1970s Augustino AR-38 Dreadnought Guitar




While the Augustino AR-40 was like a wider-girth D-35, the AR-38 is more like a wider-girth D-28. It also sounds like a D-28... but even more. It's built inside almost entirely like a Martin D from the late '60s or early '70s (with a correspondingly-large rosewood bridge plate), but perhaps a touch lighter in the bracing overall and featuring a body that's a bit wider and a neck that has an adjustable truss rod installed. These differences add up and the effect is a guitar that "handles" tonally a lot like a period D-28 but with a lot more oomph, power, and punch. It's impressive.

This guitar was recently bought-up by a friend of mine but it was originally owned by a "Father Dick" whose stomping-grounds were down around Rutland, VT. It came in with a dank, musty case smell, random grossness all over, terrible action, and an open top seam that needed cleats. I ended-up giving it a fret level/dress, a light bridge shave, new saddle, string ramps, said cleats, and a good setup. A word to the wise, though? If you're a builder and you put your truss-rod nut access in a small hole embedded in the neckblock, you will be cursed. It's best avoided as it makes user adjustments irritating and discourages a friendly appraisal by your local guitar doctor. Other work included yanking out a terrible pickup system and a ton of cleaning.

Specs are: 25 3/8" scale length, 1 13/16" nut width (it's big!), 1 17/32" string spacing at the nut and 2 1/8" spacing at the bridge, 16" lower bout, 11 3/4" upper bout, and 4 3/4" endblock depth. Action is 3/32" EA and 1/16" DGBE at the 12th fret and strung with 54w-12 strings. It plays on-the-dot and the neck is a mild-medium C-shape but wide.













Augie is Augustino Loprinzi, a luthier who's still quite famous and getting more-so with every new uke he builds.

Comments

Rick Redington said…
Hallelujah Father Richard Was An Episcopalian Priest From DALLAS TEXAS! So...How His Guitar Ended Up In A Barn In Vermont Then On Its Way To The Dump We May Never Know. So Happy & Thankful That It Will Be Making Great Music Again! Yer The Best Jake Thank You!
John Dupree said…
Thanks for the comment Rick. Also thanks Jake for the refurbishing of the guitar. I collect and use Augustino LoPrinzi guitars, always glad to see information on them. I have found them from all over the USA.
Unknown said…
I have and love my AR 38, best pawn shop score to date. My guitar has the exact same seam split on the top. I also yanked the pickup system and updated it. My neck is large , but v shaped and very comfortable to play. Always wanted a Martin, this fell in my lap for a fraction of the cost , I will never sell it. Thanks for the overview !
Jim McFarlane said…
Jim McFarlane found an AR 38 ( 0189 ) in the window of a second hand shop. Even though the strings were in bad shape the tone was great. I had never heard of Augustino, did not know any value. When I asked the price the guy looked at me and said $9....plus $0.60 tax, $9.60 total.
I figured d=for $10 I had at the least a decoration. When I got home and looked on ebay to see if there were any Augustinos it was a shock to see then selling for $1,200- $2,000. The guitar ha a deep mellow softness to the tone and it fills the room rather than broadcast out. I had it tuned to DADGAD to play with Irish sessions and no one could tell where the droning Ds and Gs was coming from. It sounds fantastic in DADGAD.
John Dupree said…
What a great purchase. Gives me hope
How do I buy this guitar from you? Lol
Jake Wildwood said…
Long sold guys, sorry.
Unknown said…
I bought an AR-38 in April,1977 from “Angie” in Baptistown, NJ for $400. He invited me into his garage where there were rows of necks and bodies hanging from above. He said, “You pick a neck and a body and I’ll put it together for you.” He also offered me a one-of-a-kind set of 2 AR-38’s with three-piece backs—both could have been mine for $800. I was a broke college kid at the time so I had to reluctantly pass. After 44 years, I’m still kicking myself!!!
In 1977, Augie had just decided he was going to move to Clearwater and needed some cash for the move so I invited 3 friends to check out Augie’s Baptistown garage. They each bought an AR-38 too!
I own a Taylor 314 and a 1969 Guild F-30NT and have played many Martins. All nice guitars, but don’t compare to the AR-38. This “Augie” is a beauty!

Rich DeWire
Denver, CO
Boone-Head said…
I worked for Augie when he was in Baptistown NJ around this same time! We had a great time building those guitars.
More importantly, I am still trying to find my stolen AR-38 s/n 00019! It was one of the first dreadnoughts he built!
It is recognizable by the addition of a Brazilian rosewood veneer on the back of the headstock.
I am in CT and the guitar was stolen from my house around the mid 80's when I lived in Suffield, CT right on the Mass boarder. I have missed it desperately ever since...

Please keep an eye out for this, I will gladly reward anyone who might know of it or, find it!
Thanks!

Dave Boone
dlbnhd@yahoo.com