1950s United-Made Thin-Depth Dreadnought Guitar

Overview: This is a complete oddball. It's been refinished (sloppily) and has no branding on it but a lot of these ere labeled Lee Gibbs or Concertone. They were made by United in New Jersey (maker of Strad-O-Lin mandolins, many Premiers, and other Sorkin marks) and have solid tops but usually ply back and sides. This one is x-braced, has a Martin-like body profile, but Gibson-like appointments and styling. In addition, it has a thin-depth body which gives it handling rather more like a 000-size or Big Baby Taylor in the lap. It's curious!

The neck definitely feels Gibson-like for the era (mid-late '50s) and the body and bracing is a bit overbuilt so while the tone is nice (and also Gibson-like -- almost an LG-2-meets-J-45 palette), it's not a particularly loud guitar. I find it great for singing with (it's got a "simple" and woody sound) and you can definitely lean into it without feeling like you're hitting it too hard.

Repairs included: I reset the neck, repaired some loose binding and did some cosmetic work, and Max gave it a level/dress of the frets, had Jose help him fill and redrill the pinholes a little farther aft, and then he made a new saddle for it and set it up. It also got new ferrules at the headstock. It's playing spot-on and is ready to serve.

• Weight: 4 lbs 8 oz
• Scale length: 25"
• Nut width: 1 5/8"
• Neck shape: medium C/V
• Board radius: 14"
• Depth at first fret: 29/32"
• Depth at seventh fret: 31/32"
• Body width: 15 5/8"
• Body depth: 4 1/8"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: mahogany (likely ply back, solid sides)
• Bracing type: x
• Bridge: rosewood
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 54w-12 lights
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium/lower

Condition notes: The whole thing has been refinished rather sloppily and homebrew-style probably in the '60s or '70s judging by the age on it. Someone had attempted to reset the neck in the past and they may have also been responsible for some binding muck-ups. There's a missing/replaced-with-wood patch right at the back of the heel. The saddle and tuner ferrules are replacements and the strap buttons are, too, but it otherwise appears original in the hardware. There's a bunch of wear and tear to the finish throughout. The sides appear to have a variety of old smaller repaired hairline cracks (though if they're ply, it's just veneer damage -- I can't tell). I replaced the missing truss cover with a new, Gretsch-style one. The fretboard had been hit with clearcoat and Max did a diligent job cleaning up the board and getting rid of as much of it as possible, but trace amounts remain in the fretboard divots up in first position and the like.

It comes with: This has some sort of hard case.

Consignor tag: NILS