Description: Up for sale, a circa 1890s C. Bruno & Son parlor guitar in excellent condition, complete with the original wooden “coffin” case. Originally known simply as Charles Bruno, C. Bruno and Son was a notable New York-based musical instrument distributor as far back as the early-mid 1800s. As C. Bruno & Son wasn't a manufacturing firm, their instruments were produced by both US-based and European vendors, and this parlor guitar features a solid, ladder-braced spruce top, solid Brazilian rosewood back/sides, a Honduran mahogany neck with a prominent V profile carve, a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, and the original maple bridge plate. The fretboard inlay and rosette likely represented a special order upgrade from the model's stock appointments (C. Bruno offered many marquetry upgrades through their catalogs), and the rosette is particularly ornate, with notched pearl diamonds framed by rope binding. This C. Bruno & Son guitar has received the service befitting an instrument of its vintage including a neck reset, reseated bridge, and a tall carved bone saddle. While originally designed for gut strings, this parlor can easily handle the tension of light gauge bronze strings, and its 11 5/8" wide body offers an exceedingly well-balanced sound, with a responsive, dynamic feel. There's a punchy, immediate quality to the sound and the trebles have a woody crispness and presence. The low end has a rich bloom and sweetness, and the instrument is very sympathetic to fingerstyle playing. This C. Bruno & Son Style parlor is featherweight at 2lbs 6oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 bronze strings and easy-playing action. Neck Specs: -Wood: Mahogany -Shape: V, measuring .890” 1st fret, 1.015” 9th fret -Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood, abalone dot and triangle inlays -Frets: Slender, leveled and crowned, faint wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-2 -Scale Length: 24” -Nut: 1 3/4”, ebony -Tuners: Open-gear strip -Factory Markings: Bruno brand on neck block Body Specs: -Wood: Spruce, Brazilian rosewood -Bracing: Ladder -Bridge: Brazilian rosewood (reseated), drop-in bone saddle (modern), maple bridge plate (original, repaired0 -Label: Small “C. Bruno New York” at soundhole -Marquetry: Notched diamond inlay soundhole rosette, multi-ply purfling on top Crack-free save for a minor professionally-addressed centerline split on the back at the lower bout, this is a remarkably clean C. Bruno, with cosmetic wear limited to some minor dings on top and along the rims and a few finish scratches on the back. The smooth satin finish on the neck profile is nigh flawless. The original wooden “coffin” hardshell case is included, just as well kept as the instrument.
Price: 3499.99 USD
Location: Seattle, Washington
End Time: 2025-01-18T07:57:19.000Z
Shipping Cost: 150 USD
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All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
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Brand: C. Bruno & Son
Model: Parlor
