Here are some instruments we thought might be of interest. These are instruments that have come through our shop in the past, or in a few cases, instuments we personally own. Nothing on this page is for sale. This page is for those of you who are just poking around. Have fun. We'll expand this page as instruments come along that raise our eyebrows. To see photos of available instruments, check the pages listing these instruments.

Gibson J-160E 1955
Earliest version with ladder braced solid spruce top. Round shoulder dreadnought, neck joins body at 15th fret, trapezoid fretboard inlays.
Back of guitar

Epiphone FT-110 Frontier 1964
Made in Kalamazoo, MI, dreadnought body, spruce top, curly maple back and sides, light sunburst finish, gold hardware, large pickguard with engraved cactus and rope design.
Close up of pickguard.

Gibson J-55 1941
Very rare model, one of 311 made. Slope shoulder dreadnought with sunburst finish spruce top, mahogany back & sides and bound fingerboard.

Gibson L-2 c.1931 14-3/4" lower bout, spruce top, mahogany back and sides, Argentine gray sunburst finish, gold sparkle top and soundhole binding, 12 fret neck.
Close up of front. / Back of guitar.

Gibson SJ-200 1948
Close up of guitar. / Back of guitar.

Kalamazoo KG 12N 1942
L-00 size body, natural finish curly maple back and sides, spruce top with unusual translucent yellow finish, natural mahogany neck, tortoise colored body bindings. This top finish appears only on a few guitars from 1942.
Back of guitar.

Prairie State Super Jumbo c.1938
Made in Chicago by the Larson Bros. 19" wide lower bout, spruce top with abalone border and soundhole ring, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, ebony fretboard with engraved pearl inlays, inlaid peghead, ebony bridge with engraved pearl stars, laminated top braces, internal support rods, all the standard Prairie State features. All original except newer bridge pins.
Back of guitar

Wm. Stahl Style 6 Guitar c.1929
Made by the Larson Brothers, 15" lower bout, neck joins body at 12th fret, slotted peghead, Brazilian rose wood back and sides, multicolored wood marquetry around top and soundhole and down center of back, laminated top braces.

Dyer Bros. Style 7 Harp Guitar c.1920
Made in Chicago by the Larson Bros. Spruce top, mahogany back and sides, wood marquetry around top and soundholes, ebony fretboard with pearl inlays, six string neck plus five sub bass strings. Harp tuners replaced with geared banjo pegs.
Back of harp guitar

Grammer G-58 c.1967
Made in Tennesee, dreadnought body, solid spruce top, Brazilian rosewood veneered back and sides, ebony fretboard and bridge, checkered trim around top and back and down sides of fretboard.

Guild F-47 1964
Natural finish spruce top, cherry red mahogany back and sides, 16" lower bout, large block fretboard inlays. Early example with old style peghead, Kolb tuners, warranty tag.
Back of guitar / Headstock and warranty tag / Back of headstock and tuners

Supertone Hill Country 1930s
Shown in the Sears catalog selling for $2.98. The catalog description is an example of how to make great sounding claims without actually saying anything.

"Full Round Tone... Braced Construction... Probably the lowest price at which you can buy a good, playable guitar. Sears designed this new guitar for the beginner and novelty entertainer. Surprisingly big, round tone for its size. Ligher and easier to handle than standard shape. This is not merely a novelty instrument. Leading guitar players have tried it out . . . have endorsed it as a thoroughly practical instrument . . . one that has many distinct advantages."

Luckily when our friend David Frassetto found it he paid about what it originally sold for. Nice to see that it hasn't gone down in value.

Gibson Super 400 1935
Early model with small upper bout, beautifully figured quilted maple back. 1960s pickguard, Grover Imperial tuners.
Back of guitar.

Gibson Super 300 Early 1949
Plainer cousin of the Super 400, 18" lower bout, sunburst spruce top, maple back, sides & neck, early example of this model.
Back of guitar

Gibson L-5 1937
"Advanced" 17" body, highly figured maple back and sides, sunburst finish, gold hardware.

Gibson L-3 1925
Carved spruce top, red sunburst finish, "snakehead" peghead, truss rod, adjustable bridge.

Gibson L-47 1941
Short lived model from the early 1940s. 14-3/4" lower bout, sunburst finish, carved spruce top, curly maple sides and flat back, tortoise colored binding.

