Help: civil war era guitars

Subject: civil war era guitars
From: kimmers
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 09:02 PM

I'm looking for information regarding guitars during in America during the Civil War. I know they were played, but in what ways do they differ from modern instruments? And is anyone aware of people making good reproductions or selling kits? I really would like to have one for re-enactments.

Subject: RE: Help: civil war era guitars
From: Les B
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 10:34 PM

Check out the Martin guitar that Elderly Instruments (and I'm sure other purveyors) is offering. It's built to look like a circa 1835 Stouffer but with modern construction so it'll hold up. Don't know what the price is, however, you've got to call them. Washburn also made some parlour guitars a few years ago that are somewhat like the Civil War era guitars I've seen in photos -- small body, slotted headstock.

Subject: RE: Help: civil war era guitars
From: GUEST,Uncle Jaque
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 10:44 PM

I have written several articles on this subject, as have others; try a thread search on this forum, or look up my "Civil War Musicians" forum on Delphi (can't get to the URL just now) then look under "Instruments". For specific questions, drop me a line at: [e-mail] I am restoring a couple of parlor guitars now - one of which i played extensively at reenactments and school programs until it blew a brace and started peeling it's deck! I think that at least one lutherie is reproducing a small-bodied "parlor" style of the 1850's - CW period style, and I'm not sure but what Martin will make one on special order - if you've got the buck$! Check with George WUNDERLICH of WUNDER BANJO - although a banjo specialist, he might be able to advise on guitar sources. Once you've got a clue what you're looking for, look for intact or restorable specimens at flea-markets, pawn shops, or perhaps e-bay. They are getting scarce, sad to say... but when properly set up and strung (gut) they are sweet little instruments with a distinctive sound and action. Good luck!
Uncle Jaque, Musician, 3rd Reg't. MAINE Vol. Inf. Field Music (recently attached to 2nd Brigade, USV)

Subject: RE: Help: civil war era guitars
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 10:52 PM

Hi Kimmers. Actually it shouldn't be hard to get an instrument of that style but you're gonna pay for it. Not neccessarily thousands, but close. The 12th Fret here in Toronto (check their website) have two pre-1900 Martins at pretty reasonable prices.......but.......here's a thought. It's brand new and sounds great, but it's cheap and the right size and shape. Larrivee's Parlour guitar might fill the bill.

Rick

Subject: RE: Help: civil war era guitars
From: kimmers
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 11:08 PM

Hi, Rick. Cheap is good, I'll check out that Larrivee's Parlour guitar. I just want something that won't stick out like a sore thumb at re-enactments.

Thanks to all; this will help me get started. Looking forward to many long evenings around the campfire...

Kim Heggen Civilian, with 116th Pennsylvania Company "B" Irish Brigade

Subject: RE: Help: civil war era guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 11:21 PM

The Larrivee will pas nicely and its well made and sounds great! We have run several threads that you may want to back and look at on the Larrivee. Also, in the LINKS section, you'll find under "Instrument Related" all the addy (as Hot Links) to Larrivee and also Elderly Instruments (great prices, good people).

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: civil war era guitars
From: Lonesome Gillette
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 11:47 PM

How can I find out about these re-enactments, do they have music at them, what are they like?

Subject: RE: Help: civil war era guitars
From: kimmers
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 11:57 PM

Lonesome Gillette:

I think there's a whole thread on re-enacting that was running recently. I do American Civil War re-enacting. It's popular all over the USA, and you can find local groups on the Internet. Yes, there is often some very wonderful music. Our unit has the Oregon Fife and Drum Corp which recreates authentic field music. Lots of folks bring guitars, banjos, fiddles and so forth and play period pieces (and there's been a thread on that too).

Subject: RE: Help: civil war era guitars
From: Kim C
Date: 07 Nov 00 - 10:55 AM

The Martin Stauffer was $1500 from Elderly, last time I checked. :(

For reenactments, we got a CHEAP guitar, so that if anything happened to it, we would not be a)heartbroken or b)out much money. Mister bought a used Epi nylon-string guitar for $60. It has a good sound and the tuning pegs are at the back of the headstock like the old guitars. Older models, like the Stauffer, have the tuning pegs all at the top - but that's an 1830s style and I have not seen it in 1850s-60s guitars. (doesn't mean you can't use it, though) I mean, if I had a Larivee, I would not even think about taking it camping. I have sloshed through rain and mud at reenactments more times than I care to count.

Civil War era guitars are generally narrower through the "waist," as it were, than modern guitars. But the Epi is a small guitar and doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. Oddly, this has become the favorite house guitar, even though we both have "nice" guitars too.

Subject: RE: Help: civil war era guitars
From: Bert
Date: 09 Nov 00 - 01:25 PM

Would this be any good?

