New 1940’s mystery Archtop!

[Fretting out]

I foolishly stopped by a pawn shop today and ended up leaving with this mystery, there’s no information on these that I can find, I was told it was sold through spiegles catalog, and possibly made by Gibson?

It came with this 50’s(?) lifton case so I figured that right there is worth something

Tuners aren’t original and it’s had a little work but is pretty sound

 

[dannyh]

Nice! Looks like it mighta had Klusons at some point?

 

[68tele]

Is it playable, or...?

 

[Fretting out]

Nice! Looks like it mighta had Klusons at some point?

The one other one I saw had open backs that fit that footprint

I don’t know if it’s a score or not but I think it’s cool

 

[Fretting out]

Is it playable, or...?

I need to put some strings on it and it needs frets soon but it’s surprisingly playable, the neck is nice and straight, guess it should be though because it’s a super chunky one with a V-shape

Plays on every fret

I don’t know a lot about these type of instruments but it seems like it was well made

 

[clydethecat]

Spruce top and some nice figure on the back.

 

[JL_LI]

That’s a cool guitar and it gives me a chance to voice an opinion about vintage. @Fretting out said that it looks like the guitar had some work done. I can’t imagine it being worth more with no maintenance done. Replacing parts that have failed with new parts that work just makes sense.

No mention was made of price but it doesn’t matter. @Fretting out came to agreement with the seller so the guitar was worth what was paid for it. This also makes sense. Good for you, @Fretting out . Cool guitar. Really cool guitar.

 

[paulblackford]

I like those pearloid accents on the headstock. Nice headstock shape, too. So many smaller brands blow the design of the headstock.

 

[haggardfan1]

Wow. I don't know anything about the brand, but I know that is a gorgeous old archtop, and any guitar of that type and vintage brings back a lot of childhood memories for me.

 

[Fretting out]

That’s a cool guitar and it gives me a chance to voice an opinion about vintage. @Fretting out said that it looks like the guitar had some work done. I can’t imagine it being worth more with no maintenance done. Replacing parts that have failed with new parts that work just makes sense.

No mention was made of price but it doesn’t matter. @Fretting out came to agreement with the seller so the guitar was worth what was paid for it. This also makes sense. Good for you, @Fretting out . Cool guitar. Really cool guitar.

I’m not sure if the fingerboard has been reglued or not, there is a small hole at the first fret and one around the neck joint on the board, not sure what that’s about

I think I paid a fair price but I’m scared if I say it will be “ you paid that much!”

 

[tintag27]

It looks wonderful - maybe from the Harmony factory?

 

[985plowboy]

I think it’s cool.
If you agree then you did good.
If it works for you without having to spend much more on it than you already have, well then you did really good!

 

[clydethecat]

The net set angle seems unusual for an archtop, with the fingerboard right on the top. I like.

I was looking for more pictures of these on google and found the same instrument at the pawnbroker's.

 

[peteycaster]

Dunno but I like it.

 

[Fretting out]

The net set angle seems unusual for an archtop, with the fingerboard right on the top. I like.

I was looking for more pictures of these on google and found the same instrument at the pawnbroker's.

View attachment 867097

Other than this one there was one on reverb and one on gbase but the gbase one had a different headstock shape

I wonder if Gruhn or someone similar would know about it

 

[Alamo]

I see quite a few similarities from guitars made by Framus, Höfner and many more. made in the 1950's.
I had to pull out my Framus Atlantic to compare body shape, f-holes and headstock. while there are differences it's still strikingly close to what you have. I'll snap some pics come daylight.

how about this one?

 

[telemaster03]

Nice.

 

[RomanS]

I'm pretty sure that one was made by Regal. F holes, body shape, headstock look a lot like other Regal-made ones (and Regal made archtops under various brands, for various resellers).

 

[Gardo]

Cool find. bring it over and let's hear it

 

[RomanS]

Compare:

https://www.gbase.com/gear/regal-archtop-1

https://jakewildwood.blogspot.com/2012/12/c1935-regal-made-metro-style-c-archtop.html?m=1