{"product_id":"larson-brothers-euphonon-grand-concert-flat-top-acoustic-guitar-1933-11397","title":"Larson Brothers Euphonon Grand Concert Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1933)","description":"Euphonon Grand Concert Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, made by Larson Brothers, c. 1933, made in Chicago, natural lacquer finish, rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAny discussion of fine flat-top guitars will soon enough come around to the names Carl and August Larson. Between 1900 and the early 1940s their 2-man Chicago workshop turned out a dizzying array of handmade fretted instruments, ranging from the occasional ukulele to giant harp guitars. The catch is, the Larsons never put their own name on them. Much of their output was contracted to sell under other brands, with later period guitars like this one labeled \"Euphonon\" sold by themselves. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis medium-grade Grand concert sized guitar is hot-stamped on the backstrip with the Euphonon name. August and Carl began using the marque in the early 1930s, and the majority of guitars so branded show \"modern\" features: a 14-fret neck joint, slimmer neck, solid non-slotted peghead and often large bodies. This is a fairly rare example of a 12-fret Euphonon, a child of the depression probably made in the first years of the 1930s. All Larson instruments were strictly handmade, but in this era each one is a practically unique creation. By the 1930s much of the brothers' jobber contract work dried up and their Elm street location functioned (in modern terms) as a custom shop, largely building for direct sale to the customer. It is possible this guitar's slightly unusual mix of features was specified by the buyer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis guitar's appointments are slightly unusual but is shows typical Larson construction. The back and sides are of high-grade Brazilian rosewood with some nice figured grain, rather wilder than what Martin preferred at the time. The top is very tight-grained spruce, multi-bound with 9-ply celluloid with a thick outer layer. The sound hole edge celluloid-bound with an inlaid pearl rosette and several concentric wood rings. There is no pickguard, which most Euphonons have. The back is not bound at all with just a colored wood half-herringbone backstrip. The combination of the pearl soundhole and otherwise plain trim is a bit unusual by most vintage standards!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe neck is also rather plain, made from a single piece of mahogany with an unbound, dot inlaid very thick ebony fingerboard. The profile is surprisingly \"modern\" feeling, round-backed and fairly slim back to front making it quite comfortable. The headstock is solid, with the Larsons' typical shape but no ornament except an ebonized maple facing. The tuners are simple openback strips and there is an ebony heelcap. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe main X-brace is not built with the Larson's patented laminated design, but the cross brace just forward of the soundhole is; that is something we have never seen before! Internally the workmanship on this guitar is not as neat in detail as period Martin instruments, the design elements and creativity involved are certainly on a similarly high level. Larson instruments have become recognized as both uniquely desirable and historically important and the X-braced flat-top guitars are the most sought-after pieces. This Euphonon is one of the more oddball of the brothers' guitars we have seen, a great playing and sounding instrument with a unique character.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall length is 38 3\/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 14 1\/4 in. (36.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1\/2 in. (8.9 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1\/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11\/16 in. (43 mm.). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis guitar shows some play wear and maintenance repair, but is a very fine playing and sounding instrument with a lot of character. The finish overall shows dings, dents and scrapes (most heavily on the back) but less heavy play wear than many flat tops of this era. There is one noticeable ancient chip to the wood on the back\/bottom edge. The top has some pick scratches mostly below the fingerboard and soundhole but not much wear through to the wood. The back of the neck is surprisingly clean with only some tiny dinks, none of the heavy capo wear sometimes encountered. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere are a couple of sealed top cracks, one in the soundhole rim by the treble side of the fingerboard and the other on the top seam forward of the bridge. The back and sides appear crack free. The guitar has had a very neatly done neck reset, some fret work and a repro Larson-style bridge instilled; the small bridge plate remains original as does all the bracing. This is a superb player and great-sounding old Larson with a powerful ringing sound for its size, a delight to play and hear. Overall Excellent - Condition.","brand":"Larson Brothers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46853479989388,"sku":"11397","price":7950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_ad330931-8b63-4ecd-ae4f-e584bf702561.jpg?v=1774339694","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/larson-brothers-euphonon-grand-concert-flat-top-acoustic-guitar-1933-11397","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}