1895 Joseph Bohmann Harp Guitar 6/12

An fine example of a Joseph Bohmann harp guitar.  For a piece that is 150 years old the harp guitar is in very good condition.  A six string with normal but replaced tuners.  The 12 side tunes with a piano key.  Inside the guitar are resonator bars.  Bohman was one of the first to build a harp guitar and holds numberous patents.  This example has hand painted sunburst finish.  Bohmann is credited with producing some of the first sunburst finishes.  The guitar is birdseye maple body and sides with mahogany neck.  The fretboards are Brazilian Rosewood.  This piece is playable and has a deep rich tone.

Joseph Bohmann is an American string instrument maker. He and his family immigrated from Prussia to Illinois around 1864.
He founded "Bohmann’s American Musical Industry" in Chicago around 1876 and soon became famous due to the quality of his Instruments. After winning multiple World Exposition awards from 1889 to 1900, Bohmann became an American Academy of instrument makers charter and committee member.
Besides being one of the first, if not THE first, to build mandolins in America;  Bohmann had many patents to his credit; and the guitars he built in the 1880's and after used strong internal bracing and could accommodate steel strings.   In fact, strung with light gauge steel strings, the sound of his parlor guitars has been said to equal, and possibly surpass, the sound of the bigger Martins of the same era.Most examples of his 6 string flattops known today are of rather simple designs, but he did make some high-end and presentation guitars

His instruments are rare and sought after today.

- Overall length- 36.5"
- Neck length- 16 1/2"
- Fretboard width at nut- 1 13/16"
- Body length- 18"
- Width upper bout- 9 1/2"
- Depth upper bout- 3"
- Width lower bout- 11.75"
- Depth lower bout- 3 1/2"
- Soundhole diameter- 3 1/2"
- Scale length- 24.5"