Larson Bros William C Stahl Style 8 Spruce / Rosewood

1920s Larson Brothers for William C Stahl Style 8 acoustic guitar, made in Chicago, USA; Body: Brazilian rosewood back and sides and spruce top, internal evidence of restoration including cleated repair to back and re-glued bracing, external refinishing, minor dings and general play wear; Neck: reset and binding repairs, mild wear; Fretboard: ebony; Frets: good, refret; Hardware: generally good, replacement bridge plate; Case: later hard case; Overall condition: fair

*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.

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.

This Larson brothers guitar is a finely crafted instrument with ornate pearl and marquetry appointments, multilayered purfling and top-grade tonewoods.

Ivory exemption reference no. NCEG86ZT