Kalamazoo KG-31 1935
Sunburst finish, arched spruce top, mahogany back and sides, 16" lower bout. Missing pickguard.
Back of guitar

Epiphone Triumph 1933
Spruce top, segmented f holes, maple back & sides, dot inlay fingerboard, engraved celluloid peghead overlay.
Headstock detail.

Martin C-1 1932
Sunburst finish, carved spruce top with round soundhole, mahogany back and sides, 25.4" scale length, rosewood fretboard with bar frets.

Recording King M-5 c.1938
Made by Gibson, 16" lower bout, spruce top, curly maple back and sides, checkered binding on top, fingerboard and peghead, fingerboard inlays consist of dots with notched blocks on either side.

Slingerland Songster 1930s
Carved spruce top, maple back and sides, sunburst finish, 15-3/4" lower bout.

Royal Crest c. 1940
Made by Harmony in Chicago, 15-1/2" lower bout, carved spruce top, curly maple back and sides, engraved celluloid peghead veneer and matching pickguard.
Headstock / Back of guitar.

Kay "Violin" Guitar c.1939
Scroll peghead, violin style edges and purfling, original bridge with reversible top for regular or Hawaiian playing.

Gibson Style U Harp Guitar c.1913
Back of harp guitar.

Martin GT-70 1966
Thin hollow body, 16" lower bout, two DeArmond pickups, Bigsby tailpiece, black finish, white pickguard.

Gretsch 6120 1958
Single cutaway, pat. applied for Filtertron pickups, ebony fretboard with thumbprint inlays, no zero fret.
Back of guitar

Gibson Byrdland 1957
Compare to Byrdland Tenor, below.

Gibson Byrdland Tenor Guitar 1959
Shallow depth L-5 style body, carved spruce top, carved curly maple back, four string neck with 22-3/4" scale length, gold hardware, two humbucking pickups with outer pole piece holes inlaid with pearl dots.

Epiphone Zephyr Deluxe Regent 1951
Single cutaway hollow body, spruce top, curly maple back and sides, two "New York" pickups, blond finish, gold hardware, pearl block fingerboard inlays with abalone Vs, vine peghead inlay.

Epiphone Model M Plectrum Guitar c. 1938
Arched top, flat back with access cover, 14-3/4" lower bout, blade type pickup with handrest.
Close up of guitar.

Gibson Les Paul Special 1955
First year for this model, single cutaway, limed mahogany finish, two P-90 pickups. Some weather checking and normal wear.

Fender Jaguar 1962
All original, rosewood fretboard with clay dots, Olympic white finish with matching headstock.
Back of guitar.

National Studio 66 1962
Single cutaway res-o-glas body, desert buff color, black bat wing pickup cover. Rare model.

Rickenbacker 4001 Bass 1977

Rickenbacher Electro Model B Spanish c. 1938
Rare model. Spanish (round neck) version of the more familiar Model B Hawaiian. 22-3/4" scale, bakelite body with five yellow enameled cover plates, detachable bakelite neck, wide horseshoe magnet pickup.

Rickenbacker Silver Hawaiian c.1939
Chrome plated metal body, wide horseshoe magnet pickup with pat. number stamp, two knobs on opposite sides of body, replacement tuners.

Epiphone Electar Style M c.1939
Gray wood body with stepped sides, blue metal top plate with etched gray designs, rosewood fingerboard with multicolored position dots.

National Special 1956

National New Yorker c.1941
Black finish with white trim, roman numeral position markers, missing pickup cover.

Gibson Ultratone c.1950
1950's modern, white finish with sort of dark pink trim.

Gibson BR-6 c.1947
Black finish, old style script logo, numbered position markers.

Rickenbacher D-16 c.1944
Two eight string bakelite necks, two horseshoe magnet pickups, cast aluminum body.

Rickenbacker DC-16 c. 1950
Cast aluminum body, two eight string necks, lucite fingerboards. Peghead covers missing.

Gibson EH-185 1940
Sunburst maple, diagonal pickup, pickup mounts on metal plate which extends through neck to headstock.
Note: Shown alongside Gibson EH-150. The EH-185 is on the right.

National Style O 1933
Nickel plated brass body with etched Hawaiian scenes, 12 fret neck, ribbed coverplate, flat cut f holes.
Back of guitar.

