Larson Bros Euphonon Spruce / Mahogany

1930s Larson Brothers Euphonon acoustic guitar, made in Chicago, USA; Back and sides: mahogany, repaired cracks and cleating at the centre seam, refinishing; minor dings; Top: natural spruce, filed hole below the bridge, re-lacquered including over the deteriorating pickguard; Neck: mahogany, reset, re-lacquered, previous tuner holes dowelled; Fretboard: ebony, evidence of being planed; Frets: refret; Hardware: later Grover tuners, previously installed tuners included, later bridge plate and bridge pins; Case: fitted hard case; Overall condition: fair

*An incredibly rare guitar and arguably one of the most sought after vintage flat top guitars made by the Larson Brothers, whom are revered for their craftsmanship and contribution to the history of American guitar making.

Often regarded as some of the finest builders of the early twentieth Century, brothers August and Carl Larson were were born in Sweden and emigrated to Chicago in the late 1880s. They worked in the city as luthiers for guitar makers before buying Maurer & Company from Robert Maurer in 1900. Larson Brothers small Chicago workshop turned out an assortment of well-crafted fretted instruments . They would never brand any instrument with their own name, resulting in a collection of instruments built under many other names. They would use the name Maurer as well as Prairie State and Euphonon for their own instruments as well as building for many other companies, best known of those is Stahl and Co.

This particular guitar is a Euphonon, the brand name used by the Brothers to replace the Maurer brand in the mid-thirties. A square shoulder Dreadnought in shape in the Martin tradition but built with the Larson’s own innovative designs and techniques.

It is thought that the entire output production of the Larson Bros. is roughly 2500, with at least half of that figure accounted for in mandolins and mandolin family instruments. As such it's easy to see why their instruments rarely come to market.