well over 100 years in far finer condition than most.Overall length is 37 in. (94 cm.), 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 7/16 in. (8.7 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 1/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.). This guitar remains in unusually fine condition for its age. There is only very light wear overall, mostly some scratches and small dings and dents to the finish, with none of the heavy playing wear often found on flat-tops of this vintage. There are some marks around the bridge where the original lifted off long ago. There are no cracks anywhere, very unusual for a lightly built flat top this old. The guitar remains in nearly all original condition, with only the alterations needed to make it playable for the next century. The neck has been reset; The bridge is a reproduction in the Larson style. The original frets have been recrowned a bit, there is a bit of scarring around the nut where it was likely reglued. This is a lovely sounding guitar with a big tone that belies its size. It has apparently not been too much used since the second Wilson administration, a superb playable piece of history.”