The Twelfth Fret ~ Since 1977 ~

Chicago

REDUCED! Larson Brothers Maurer 551 Steel String Guitar, late 1920s

On October 24, 2018   /    
REDUCED! Larson Brothers Maurer 551 Steel String Guitar, late 1920s

This Larson Brothers Maurer 551 dates to the late 1920s and uses an Auditorium sized body, 15 inches wide. As was often the case in the period, there is no serial number and records are scarce, so it is difficult to date exactly. The top is Spruce, the back and sides are Brazilian Rosewood, with a number of old repairs to both. The neck is mahogany, with Ebony used for the fingerboard and bridge. The scale length is a modern 25.6 inches, and the nut width a fairly wide 1.9 inches. The finish base is original but there are a number of touchups and some overspray.

Price: $7999.00 CAD
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❌ SOLD ❌ Supro / Valco Coronado Arched Top Guitar, 1961

On July 4, 2018   /    
❌ SOLD ❌ Supro / Valco Coronado Arched Top Guitar, 1961

The Supro / Valco Coronado was one of a large number of models built in the early 1960’s by Valco under the Supro and National names, along with many other brands not owned by Valco. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois due to that city’s central location for manufacturing and distribution, Valco was the heir to the National and Dobro companies. They made musical instruments and amplifiers for many other companies including catalog giants and Gretsch, until the company’s demise around 1967.

Price: $2150 CAD

This instrument has sold

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Washburn Soprano Ukulele by Lyon and Healy, 1920s

On May 24, 2018   /    
Washburn Soprano Ukulele by Lyon and Healy, 1920s

Here’s a treat – a Washburn Soprano Ukulele, built by Lyon & Healy during the 1920s in Chicago, Illinois and in very nice condition with the original canvas trap-door case. As to Lyon and Healy, towards the end of the 1970’s, the Steinway company purchased Lyon & Healy, spinning off their other efforts to focus on building quality harps. This Washburn Soprano ukulele is built with a mixture of Mahogany for the body and bridge, Spanish Cedar for the neck, Rosewood for the fingerboard and small pieces of Ebony for the nut and saddle. The top, back and soundhole are bound with a grained ivoroid celluloid.

Price: $1499.99 CAD
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Supro Westwood Archtop by Valco, Sunburst 1956

On May 9, 2018   /    
Supro Westwood Archtop by Valco, Sunburst 1956

The Supro Westwood pickup looks like a humbucker, but it’s really a single coil in a large case. The tuners are original single line Kluson models with creme plastic tulip buttons. The nut, tailpiece and bridge are original. The creme plastic pickguard is intact with some of the painted-on striping worn, but is not cracked. The pickup surround has small cracks above the adjustment screw, but is otherwise intact. The original cases for these instruments was fibre (cardboard) with a light, brown cloth lining. That type of case does not usually age well and often disappears with time. A non-original hard shell case is included.

Price: $1450 CAD
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SOLD! Regal Dobro Resophonic Guitar, 1935

On March 7, 2018   /    
SOLD! Regal Dobro Resophonic Guitar, 1935

The Regal Dobro Resophonic Guitar Model 37, built in Chicago during 1935 has been functionally restored by Grant MacNeill. This guitar is now both fully playable and an interesting historical example of American musical instrument production. Regal had a long history, beginning in 1896 as a brand of the Emil Wulschner Music Company in Indianapolis, Indiana. Emil died in 1900 and the Regal name and manufacturing stock was sold to Lyon and Healy in 1904. By 1908, production was moved to Chicago, Illinois under the name of the Regal Musical Instrument Company.

Price: $1290 CAD

This instrument has sold

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SOLD!!! Harmony Rocket H54 Thinline Archtop Electric Sunburst 1965

On January 1, 2018   /    
SOLD!!! Harmony Rocket H54 Thinline Archtop Electric Sunburst 1965

Once there were thousands of guitars like this Harmony Rocket, found in many homes across North America. The Harmony company of Chicago was for a time the largest musical instrument maker in the USA.

Price: $995 CAD

This instrument has sold

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