The Twelfth Fret ~ Since 1977 ~

Brazilian Rosewood

PRS Standard Solidbody Tobacco Sunburst, 1987

On April 12, 2020   /    
PRS Standard Solidbody Tobacco Sunburst, 1987

The PRS Standard appeared in 1987 as an evolutionary step and as a model rename from the 1985 PRS model, with carved top, all Mahogany construction except for the 1o inch radius, 25 inch scale Rosewood fingerboard. Until 1991, Brazilian Rosewood was used for fingerboards on this model. Here we’re looking at a PRS Standard, built during 1987 in Stevensville, Maryland and sporting a dark tobacco sunburst model, which transitions to a darker red on the back and neck.

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Martin D-28 Brazilian Rosewood Dreadnought, 1969

On February 26, 2020   /    
Martin D-28 Brazilian Rosewood Dreadnought, 1969

Here we have another Martin D-28 Brazilian Rosewood Dreadnought steel string guitar dating to 1969. This was officially the last year that the Martin guitar company used Brazilian Rosewood, though it was found in smaller portions until about 1973 when their last supplies were exhausted. The Dreadnought steel string, as found on guitars like the C F Martin D-28 Brazilian and the rest of their ‘D’ line, has been one of the most successful guitar designs. Used by countless guitarists and on many recordings, the Dreadnought brought banjo-matching volume.

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Gibson J-50 Slope Shoulder Dreadnought Guitar, 1953

On February 24, 2020   /    
Gibson J-50 Slope Shoulder Dreadnought Guitar, 1953

The Gibson J-50 first appeared alongside the J-45 in 1952 as a pair of slope or round-shouldered dreadnoughts, the J-50 in Natural and the J-45 Sunburst. These models replaced the J-35, built from 1936 to 1942. The two guitars are structurally very similar, but the natural-finish J-50 received multi-layer top binding and better visual grade Spruce tops as there was no tint to hide imperfections. For this reason, the J-50 carried a higher price.

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Gibson J45 Slope Shoulder Dreadnought Sunburst, 1963

On February 21, 2020   /    
Gibson J45 Slope Shoulder Dreadnought Sunburst, 1963

he Gibson J45 Slope Shouldered dreadnought, or Jumbo, was introduced in 1942 to replace the J-35, which had been built since 1936. It has remained in production ever since, and its rich warm tones make it a great match with a singer. Intended as a ‘working man’s guitar’, the Gibson J43 Slope Shouldered model was very similar to the J-35, but for the most part has stiffer, stronger and taller bracing shifted slightly back from the soundhole and a rounded neck profile.

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Maurer 551 by Larson Brothers. Steel String Guitar, late 1920s

On February 19, 2020   /    
Maurer 551 by Larson Brothers. Steel String Guitar, late 1920s

This Larson Brothers Maurer 551 dates to the late 1920s and uses an Auditorium sized body, 15 inches wide. As was often the case in the period, there is no serial number and records are scarce, so it is difficult to date exactly. The top is Spruce, the back and sides are Brazilian Rosewood, with a number of old repairs to both. The neck is mahogany, with Ebony used for the fingerboard and bridge. The scale length is a modern 25.6 inches, and the nut width a fairly wide 1.9 inches. The finish base is original but there are a number of touchups and some overspray.

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THE TWELFTH FRET

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