1900s Spruce/Oak Unmarked 0-Size Parlor Guitar

Above: new video!

Above: old video

Update 2024: this guy's back here for sale since the last time I saw it in 2019. I've updated the blog post where necessary (new pics, new vid, description). Now back to it...

While the body of this instrument seems to be from the Lyon & Healy line from around 1900 (and may have been made by Regal for L&H), the neck is a kitbashed mix of old and new -- it looks like it was perhaps an old slotted-headstock neck that was fitted with a backplate and faceplate to turn it into a solid-style headstock. In addition, it has some sort of reinforcement rod installed (non-adjustable) as well as a new, ebony fretboard. I'm not even sure the neck came with this guitar to begin with, to be honest!

Still, it has an engaging, woody, sweetly-sustained sound to it and it's easy on the eyes, too -- especially the very-pretty oak back and sides.

Like a dozen or so other instruments of vague, mixed build, this cobbled-together piece was (as I recall) the work of Vintage Parlor Guitars down in Chester, VT -- it has many of the usual mods and styling of his workshop. As-is, it arrived with most of its problems solved (and a little extra bracing installed in the box, too), but the frets were definitely not level (due in part to an up-bowed neck) and the action was high -- as you might expect for a guitar that'd been "out in the world" for a while after modification.

Back in 2019 I mitigated these issues to get it playing nicely and since then I haven't really seen it but it arrived back here in 2024 playing just as it left -- nice and easy. I handed it to Ancel to check the setup and all it really needed was a new set of strings.

Work included: a fret level/dress, very light bridge shave, string ramps added at the bridge to maintain good back angle on the saddle, mild compensation and adjustment of the saddle, and a fresh setup.

• Weight: 3 lbs 5 oz
• Scale length: 24 1/4"
• Nut width: 1 3/4"
• Neck shape: bigger/full C/D
• Board radius: flat
• Body width: 3 1/2"
• Body depth: 3 5/8"
• Top wood: spruce
• Back & sides wood: quartersawn oak
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: ebony
• Fretboard: ebony
• Neck wood: mahogany or similar
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 52w-11
• Truss rod: non-adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium

Condition notes: the finish is original but has possibly been oversprayed -- it still looks grand, though. The headstock and neck have been modified at least -- a headstock converted from slotted to solid and a new ebony fretboard fit. The new 18:1 Sta-Tite tuners are nice to have, too. The new, ebony bridge is also nice. It has a heavily-compensated saddle slot (a plus) as well as far-to-the-rear bridge-pin locations. The latter bit helps keep the weakest part of the bridge (the saddle slot) a lot more stable over time compared to the pin locations on something like a Martin straight-cut bridge with the pins right behind the saddle. In addition to the non-filled holes of countless tailpieces that'd been installed on the instrument over time, the sides also show a filled jack-hole. Curious! Also, there's the usual wear and tear throughout the finish in evidence -- old scratches, scuffs, nicks, dings, etc. here and there -- all not serious. There's pickwear at the soundhole and there are a few repaired old hairline cracks on the top and back.

It comes with: sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: CW