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I recently had a Stahl/Larson come into my shop that needed a lot of work, several major back and side cracks, missing purfling and inlay, neck reset, cracked bridge and damaged bridge plate among other things.

I showed it around Minneapolis to some knowledgeable folks like Ron Tracy at Hoffmans, Haans Brentrup, Dakota Dave Hull, and Marty Reynolds from The Podium.

All agreed it was made for Wm Stahl by the Larson Brothers but I have had trouble finding the exact model on line. It is very close to many pictures but the headstock inlay is different.

It does not have laminated braces as far as I can tell unless there is a same-wood laminate in the center that I can't see. The glue joints inside the box are pretty sloppy and the only markings are the William Stahl Milwaukee stamp on the backstrip and a partially legible serial # in the headblock. It has an unusual tooled leather case that opens from the end.

This is the only link I found that shows pretty much the exact guitar and case. The interior shots are almost identical although the work is not quite as sloppy on the one I have.

http://theunofficialmartinguitarforum.y ... 09t_Nfm_q4

Any of you repair guys seen this exact model and know anything about where it sits in the Stahl/Larson heirachy? Ballpark value?

The repairs came out great and is is a delightful little sweetheart to play with silk/steel strings. The whole thing vibrates against your body with the slightest provocation.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

THe guitar looks almost exactly like a Stahl "Style 8" pictured on plate XVIII [18] of the Hartman book "The Larsons Creations". THe head plate inlay is like a Prairie State Model 587 on Plate XIX[19] of the book…. I'm certain that Larsons were purchasing the pearl inlays precut as many of the styles are the same as several contemporary banjo manufactures. I'd guess there was some variation in "what one do we want to put on this guitar" as opposed to a strict rule, possibly dependent on what they had on hand and what was available from the pearl supplier.


BTW: The Stahl 8 pictured in the book was once owned by both Hendrix and Clapton…. but as I said yours has a different headstock inlay that appeared regularly om Prairie States, Maurers, and other Stahls.

Michael, I ordered the book. Thanks

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.