1951 Levin Model 13 Ambassador Jumbo Guitar

Tone: It's balanced, clean, has good sustain, and is slightly woody -- excellent for fingerpicking and lighter strumming but it will work for old-time backup in a pinch if you're not laying into it too heavily.

Feel: The body feels more like a 000 despite its dread/jumbo width because its depth is not as dramatic as a dreadnought. It has a flat fretboard but a comfortable, oval-shaped neck profile and the 12-fret design pulls your left arm in closer to your body.

Interesting features: It has a nice "iced tea" sunburst finish and uses European walnut for the fretboard and bridge. It has a classic "swoopy" headstock shape, fretboard binding and multi-ply binding for the body, and clean lines.

Repairs included: I did a neck reset (it's a tenon joint so reset, reglued, and secured with a hidden bolt at the neckblock, too) and Jose did a fret level/dress, made a new saddle, and set it up. It's playing spot-on and ready to serve.

• Maker: Levin (Sweden)
• Model: 13, "Ambassador"
• Body style: jumbo/dreadnought
• Weight: 3 lbs 15 oz
• Scale length: 24 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 3/4"
• Neck shape: medium oval/C
• Board radius: flat
• Body width: 15 5/8"
• Body depth: 4"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: catalogs list it as walnut but it looks like it could be mahogany
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: walnut
• Fretboard: walnut
• Neck wood: same as the back/sides description
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 52w, 40w, 30w, 22w, 16, 12
• Truss rod: non-adjustable duraluminum bar
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: lower/smaller

Condition notes: There's a dot of pulled finish right on the rosette ring. The finish has weather-checking throughout but it's very fine. There' minor scratching/scuffing here and there but overall it's very clean for its age. The saddle is new and bone but it is otherwise entirely original.

It comes with: Sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: JFMS