1910s Chicago-made Unmarked Rosewood Parlor Guitar

I'm not sure which company built this instrument but it has features that are heavily "Regal" while also sporting features that remind me of Lyon & Healy and even Larson-like builds. I'm assuming then, that it's a Chicago-built instrument. It even has a "flattened-pyramid" Chicago-style bridge from the factory. To this base guitar was added weird, big star inlay in the fretboard sometime in the '70s, I'd gather. The top looks like it was also hit with a topcoat (that's aged quite yellow) at the time as well.

This guitar has been remarked-over by folks for ages as it's sat in the "awaiting repair" queue for its consignor but I've been leery of working on it due to the sheer number of old, funky repairs that needed to be undone and redone to get it functional. I know why folks have wanted it, though -- just check out the back! That's some choice Brazilian, there.

At any rate, once Ancel and I got through the weeds of repairs, this turned into a pretty-sounding, fingerpicking-focused guitar. It does sound great under a flatpick but it definitely shines as a fingerpicker. That's sort-of expected for a 12-fretter of this time, however.

Repairs included: a neck reset, neckblock reinforcement (it was damaged -- I added a big support brace/block that acts as a neckblock extension for the upper bout), fret level/dress, new saddle, crack and seam repairs, endblock repairs, brace repairs, setup, etc...


Weight: 3 lbs 6 oz

Scale length: 24 7/8"

Nut width: 1 13/16"

Neck shape: medium-full soft V

Board radius: flat

Body width: 13 1/2"

Body depth: 4"


Top wood: solid spruce

Back & sides wood: solid Brazilian rosewood

Bracing type: ladder

Bridge: ebonized maple or similar

Fretboard: ebony

Neck wood: mahogany

Action height at 12th fret:
3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 50w-11

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: low/small


Condition notes: this has repaired damaged to both the endblock and the neckblock areas, many repaired cracks on the top and a few smaller ones on the back, reglued braces, and plenty of surface damage to the finish via nicks, dings, scratches, etc. The top was oversprayed at some point in the past, too. The tuners are replacements, the star inlay in the board is unoriginal, and there's a bunch of damage at the top of the soundhole from where old cracks had crumbled its edges. All is good there, now, though, and there's a big support block that extend the neckblock into that part of the top, essentially, similar to a classical guitar build. This thing has what looks like an original zero fret which is quirky as all get-out for the time. There are also small sections of replacement binding at the side of the neck. There's some finish disturbance/filled areas at the endblock near the endpin area. Overall, though, the guitar is stable and ready to go.


It comes with: no case, sorry.


















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