Ivory bridge, I'm assuming?

Peter

It is ivory — my understanding is that this one was part of a small group of Bohmanns that were found in the attic of his former workshop in the '60s or '70s.

Quote from: Nova Constellatio on May 18, 2026, 03:00:31 PMHow about something wackier?

Yessir, that's nice. 😎

I've never seen one in-person, just read about them. Yours looks like the presentation grade model. Jake Wildwood sketched out what looked like a double-X bracing pattern on a plainer one. The curious part of me always wonders if there was an evolution in them? I love to see stuff like that... art you can play.

*again, for those following, Robert Corwin has a nice page on his site too: https://vintagemartin.com/Bohmann.html

I'm pretty sure this one is later than the catalogue, based on the headstock/tuners. It's a pretty sounding guitar, but can't hold its own next to a Martin of Larson Brothers production.

Quote from: Nova Constellatio on May 19, 2026, 09:44:11 AMI'm pretty sure this one is later than the catalogue, based on the headstock/tuners. It's a pretty sounding guitar, but can't hold its own next to a Martin of Larson Brothers production.

Somewhere waaaaay back in this thread you can find another Chicago-made parlor-sized guitar. I sold it in a recent downsizing, but it was a Lyon & Healy factory George Washburn... a 223 from the late 1800's. Just a twitch larger than a Martin Size 1. I had promised it to a guy I worked with if ever the day came. He plays it regularly now. 

I had a 000-sized, x-braced Washburn from that era that I let go in a trade. Old Washburns don't get the respect they deserve. I'm particularly fond of the Tonk Brothers models with the smiley bridges — they really punch above their weight.

Quote from: Nova Constellatio on May 19, 2026, 12:35:20 PMI had a 000-sized, x-braced Washburn from that era that I let go in a trade. Old Washburns don't get the respect they deserve. I'm particularly fond of the Tonk Brothers models with the smiley bridges — they really punch above their weight.

Keep speakin' my language, David. 

You might enjoy this fella's channel... his main axe is a '35 D-18, but Kenny loves old Gibsons, Regals, Washburns and Harmonys too. Just about any old guitar makes his list. We've been buds for years, decades now, and a couple guitars in his collection used to be mine. Including a late-40's Regal Milord. (I think it's way back in this thread somewhere too) Here's one of those Tonk Bros. guitars on a short.

https://youtube.com/shorts/JJ8g-evM_kU?si=e8Xe5hJ3ujio3X11

I've never owned one, but played a couple. The last one I remember was at the shop of a luthier who was working on it. He'd never seen one and wasn't sure what it was. They aren't commonplace here. 

I love how their OM-ish guitars sound. Roy Bookbinder had an incredible one for sale around ten years ago, but it was pricey.

Seems like I remember he sold off a few guitars a while back. Norman Blake decluttered his locker too. Between them they flooded the market with hyper-cool stuff. 🤣

Here's one not likely to see many of. It's my Cousin's dream guitar; a Late 30's J-35 reimagined by Wayne Henderson. I forget all the bartering that went into that transaction but it's a great guitar. Wayne really nailed that vintage Gibson sound.

He's an incredible builder — I don't recall seeing anything Gibson-inspired by him.

Norman sold a bunch, but I just gave up a National resonator to him a few months ago.

Here's another fun Chicago-made guitar from the '30s for you (this one's Spanish Style, not a lap steel):

Had to go look that one up.  It's apparently a rare Model 401.

Not only the first production solidbody Electric Spanish, but also the first hum-cancelling pickup — each string has its own coil.

Quote from: Nova Constellatio on May 21, 2026, 11:34:31 AMHe's an incredible builder — I don't recall seeing anything Gibson-inspired by him.

Norman sold a bunch, but I just gave up a National resonator to him a few months ago.

Here's another fun Chicago-made guitar from the '30s for you (this one's Spanish Style, not a lap steel):

I never of Mr. Henderson going Kalamazoo, either; that's right groovy!
I have friend who collects (and plays out; "Wow, DK, is that...."  "Yeah, here, play it!"  And hands me a ginyooine Rickenbacker Frying Pan, or an oval-hole archtop from a maker you would know but which is evading my brain at this moment, or.......)  who has a large number of Slingerland Maybell instruments; I'll have to ask him if he's familiar with that one.

Peter

I'll bet he's got one — they're worth chasing.

Quote from: Nova Constellatio on May 21, 2026, 11:34:31 AM....
Here's another fun Chicago-made guitar from the '30s for you (this one's Spanish Style, not a lap steel):

Now that is a new one on me... lap steels, yes, Slingerland, check, Spanish-style... and not lap steel? Wha? Never. Come to think of it, Rick Turner made a thing a few years ago made on the idea of an old KayKraft, had a Rickenbacker type horseshoe pickup. It was a roundneck guitar, meant clearly for slide style. Nothing like this though. I'll have to look for pics of my lap steel... haven't had that thing out in a couple years. Mine is a 50's Gibson BR9. Pretty sure just a P-90 in a poplar board with a plastic fingerboard. I played it on exactly ONE recording. 

I just repaired a Maybell Slingerland parlor guitar for one of my shop customers. It had brass frets, and a couple of them were bucked. Couple high spots here and there. I dressed them up and restrung it. I didn't take any pics, because I've kinda' gotten away from that for shop customers' stuff, but this one had a cool stencil art on the top of three horn and lyre-playing Cherubs. Very colorful. (here's one just like it)

https://jakewildwood.blogspot.com/2017/01/1930s-regal-made-slingerland-maybell.html?m=1

And somewhere on the planet, I own a Maybell Slingerland guitar-banjo. I loaned it out to a guy who used it in a musical. He was primarily a guitar player who needed to make banjo sounds for whatever production he was in. I should probably just write that one off.