Subject: RE: Help: civil war era guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 09 May 01 - 10:48 AM

I jist got back from a CW reenactment Hammonnasset CT and visiting with pards in the 2nd So.Carolina String Band. As I was fortunate to pick up a number of reasonably priced 19th century parlor guitars on internet auctions lately I was anxious to road test them. And their guitar player had also picked up a few. We had in camp a half a dozen and it looked like a little museum. The cheapest there had been gotten for $75, the most was $250 (needless to say the cheap ones reqired some repair). Here are some general attributes of the 1850's guitar compared to the modern conterpart. -smaller than dreadnaught, less flat in the shoulder and base, narrow at the waist. -Bouts more round or oval. -Pyramid bridge (US) or mustache bridge (Europe) -Sound hole often decorated. -Ice-cream cone heel, round neck -Bar frets -ladder bracing

Can anyone correct or improve this.

Subject: RE: Help: civil war era guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 09 May 01 - 12:40 PM

Go for the Larivee Par;lor if you can find one. I understand they are no longer being made. The one my brother Gary drives is a great little guitar. Its so much like my Martin O-16NY that I have trouble telling which is who based on the sound alone. The look is close to right as well.

Also look for Bay State guitars, old G. Washburns, Ditsons or the names of instruments advertised in reprint Sears catalogs from the last century.

Takamine made a nice retro accoustic a few years back as well.

Don

Subject: RE: Help: civil war era guitars
From: Kim C
Date: 09 May 01 - 12:46 PM

I'd sure like to know where you can get a parlor guitar for $250 or less. Here in Nashville finding old instruments is somewhat akin to the search for the needle in the haystack, and if you do find it, be prepared for a double amputation.

Subject: RE: Help: civil war era guitars
From: richardw
Date: 09 May 01 - 12:57 PM

One that we have used is an 1850s Bruno. When we recorded "Rough But Honest Miner: reclaimed music of the 1860s gold rush," we wanted something that had a reasonable "authentic" sound, not a deadnaught boom. Our guitarist Ken Hamm, borrowed back an 1850s Bruno parlour guitar he had just sold for $800 cdn. It had a sweet sound. I don't have a photo of it but the sound comes through clearly on the CD. I would buy it in a moment if it was for sale.

Cheers Richard Wright http:goldrushbc.com

Subject: RE: Help: civil war era guitars
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 09 May 01 - 11:13 PM

I've nearly got my little "Victoria" up and running, although it has a habit of shedding tuning knobs, and I can't find any more period-authentic ones around the shop!
These little guys were braced much more lightly than modern classicals which is all right for the gut strings which they were designed for, and as such usually have a lovely, sweet, melodious sound - surprisingly full for such a diminutive instrument. Sadly, they were almost invariably subjected to considerable abuse as they were handed down through the generations, and I seldom encounter one outside of a museum which has not been strung and overstressed with steel and/or ripped up with picks, probably by youthful "Elvis" imitators. The old hide glue dries out and lets go, necks warp and decks split and seperate. "Vulcanite" or hard rubber tuning knobs disintegrate in time (usually worse than ivoroid or celluloid, an early form of plastic) as I well know. If an antique instrument is found, plan on doing (or paying for) considerable restoration and regular maintainance.
For reenacting, I would think long and hard about exposing a surviving relic to the rigors and security risks of the field, and preffer a restored later period (parlor style guitars were common up through the 1930's) "klunker" or utilitarian reproduction for those memorable campfire singalongs.

Subject: RE: Help: civil war era guitars
From: GUEST,Midchuck upstairs
Date: 10 May 01 - 08:25 AM

As I am surprised that bigchuck has not already mentioned, he being a proud father of one, Martin has just gotten the 000-15S into stores, after claiming it was released more than a year ago.

The -15 models are all-mohogany bodies (including top) with a satin finish. The 000-15S is a 000-size (duhh!), twelve frets to the body, round shouldered, wide neck, slotted headstock, model that would is, visually, a very good imitation of a much older guitar.

And it has a tremendous sound, and the street price new is $700+. For an all-solid-wood Martin.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Help: civil war era guitars
From: JedMarum
Date: 10 May 01 - 08:58 AM

taking a guitar to an outdoor event such as a CW re-enactment would would really mean trouble for a fine guitar; humidity, dust, dirt, rain, mud, heat, cold - all of these conditions mean serious trouble for your instrument. I am sure that a fine old vinatge instrumnet will be costly, as will a fine replica - so I agree that the very best option for you is the Larrivee Parlor guitar. This is a fine guitar! It is very much the size and similar shape to popular guitars of the era - and it should cost you about $350US. It is small enough that you can manage to carry it around pretty easily, can be fitted into a period looking gig bag (reverse engineer the modern canvas bag it comes in) and it has a magnificent sound for a small bodied instrument.

I see Elderly is listiong new Parlors for 600 to 800??? But Ebay has two at auction that will go for just over $200. I paid $345 for mine 18 months ago.

best of luck to you!