3/4 Size Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, labeled Grunewald , c. 1905
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3/4 Size Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, labeled Grunewald, c. 1905, made in New Orleans, LA, serial # 19623, natural top, mahogany stained back and sides finish, birch back and sides, poplar neck with rosewood fingerboard, black chipboard case.
Grunewald-labeled guitars are a known part of the 1900-era fretted world but are very rare; not many are known to exist. They are best remembered for the unique small-body 12-string guitars first advertised around 1902, successors to the earlier 10-string Grunewald patented and made as early as 1896. This is a simpler, more conventional instrument, a small 3/4 guitar likely made elsewhere (probably Chicago) to be sold by the Grunewald store in New Orleans.
The label reads "All kinds of Musical instruments at Grunewald's, 733 Canal street New Orleans". This is not the same as the markings on the company's more celebrated c.1900 multi-string guitars, and this small parlor instrument is likely a few years later than those. Based on the style of tuning machines this guitar probably dates to 1910 era or earlier, but does not appear to have been made in Grunewald's own facility.
This is a fairly plain but lovely small-body 3/4 guitar, only 11 1/4' wide with a 21 1/2" scale. It can pe played in standard tuning or tuned up a third higher as a "Terz" guitar. The body appears to be mahogany-stained birch or similar hardwood with a spruce top; the poplar neck has a genuine rosewood fingerboard with 3 dots inlaid and an ebony nut. The top is bound in white celluloid with multiple bands of colored wood trim, the back is single bound. The soundhole has matching colored wood rings. The neck and headstock are very plain.
The top is braced with a fairly hefty canted ladder system, usually seen as a Chicago trademark. The tailpiece and floating bridge were generally used on lower priced guitars in this period intended for steel strings. This was not an expensive guitar, but fairly rare in this small size and a quite delightful little instrument, an unusual find in fully playable shape 120 or so years along.
Overall length is 33 in. (83.8 cm.), 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 21 1/2 in. (546 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
Considering its age this is a very well preserved guitar, and quite playable. The finish has dings, dents and scrapes overall and some light strumwear to the top but overall is not too heavily worn. There is one sealed grain split on the upper back and a small spot of binding missing on the back but not a lot of structural repairs either. The B string tuner is badly bent but still works and there is some chipping to the bridge top. The neck has been reset and the frets dressed and while it will not replace anyone's Martin this is a nice playing instrument of its type. It particularly likes open tunings and has quite a powerful sound for such a diminutive guitar; really just a lot of fun to play. Overall Very Good + Condition.
Grunewald-labeled guitars are a known part of the 1900-era fretted world but are very rare; not many are known to exist. They are best remembered for the unique small-body 12-string guitars first advertised around 1902, successors to the earlier 10-string Grunewald patented and made as early as 1896. This is a simpler, more conventional instrument, a small 3/4 guitar likely made elsewhere (probably Chicago) to be sold by the Grunewald store in New Orleans.
The label reads "All kinds of Musical instruments at Grunewald's, 733 Canal street New Orleans". This is not the same as the markings on the company's more celebrated c.1900 multi-string guitars, and this small parlor instrument is likely a few years later than those. Based on the style of tuning machines this guitar probably dates to 1910 era or earlier, but does not appear to have been made in Grunewald's own facility.
This is a fairly plain but lovely small-body 3/4 guitar, only 11 1/4' wide with a 21 1/2" scale. It can pe played in standard tuning or tuned up a third higher as a "Terz" guitar. The body appears to be mahogany-stained birch or similar hardwood with a spruce top; the poplar neck has a genuine rosewood fingerboard with 3 dots inlaid and an ebony nut. The top is bound in white celluloid with multiple bands of colored wood trim, the back is single bound. The soundhole has matching colored wood rings. The neck and headstock are very plain.
The top is braced with a fairly hefty canted ladder system, usually seen as a Chicago trademark. The tailpiece and floating bridge were generally used on lower priced guitars in this period intended for steel strings. This was not an expensive guitar, but fairly rare in this small size and a quite delightful little instrument, an unusual find in fully playable shape 120 or so years along.
Overall length is 33 in. (83.8 cm.), 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 21 1/2 in. (546 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
Considering its age this is a very well preserved guitar, and quite playable. The finish has dings, dents and scrapes overall and some light strumwear to the top but overall is not too heavily worn. There is one sealed grain split on the upper back and a small spot of binding missing on the back but not a lot of structural repairs either. The B string tuner is badly bent but still works and there is some chipping to the bridge top. The neck has been reset and the frets dressed and while it will not replace anyone's Martin this is a nice playing instrument of its type. It particularly likes open tunings and has quite a powerful sound for such a diminutive guitar; really just a lot of fun to play. Overall Very Good + Condition.