National Triolian Tenor Guitar 1930
Polychrome (shaded green/yellow) finish, stencilled Hawaiian scene on
back of guitar

Weissenborn Style 4 c.1920s
All curly koa wood, rope binding on all edges, all original, no repairs. Missing the small piece of binding at the tip of peghead, otherwise an exceptionally fine example.
Back of Weissenborn

Acme Professional c.1900
Made by S. S. Stewart for Sears. Elaborate vine inlaid fretboard and peghead, carved heel, cherry neck, 11" rim, 27" scale.

C. W. Hutchins Crescent c.1890
Made in Springfield, Mass., 12-1/4" rim, 27" scale, rim spun with metal embossed in floral pattern, walnut neck, ebony fretboard inlaid with pattern of diamonds, squares, dots and triangles, crown and star inlaid in peghead.

J. B. Schall 1890s
10 3/4" spun over rim, 25 3/4" scale length, ebony fretboard with metal inlays, black finish, celluloid pegs, set up with nylon strings.
Close up of headstock.

H. F. Wade 1890s
Very unusual banjo construction. No specific history known.

S. S. Stewart Universal Favorite No. 3 c.1890
11" rim, 27" scale, elaborately inlaid ebony peghead, heel cap and fretboard, carved heel, wood marquetry inlaid inside rim, original patent pegs, set up with nylon strings.
Close up of heel carving / Close up of rim marquetry

S. S. Stewart Imperial Banjeaurine No. 2 c.1888
12-1/2" rim, 19" scale, pearl inlaid peghead and fretboard.

Minstrel era Banjo / Minstrel era Banjo / Minstrel era Banjo
Three different instruments, all circa 1850s or 1860s. Two need restoration, the other only needed strings and pegs and is currently set up to play with nylon strings.

Dobson 1880s
Dowel is stamped "Dobson's Patent, May 14th, 1879 & Nov. 8th, 1881". Nine inch spun over rim with additional spun brass tone ring, 22-1/2" scale fretted neck, slotted peghead with guitar style tuners on engraved plates, matching 5th string peg mounts to nicely sculpted projection on side of neck, engraved metal fingerboard extension. Replaced button on 5th tuner, tailpiece is c.1920s replacement.
Close up of back of banjo. / Headstock and tuners.
Close up of 5th string tuner. / Back of 5th string tuner.

Celebrated Benary c.1890s
9" spun over rim, 22" scale walnut neck with ebony fretboard, crescent moon and star inlay on peghead, metal inlays above and below nut, varied pattern inlays on fretboard, large star at end of fretboard, name on engraved metal heel plate, celluloid tailpiece. Set up with nylon strings.

A. O. Windsor Artist Model 3 Zither Banjo c.1900
English zither banjo with 9" rim set into resonator from the top, 5th string runs through tube in neck to peghead, walnut neck, ebony fretboard, Brazilian rosewood veneered resonator.

Bacon and Day Silver Bell No. 1 Tenor Banjo c. 1930
F hole flange, burl maple resonator, knee mute.

Vega Vegaphone Deluxe Tenor Banjo 1931
10-15/16" rim, 23" scale, gold plated and engraved hardware, elaborate pearl peghead and fingerboard inlays, resonator covered with engraved and painted celluloid, pearl tuner buttons.

Gibson All American Tenor Banjo 1970
Reissue of Gibson's most elaborate banjo of the classic era. Maple neck and resonator, elaborately carved and painted with eagle on peghead and back of resonator, carved heel, engraved gold plated hardware, flathead tonering, two piece flange, pearloid covered fretboard with scenes of American history and landmarks.

Kalamazoo KM-11 1935
Made by Gibson, sunburst finish, A style shape, flat spruce top with round soundhole, mahogany back and sides.

Kalamazoo KM-21 Late 1930s
Made by Gibson, sunburst finish, X braced spruce top, mahogany back and sides.

Kalamazoo Oriole 1940
Made by Gibson, natural finish spruce top, highly figured natural finish maple back & sides. Pickguard missing, some pick wear.
Back of mandolin. / Mandolin headstock.

Dobro Model 270 c.1939
All birch body, f holes in upper bout, moon and stars coverplate.

