1900s Bauer X-Braced 0/00-Size Flattop Guitar

At 13 5/8" on the lower bout, this guitar is sized somewhere between 0 and 00 Martin sizes and, actually, the closest comparable builds would be Martin 0-28 models from the same period. This is super-lightly x-braced, has Brazilian rosewood on the back and sides, and a comfortable, soft-V neck profile. It plays and sounds a lot like a period Martin (these were gut-strung guitars when built), though it has perhaps a hair more boom on the bottom.

A customer sent this beaut in for work back in 2019 but I've updated the description since it's back here for resale in 2024. It'd already seen a bit of work previously, but it clearly hadn't been done by anyone who works on instruments regularly as the replacement bridge that was on it then was glued in entirely the wrong place for intonation needs and the fretboard extension dipped-down so severely after the neck joint that it was hard to play even the 14th fret.

Work included: a fret level/dress, shimming-up of the fretboard extension (it's still not perfect as the board itself curves downward, but it plays smoothly to the 16th fret), recently Ancel fit a replacement custom bridge and new bone saddle, one cleat to a crack on the center part of the top, reglue of loose back brace wings, re-spacing of strings at the original nut, a new ebony endpin, and general cleaning. It has a straight neck and plays spot-on with 1/16" treble action at the 12th fret and 3/32" bass. It's running extra-light 48w-10 gauge steel strings and has remained entirely stable for the last 5 years with them.

Scale length: 25 13/16"
Nut width: 1 25/32"
String spacing at nut: 1 9/16
String spacing at saddle: 2 1/4"

Body length: 19 1/4"
Lower bout width: 13 5/8"
Upper bout width: 9 7/8"

Side depth at endpin: 4 1/8"

Top wood: solid spruce
Back/sides wood: solid Brazilian rosewood
Neck wood: mahogany
Fretboard: ebony

Neck shape: flat board, mild-medium soft-V rear profile

Bridge: rosewood replacement (oversize)

Nut: original bone

Saddle: new bone

Weight: 2 lb 15 oz

Condition notes: there's overspray on the fretboard but the finish is otherwise original. Everything on the guitar is also original save the bridge, saddle, and pins. There are 3 hairline cracks (repaired) on the top and a number of dryness hairline cracks in the fretboard. There's a very light hairline crack repair near the endpin in the sides. Also, unfortunately, due to the location and size of the replacement bridge that was on it when it came in, our new replacement bridge had to have its saddle slot located way to the rear deck so it has a bit of a quirky look. It does work nicely, however, and has a tall saddle with plenty of adjustment room.