So what is this guitar?

[BluesHawk]

I cringe to see how this gentleman is managing this fragile elderly axe. At least get those strings off it before it totally self-destructs!



So, any guesses what he's got?

[VintAxe]

I have no idea what this guitar is but I don't think it is as old as he thinks it is. To me, the basic guitar looks like a catalog guitar from the mid 1920's to the mid 1930's. However, it does have features that don't fit this time frame.

I think it is unusual for guitars from this period to have pickguards. You don't see a lot of pickguards on flat top guitars til the later 1930's. Also, guitars from this period tend to have fancier inlay than this example.

It's clear this guitar has undergone a lot of modifications so who knows what is original and what has been added. I doubt that it was homemade originally, but I don't doubt someone may have whittled on the neck to flatten out that ridge. The unfortunate reality is that it has been neglected for so long it's now basically worthless other than what the tuning pegs might fetch.

Take the strings and the duct tape off and hang it on the wall.

[BluesHawk]

Thanks, Vint. What you say makes sense about the guitar's history...possibly a catalogue guitar from the 30s (1890? ha!)...and the condition...the neck whittling, the pickguard, inlay. Thanks. This level of learning is one big reason I follow this Forum.

Call me sentimental, but I'd want an expert to advise me before I wall mount this beater. Restoration would be expensive but if the restored value by chance is a break-even for the restoration expense, I'd go for that.

I just love old gear...

[ship of fools]

That voulet is certainly from around 1910 and I would bet that there were pin holes under that piece of wood that tailpiece was around the 1920's so it was added later. Wish we could have seen a better picture of the tuning pegs and inside the guitar. I would think Chicago built but without better pictures its impossible to tell.ship