This is a fully restored Supertone 212 parlor guitar probably from the 1920s. Supertone was the house brand for Sears and Roebuck and were made by multiple companies over the years, initially Harmony which the Sears company purchased in 1916, then sold off in 1940.
While I suspect that this is an early Harmony guitar, this 212 model also seems to match a similar configuration used by Washburn guitars of the era and also probably Regal. Both Regal and Washburn instruments were literally made in the same facility during this time and most of the Chicago builders including Harmony shared parts, bodies, and necks as needed and frequently did jobber work for other brands.
It has Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, Adirondack Spruce top, a bound Mahogany neck, original black button three on a plate tuners, frets and ebony (I believe) fingerboard. It has a non original Martin style pyramid bridge and beautiful colored wood purfling around the top and sound hole. The guitar is ladder braced and all braces are original, secure and well glued.
There had been significant damage to this guitar which had been partially repaired but never finished. There was a punch in on the top that had been re-glued, but a small section of wood was missing and just filled with glue. There had also been an extensive side split that had been glued, but on the process, about six 1/4” holes had been drilled in the side on either side of the split, presumably to assist in the repair. The holes were plugged with rosewood but were poorly done and quite visible. In addition, the neck had been loosened, but not fully removed. The corners of the headstock had been whittled down a bit (you can still see the blade cuts) for what reason, I have no idea.
I was able to remove the neck and fix the internal damage to the heel. I then re-glued and re-enforced the side split and drop filled in the areas around the plugs that were not level, then cleaned out and re-glued the punch in on the top, adding in a bit of spruce to fill in the missing piece. I re-enforced both the punch in and the side split with veneer patches inside the guitar.
I then did a fairly extensive french polish on the guitar (hand rubbed shellac as was originally on the instrument), preserving the original finish, but filling in and leveling a great deal of finish damage in the process, particularly around the top punch in. The french polish made the Brazilian Rosewood in the back and sides really came to life and the top just shine! Once the body work and finished, I re-set the neck angle and re-assembled the guitar. I added a compensated bone saddle. The frets were leveled, crowned and polished and the action was set low and fast on the rounded, slightly V profile neck.
The French polish finish is gorgeous with striking grain in the Brazilian Rosewood and a rich amber hue to the top. It's set up with low easy action and is currently strung up with John Pearse Phosphor bronze 50SL Slightly Light strings (11 -50). The intonation is spot on and there are no buzzes anywhere up the neck.
This is a sweet little guitar. The sound is clear, brilliant and rich as you would expect from a Brazilian rosewood parlor, but with a solid low end. The small body makes it a joy to play, particularly fingerstyle. The width at the neck is 1 7/8".
Due to its extensive repair, I am selling this guitar well below what you’d expect to pay for mid 20’s Brazilian parlor guitar. No case, but will be carefully packed and insured.
My price, $875.00.
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$875.00Price
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