Joseph Bohmann 1893-1894 Presentation Guitar (Parlor)

An exqusit parlor size guitar made by Joseph Bohmann of Chicago.  A very rare piece made of exceptional materials including a solid Andarondac sprice top and Brazilian rosewood back and sides and fretboard and a pyramid solid ivory bridge.  Two repaired top cracks, replaced bridge and end pin and a couple of missing pieces in the binding but otherwise this piece is in excellent condition.  These guitars are X braced and will handle modern steel stings.  Big sound that surpasses Martins of this period.

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 until 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"