1820s Ornate Stauffer-style Parlor Guitar


Comments

daverepair said…
What a lovely, and stunning, piece of workmanship!
Ivan said…
By far the most beautiful guitar that I have ever encountered
Claude said…
What a beautiful instrument! Must have been a privilege to work on it.
Rob Gardner said…
Great Post, Jake, what a fascinating guitar. Astonishing that it would have held together with all that fragile decoration for so long. It must have been a treat to work on.
Tom Joad said…
I didn't realize parlor guitars were made before the late 1800s. This is about 50 years older than any I've ever heard of. And to come from the shop of Martin's teacher! That's quite a scoop! I am very impressed. It reminds me of those 10 stringed South American instruments. Charangos. Anyway, the huge headstock and small body, and the strange neck coloring pattern all remind me of those.
Unknown said…
All the post Columbian guitars had those small bodies going way way back. I don't know anyone who definitely has a Stauffer Guitar. They are all "probably Stauffer guitars".
rémi said…
the decorative inlay at the end of the fretboard is very similar to a Cristian-Friedrich Bauer guitar I own. He made those viennese-style guitars in Klingenthal (Germany) around 1840-50. If it's the case, it should have a iron-burned mark inside, on the neck-block. Try a look with a mirror or a flexible camera.

anyway, this guitar looks great!
Unknown said…
Oh my. I don't know when I last saw work of that quality on anything. To me, the back of the neck is almost art deco inspired. A true work of art.
Unknown said…
Amazing guitar! I have a similar (though not quite as ornate) parlor guitar that I would like to see restored. It has a similar fret-wire saddle. I am curious as to how you corrected the saddle on this instrument.
It was a beautiful 1830s ornate stauffer and you share good information. Thanks for sharing information on parlor guitars.
redir said…
This was wonderful to see, what a rare beauty that one is.
Oscar Stern said…
I actually hear that this Guitar is tuned down a half step to Eb Standard