Other Guitars

Another great southern California discovery from our recent US buying trip, this highly desirable arch-back uke from the late twenties or early thirties was possibly built by Regal, or more likely Lyon & Healy, (Washburn). During the ukulele’s first big boom-time, early last century, the best instruments were all arched back models, as is this glorious example of 1920’s “decalomania”. Arch-back models had generally disappeared by the mid-30’s, so this nicely preserved piece is one of the last from the era. Dubbed “decalomania”, the art of adorning instruments with water-slide...

The original camp ukes were made from barrel hoops and cowhide, knocked together for fireside entertainment as the pioneers’ wagon-trains journeyed into the American Wild West, during the 1800s. By the turn of the century the design had been appropriated by several manufacturers, with Lyon & Healy creating the first of the all timber models during the mid-1920s. Some authorities state that this Gretsch version of the Lyon & Healy design was only produced during 1940, while others suggest they may have appeared as early as 1936 – regardless, this fantastic little camp uke is basi...

A brand new Bean Blossom BM100 mandolin, by Morgan Monroe, in its original hard shell case. Named after bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe’s original bluegrass festival in Indiana, this stunning mandolin, in vintage tobacco sunburst, is a warehouse overstock, so for this price you won’t find a nicer production model mandolin in Australia. Spruce top, maple back and sides, extended rosewood fingerboard, adjustable rosewood bridge, gold hardware, fully bound body and neck, vintage-style pearlized tuners and beautiful inlaid headstock. It has an adjustable truss-rod, multi-ply black ...

We’re calling this early 1930’s, but it may actually be late ’20s – either way, its appointments date it to between 1927 and 1932. Very similar to Gibson’s A-style from the same time, we suspect this could be an excellent example of a rarely seen Regal Ultra Grand Deluxe model, featuring the more stylish extended fingerboard, compared with Gibson’s squared-off version. And with a sound-hole in place of the more usual f-holes, this little Regal beauty has amazing projection! Built at the famous Regal factory in Chicago, construction is all solid Mahogany, the fingerboard is Ebony...

What a find! Part of a very small Chicagoan production run featuring the elongated art deco National logo, some minor tarnishing of the chrome control plate is about all that stops this very rare National model looking near new! With only the top-of-the-line New Yorker model above it, 1961 had been the last year the Chicagoan appeared in the National catalogue, however a production run in January of 1966 included a very small number of ex-catalogue Chicagoans, in order to use up a handful of fretboards remaining in the factory. By 1962 The Chicagoan had officially become the “St...

In the world of vintage steel guitars, National has it over everything else out there! And this National ‘Grand Console’ model, (from only the second year of production), is one of the best-looking, killer-sounding steels you’re ever going to find. First appearing in 1947, the Grand Console was the National model that Fender “borrowed” from, in designing their Stringmaster steels, introduced in 1953. This unbelievably fine twin 8-string model is in simply wonderful condition – for over 60 years old, we’re calling it Excellent+ condition. The Perspex, (“Lucite”) board overlays ar...

Barnes & Mullins, Windsor & Taylor, Jedson and other companies strove to meet banjo demand in the years from around 1890 to 1930 – the boom years for British banjo music. Bowley Barnes and Albert Mullins established their instrument business, (which continues today), in 1894 in Bournemouth, relocating to London in 1914. Today the company is based in rural Shropshire. We believe this Barnes & Mullins ‘No. 4’ banjo is from the company’s first year of full production, in 1895, bearing the indented logo, ‘THE BARNES & MULLINS’ at the base of the neck on the 5th string side. The No 4 mo...