1950s American Unmarked Brac (Tamburitza Family)

Overview: The tamburitza family of instruments hail from the Balkans and when a bunch of immigrants moved to the States, they brought their instruments and traditions with them. This one was definitely made in the US (considering its components) but is in the same style of build as ones made back in Europe. A lot of these were built in the Cleveland area and I don't know the maker but someone closer to the community might.

The "brac" (brah-ch) is a tenor-guitar-sized instrument and, traditionally, as in this clip, it's tuned EADG low to high an octave above guitar's EADG strings. The top course is doubled for mandolin-like sounds and a nice "chorus" effect for chords. Folks outside of the traditional orbit can restring and retune them however they like -- I've had customers tune these CGDA like a normal tenor guitar, GDAE like an octave mandolin, and DGBE like a baritone uke or tenor guitar in "Chicago" tuning.

Repairs included: I reset the neck (and was thankful to find it had a dovetailed joint in there). I think Jose may have leveled and dressed the frets. I then added side dots, fit a shim to the bottom of the original bridge, and set it up. There's a tiny patched hole/ding on the side as well. It's playing bang-on and ready to go.

• Weight: 2 lbs 11 oz
• Scale length: 22 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 1/4"
• Neck shape: very deep V
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 1.12"
• Depth at seventh fret: 1.22"
• Body width: 11 5/8"
• Body depth: 3 1/2"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid maple with figured rear
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: bone
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: maple
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 32w, 22w, 13, 10/10
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium/low

Condition notes: It has a patched tiny hole somewhere on the side (in the photos) near the heel. There's plenty of pickwear all over the top and various small nicks, scratches, etc. throughout. It's completely original except for new tuner buttons that I installed. While it looks like it could be older, when I opened up the tuners I found '50s-style Waverly plates hiding under the cool tuner bits.

It comes with: Sorry, no case!

Consignor tag: NILS