1890s Bruno (Bauer) Rosewood Parlor Guitar

This post has been updated 9/17/25.

Overview: This has a sweet, silky, woody sound to it. The owner was told (when she bought it) that it was an 1897 build and I had it pegged as 1890s from across the room when she first took it out. It bears the retailer's mark (Bruno) on the headstock and in the interior on a label but I get the feeling that this was actually made by Bauer for the firm. The back bracing is and overall design elements are very similar to some Bauer guitars I've worked-on, but I'm not certain about it.

Repairs included: The owner had purchased this originally strung-up with steel and, surprise surprise! -- the bridge had come mostly off the top and it also generated a nice little "fault line" when it did so as there was a small patched area of top under the bridge from a previous repair job. There were some seam separations needing gluing, some hairline cracks needing cleating, and the frets needed a level/dress. All of this got done and most of it was handled by Ancel (thanks!), though I did set it up and do final adjustments and tweaks to it. These repairs were done in 2023 and the guitar arrived back here looking (and playing) exactly the same in 2025. It's playing spot-on and ready to go!

• Weight: 2 lbs 14 oz
• Scale length: 24 5/8"
• Nut width: 1 3/4"
• Neck shape: medium V
• Board radius: 20"
• Depth at first fret: 57/64"
• Depth at seventh fret: 63/64"
• Body width: 12 5/8"
• Body depth: 3 5/8"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid Brazilian rosewood
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: rosewood
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: Thomastik KR116 set -- use classical guitar strings only
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: low/narrow

Condition notes: There's a lot of pickwear near the soundhole and general wear and tear throughout the finish. There are a few smaller, repaired hairline cracks on the lower-bout-top.  It's mostly-original throughout but the pins are replacements.

It comes with: It has an old chip case.

Consignor tag: LCLG