{"product_id":"larson-brothers-wm-stahl-style-6-flat-top-acoustic-guitar-1915-11646","title":"Larson Brothers Wm. Stahl Style #6 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1915)","description":"Wm. Stahl Style #6 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, made by Larson Brothers (1915), made in Chicago, serial # 20478, natural varnish finish, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, spruce top, mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAny discussion of fine vintage flat-top guitars will soon come around to the work of Carl and August Larson. From the beginning of the 20th century up into WWII, the Larsons' small Chicago workshop turned out a dizzying assortment of exceptionally well-crafted fretted instruments -- guitars, mandolins, the occasional ukulele, and even harp guitars. The catch is, the Larsons never put their name on them; much of their output was sold under other brands. When building instruments to order, the Larsons made what was requested, but always to their own lofty standards.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne of their most prominent re-sellers was William C. Stahl of Milwaukee, a mandolin virtuoso turned to authoring instruction methods. Around 1906 the Larsons began supplying mandolins and guitars to Stahl who claimed himself as the maker, a deception common in this \"patent medicine\" era. Stahl was one of the Larson's biggest accounts in the 'aught years and 'teens, and they built a steady stream of mandolins and guitars for him up into the 1930s. If Carl and August seemed reticent to promote themselves, William Stahl was the opposite: garrulous, confident, and endlessly chatty.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStahl's 1910s ads scoff at \"machine-made\" instruments, insisting his are strictly \"handmade ... reasonable in price and perfect as human hands can make them\" and built under his \"personal supervision\". This would have been quite a trick, as the Larsons were building in Chicago while Stahl's offices were in Milwaukee! While Stahl primarily promoted mandolins, he also sold a decent proportion of guitars like this one.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis instrument is a fine example of the brothers' work, and quite a large guitar for the time. Larson instruments have become recognized as uniquely desirable and historically important in recent years, and the better flat-top guitars are the most sought-after pieces. This is a Stahl \"Style #6 Orchestra Special\" which was priced at $32 around 1912. This model was unusual as being only available in the 15\" wide Auditorium size, designed for accompaniment but also \"suitable for solo use\". Based on Larson scholar Robert Hartman's research this appears to be a fairly early example dating to around 1915.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhile not the fanciest grade this is still a beautiful guitar featuring many Larson trademarks. The back and sides are high-grade Brazilian rosewood with a lovely grain figure on the back and some colorful swirling on the bass side. The top is very tight-grained spruce with sturdy X-pattern spruce braces; like most Stahls it does not have the Larson's patented laminated bracing. Both the top and back are built with the subtle arching that is a Larson specialty.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe top and soundhole are bordered with wide beveled celluloid strips with wood trim including a half-herringbone band around the circumference. The bridge is ebony. The neck is one piece mahogany, rounded and slim but with just the hint of a soft \"V\" profile the Larsons stopped using by the 1920s. It still has a surprisingly supple modern feel for a nearly 110-year-old guitar. The thick ebony fingerboard is very thinly bound with grained ivoroid and inlaid with small shaped pearl pieces. The headstock is overlaid with Brazilian rosewood inlaid with small pearl doodads on the face. The original tuners are the same strips seen on period Martin and Gibson guitars. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor its time this is a large and sonically imposing guitar, with plenty of volume and the typical bright but sweet Larson tone. It is a fine representation of the brother's artistry and after well over a century a great playing and sounding instrument.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall length is 39 3\/4 in. (101 cm.), 15 in. (38.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 5\/8 in. (9.2 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1\/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7\/8 in. (48 mm.). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a lovely nearly 110 year old example of a large body (for the time) Larson instrument. The top finish shows some typical light wear, with pick marks in the typical spot below the high \"E\" string running from forward of the soundhole towards the bridge. The upper rim of the soundhole has some smaller marks as well. Otherwise, the finish shows light crazing throughout and some minor scratches, dings and dents. The neck much of the very thin finish worn to the wood. The headstock has light checking and minor scuffs and chips but is also fairly clean.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe top, back and sides are crack free except for what looks like an old impact repair on the curve of the top\/side edge of the lower treble bout. A strip of binding has been neatly replaced from the lower curve of the waist to the tailblock and some minor areas touched up, the wood trim has been reglued showing a few breaks. Except for this repair the interior is clean, showing just a carefully made thin maple bridge plate cap to protect the original spruce plate from string ball end damage. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe neck has been neatly reset. The ebony bridge is a correct style flat-pyramid end replacement slightly larger than the original with some marks around the perimeter from the work. The frets are the original thin wire with some light wear in the lower positions but nothing that impedes playability. This is simply a lovely guitar to play, with a comfortable action with the crisp yet powerful sound that is the Larson trademark. Overall Excellent - Condition.","brand":"Larson Brothers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46853683740812,"sku":"11646","price":7950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_f1e469cb-92d0-4560-96ff-1107c00692ea.jpg?v=1774342897","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/larson-brothers-wm-stahl-style-6-flat-top-acoustic-guitar-1915-11646","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}