1900s August Gemünder Style A Solo Pre-War Parlor Acoustic Guitar w/ Case
$4,999.99
$4,999.99
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Up for sale, an early 1900s August Gemünder ‘Style A’ parlor guitar, freshly serviced and complete with a hardshell case. The son of a well-known violin maker and repairer, August Gemünder and his brother started learning their trade as children, eventually apprenticing with world-famous luthier Jean-Baptiste Villaume in France before launching their own shop in New York during the mid-1800s. Though the Gemünder brothers primarily developed a reputation for their violins, their guitars were of superior quality as well, with their design(s) even winning the Greatest Award at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.
Weighing just under 3lbs, this guitar is one of Gemünder’s Style A ‘solo guitar’ models, and tonewoods include a quartersawn red spruce top, Brazilian rosewood back and sides with particularly dynamic grain, and a slender V-shaped mahogany neck capped by an ebony fingerboard. This guitar’s big sound belies its relatively small stature, with a warm, round tone and notably reverberant timbre that responds particularly well to fingerpicking. This Gemünder Style A benefits from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar, with fresh 11-47 silk & steel strings and easy-playing action.
Neck Specs:
-Neck: Mahogany
-Shape: Slender V, measuring .775” at 1st fret, .960” at 9th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony
-Frets: Slender, refret, no wear
-Scale Length: 24 7/8”
-Nut width: 1 7/8”, ebony
-Headstock: “A. Gemunder New York” stamped on top headstock edge
-Tuners: Open-gear strip, grained ivoroid buttons
Body Specs:
-Wood: Quartersawn red spruce, Brazilian rosewood
-Bracing: Ladder
-Bridge: Rosewood, bone saddle (modern), original bridge plate (repaired)
-Marquetry: Multi-ply binding, decorative rosette
-Label: Rectangular label in soundhole
-Serialization: Faded stamp on neck heel block
The neck has been professionally reset via our partners at Portland Fret Works, complete with a full refret with vintage-spec slender fretwire. A small area between the fretboard extension and soundhole has also been professionally addressed. The original bridge plate has been repaired, along with two side cracks, a center seam repair and a few tight and minor back cracks.
This is an incredibly well-preserved instrument considering its age, retaining its original varnish finish which exhibits pick wear across the soundhole and various minor marks consistent with use. The finish is smooth and fast-feeling along the profile carve, with palm wear in the first position and along the spine of the V.
A black tolex hardshell case is included.
Weighing just under 3lbs, this guitar is one of Gemünder’s Style A ‘solo guitar’ models, and tonewoods include a quartersawn red spruce top, Brazilian rosewood back and sides with particularly dynamic grain, and a slender V-shaped mahogany neck capped by an ebony fingerboard. This guitar’s big sound belies its relatively small stature, with a warm, round tone and notably reverberant timbre that responds particularly well to fingerpicking. This Gemünder Style A benefits from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar, with fresh 11-47 silk & steel strings and easy-playing action.
Neck Specs:
-Neck: Mahogany
-Shape: Slender V, measuring .775” at 1st fret, .960” at 9th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony
-Frets: Slender, refret, no wear
-Scale Length: 24 7/8”
-Nut width: 1 7/8”, ebony
-Headstock: “A. Gemunder New York” stamped on top headstock edge
-Tuners: Open-gear strip, grained ivoroid buttons
Body Specs:
-Wood: Quartersawn red spruce, Brazilian rosewood
-Bracing: Ladder
-Bridge: Rosewood, bone saddle (modern), original bridge plate (repaired)
-Marquetry: Multi-ply binding, decorative rosette
-Label: Rectangular label in soundhole
-Serialization: Faded stamp on neck heel block
The neck has been professionally reset via our partners at Portland Fret Works, complete with a full refret with vintage-spec slender fretwire. A small area between the fretboard extension and soundhole has also been professionally addressed. The original bridge plate has been repaired, along with two side cracks, a center seam repair and a few tight and minor back cracks.
This is an incredibly well-preserved instrument considering its age, retaining its original varnish finish which exhibits pick wear across the soundhole and various minor marks consistent with use. The finish is smooth and fast-feeling along the profile carve, with palm wear in the first position and along the spine of the V.
A black tolex hardshell case is included.
