1920 Beltone Ciritto/Cianni Grand Concert

$1,950.00

  • Year: 1920 (Circa)
  • Manufacturer: Beltone Ciritto/Cianni
  • Model: Grand Concert
  • Case: Hard
  • Color: Natural
  • Condition: Excellent
  • Description: A beautiful example of a NYC Italian Guild® grand concert flat top guitar from the early 20th Century. A number of Italian luthiers such as Ciritto, Cianni and Iucci worked in NYC in small shops, and some likely with the Oscar Schmidt factory in nearby Jersey City as well. Although relatively rare, examples of these well made instruments surface from time to time, but rarely with the high end appointments of this example. Body is a nice grade of mahogany with multiple-bound spruce top, ladder braced; neck is mahogany with a fancy bound and inlaid ebony fingerboard. Headstock is overlaid with Brazilian rosewood with 'Beltone' etched in an inlaid piece of abalone. Deluxe original tuners. Ebony pyramid bridge also appears original. The guitar is in overall excellent condition but for two repairs of note: The headstock appears to have been broken/cracked at one time and professionally repaired, and there are several top cracks that radiate north and south from the bridge. Otherwise, very little playing wear to the shiny original finish. The lower bout measures just under 15", and the scale length is almost 26 1/2". The neck is 1 13/16" at the nut, string spacing is 2 1/4" across at the saddle and the neck has a very comfortable 'C' profile. The action is 6/64" at the high E, and 7/64" at the low E; the neck was professionally reset in the past. Tuned down a half step this guitar rings clear and loud with almost dark tones, and is very comfortable to play. A dream guitar for fingerpickers.