DESCRIPTION:
This Larson Brothers Maurer 551 steel string acoustic guitar is dated to May 3 1931 with a serial number of 37575. It is identified by a stamp on the inside of the top and was built at Chicago, Illinois. It uses an Auditorium sized body, 15 inches wide with a serial number of 37575.
This beautifully built instrument appears to be in all-original condition. An interesting detail is the orientation of the tuners. Almost all modern tuners have since 1932 used an standard orientation where turning the button clockwise raises the pitch. C F Martin was in 1932 one of the last builders to adopt this orientation. Another benefit is that the 'modern' orientation tends to bring the two gear elements together. This guitar uses the older style orientation.
For this Larson Brothers Maurer 551, the top is Spruce, the back, sides and headplate are Brazilian Rosewood. The neck is mahogany, with Ebony used for the fingerboard and bridge. The position markers and bridge star inlays are engraved Mother of Pearl. The body has celluloid binding with an Abalone purfling layer also used in the rosette, while the headstock inlay is a mix of Abalone and Mother of Pearl. The body blocks and interior linings are Mahogany, and the X-bracing uses the Larson Brother's patented laminated braces. This lamination allows for thinner, stronger braces with the goal of increased volume response and projection.
The body is 15 inches wide. The 12-fret neck has a modern longish scale length of 25.55 (449mm) inches, and the nut width a fairly wide 1.9 inches.
This wonderful guitar has just had a neck reset and plays very well. Over time, virtually all steel string guitars will require a neck reset to correct the natural tendency of the joint to 'sag', causing the action to rise. The neck reset involves disassembling the neck joint (often a dovetail) and carefully rebuilding it to an optimal angle that allows a comfortable action and full playability.
This beautiful Maurer guitar by the Larson Brothers is fully playable and is sold with perhaps its original fibre case, and we are including a modern 'generic' hard shell case.
Robert Maurer worked as a luthier in Chicago, Illinois in the closing years of the 19th century, and on his retirement in 1900, sold his company to the Larson Brothers. The Larsons, Carl and August, were Swedish immigrants who had been working as craftsmen and luthiers for other companies. The Maurer trade mark became the Larson Brothers flagship line, followed by other models under names like Euphonon and Prairie State. Their company ran from 1900 when they purchased Maurer to 1944. Carl Larson retired in 1940 and August died in 1944.
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |
DETAILS:
- Instrument Model: Maurer 551
- Instrument Manufacturer: Larson Brothers
- Instrument year: 1931
- Instrument Finish: Natural
- Instrument Class: Used, Vintage
- Instrument serial number: 37575, dated to May 1931 at Chicago Illinois
- Country of Origin: USA
- Instrument Condition: Very Good
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Playing Condition: Very Good
- Right-handed
- CITIES Documentation Required: Yes
- Case included: Yes
- Case original: Yes, newer case also included
- Case Type: Hard
- Instrument Weight Imperial: 3.58 lbs
- Instrument Weight Metric: 1.62 kgs
- Scale Length Imperial: 25.55 in
- Scale Length Metric: 649 mm
- Nut Width Imperial: 1.915 in
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Nut Width Metric: 48.65 mm
- Items in Case: N/A
- Consignment: Yes
- Product ID: 190314
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |