1949 Schlegel Parlor Fair, GigBag, $125.00

Frankly, folks, I don’t know the identity of the solid woods of which this guitar is constructed. However, I’m confident that it was made in 1949 in Markneurkirchen, Germany, by a Meister Schlegel in a post-war instrument-making studio. This confidence has nothing to do with my scanty knowledge of European guitars, although it resembles pictures of many guitars from that area and period. It is based primarily on the rather clear label inside the sound hole, but also on the facts that I bought it from a dealer in Germany and both of the other parlor guitars that I bought from him were identified as German or Austrian. I see no other names, logos, serial numbers, or marks still visible anywhere, inside or out, on this vintage instrument.

For what it’s worth, the listing in the catalogue of the dealer in Bad Salzdetfurth, Germany, says the following: “Alte gitarre meister schlegel markneukirchen. Alte gitarre von 1949 aus markneukirchen. Die gitarre weist gebrauchsspuren auf. Saiten sollten erneurt warden. Etwas laienhafte restaurationsarbeiten wurden an dem instrument vorgenommen. Die saitenmechanik ist unterschiedlich. Gesamtlange: 94 cm, korpus: 45 cm. Ich biete die gitarre zur vorsicht als defect fur bastler an. Bilder sind bestanteil der beschreibung.” From what little I remember of my German, it sounds like he knows very little more than I do about this 67-year-old instrument.

What I can see: the guitar’s solid wood back and sides could be mahogany, while the top is probably spruce with a darker stain. There are position markers on the hardwood fretboard and an apparently original end pin, but the classical strings-through bridge and the classical 2” nut argue that this is designed to be a small classical guitar, not a steel-string parlor guitar. The guitar’s total length is about 37”, with a body length of about 19” and a lower bout of 12 1/2”, with the 12/18-fret fingerboard ending in the Rosewood bridge with what appears to be a new saddle. The highly decorated slotted headstock was probably hand-carved by Herr Schlegel, but the tuner sets are quite different; clearly, one set (probably the white-buttoned one) is a replacement.

As far as I can tell, this instrument is in quite playable condition for 67 years old, with light wear on the apparently original very thin frets and little visible wear on the fingerboard, suggesting that it has not been played for much of its recent career. However, there are numerous glued cracks—I count 7 in the top and 2 in the back, with one particularly obvious repair extending the entire length of the back. In addition, the bridge has been re-glued and will probably need to be re-set again. These repairs were clearly “laienhaften” [amateur?] rather than by Herr Schlegel himself. The unmatched open tuner sets are tight, and the ivoroid buttons are in remarkably good shape.

I have not strung it or played it, as I have no classical, ultra-light, or silk-and-steel strings; I therefore can’t vouch for its sound or playability, although the neck angle looks fine to me. I believe it will be tremendous fun to play, of course, as well. I trust it will find a home with a real guitar person who can treat it with the respect it deserves. All in all this is a wonderful period piece, even though it will not be a part of a serious stringed instrument collection.

Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower forty-eight states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashiers and personal checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.

I have tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this vintage instrument, so its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy it.

Thank you for your interest in this cool old guitar.