Maurer Neapolitan Style Mandolin c.1910
Made by the Larson Bros. in Chicago, 22 rosewood ribs, pickguard inlaid with pearl vine and flowers, multicolored wood marquetry around top edge and soundhole, engraved pearl star in peghead.

Wm. C. Stahl Mandola c.1907
"Violin style" mandola made by the Larson Bros. for Stahl under his 1907 patent. Elongated two point body shape, carved spruce top, carved maple back. Oval soundhole, inset pickguard with pearl border and vine inlay, very dark brown finish appears nearly black. Very rare.
Back of mandola. / Stahl mandolin and mandola.

Maurer Mandocello c.1920
Made by the Larson Brothers, natural finish spruce top, red finished maple back and sides.
Back of mandocello

Wm. Stahl Mandocello c.1930
Made by the Larson Brothers, natural finish spruce top, red finished maple back and sides. Shown with original end opening leather case.

Vinaccia Brothers Liuto Moderno 1904
Large size instrument by the originators of the Neapolitan style mandolin, 23 curly maple ribs, rosewood neck and fingerboard, 22 1/2" scale, five double courses tuned C-G-D-A-E one octave below the mandolin. This instrument was made for Samuel Adelstein of San Francisco, an important figure in the history of the mandolin orchestra. Shown next to standard bowl style mandolin.
Back of instrument.
We currently have available another Liuto Moderno. Please see the listing at Used and Vintage Mandolins

Washburn 5318 Soprano Ukulele c.1920
Figured koa body with white binding on top and back, mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard, 17 frets, raised ring around soundhole, gold oakleaf stencil on top.
Close up of top

Wurlitzer Soprano Ukulele c.1920s
All koa construction, checkered binding around top and soundhole.

Unbranded Soprano Ukulele 1920s
Hawaiian made, curly koa top and back, rosewood fingerboard and pegs, rope binding on top and back, down center of back and around soundhole.
Back of uke.

Unlabelled Soprano Ukulele 1920s?
Appears to be Hawaiian style construction, but could be an early mainland . Wood looks like mahogany but with some curl, multi-colored herringbone inlay down center of peghead and fretboard, around soundhole, half herringbone around top.

Oscar Schmidt Soprano Ukulele c.1930
Early mainland uke, highly figured koa top, plainer koa back and sides, rosewood fetboard, rope binding around top and soundhole and down center of back, fancy peghead shape.

Supertone Concert Uke 1930s
All Mahogany, yellow pearloid peghead veneer and fretboard, multiple binding on top and around soundhole, a very well made instrument. Probably made by Harmony.

Harmony Johnny Marvin Tenor Ukulele c. 1930
Curly mahogany body, airplane bridge, rosewood fretboard, pearloid peghead veneer.

Bacon and Day Silver Bell No. 3A Banjo Ukulele c. 1930
Stamped 3A on the dowel, but appears to be a No. 1 in all respects. Silver Bell tone ring and f hole flange, nickel hardware, pearl inlaid pehead and fretboard, maple neck and resonator.

Banner Blue Banjo Ukulele c. 1930
Made by Wm. Lange, 8" rim, walnut neck and resonator, peghead and fretboard inlaid with small brass hearts, unusual rim construction with wood rim covered by pierced metal sleeve.

Ludwig Banjo Ukulele c. 1930
Professional grade instrument, ebony fretboard with pearl inlays, engraved pearl peghead inlays, walnut neck, walnut resonator with wood marquetry on back and sides, planet tuners.

Epiphone Banjo Ukulele c. 1930
Open back, 8-1/4" rim, black finish, fine quality heavy construction.
Back of banjo uke. / Back of headstock.

John Grey & Sons, London, Banjo Ukulele 1920s
Wood rim, 7-3/4" diameter, dished aluminum resonator with brown crackle finish, metal logo shield on resonator and peghead.
Close-up of back.

Unbranded Banjo Ukulele c. 1930
8" rim, walnut rim, neck and resonator, nickel plated flange with diamond shaped holes, pearloid peghead overlay.
Back of banjo uke.

Martin T-17 Tiple 1947
All mahogany.

Taro-patch Unlabelled Taro Patch c.1920s Eight string ukulele, made in Hawaii, koa body, mahogany neck, checkered binding on top, back and around soundhole, bound fretboard, wood pegs.
Back of taro-patch.