Mannings Musicals

Here is a LUCIDA GUITARRON, (MARIACHI BASS) WITH GIG BAG. It is in very good, as new condition.

Here is a CMI 1970’s JUMBO ACOUSTIC GUITAR, made in JAPAN. It is in very good playing condition.

Currently for sale on ebay.

 Here is a Tanglewood TW70 acoustic guitar, current RRP £539. It is in very good condition with a straight neck, no wear to the frets or fingerboard.

It comes with a good quality Ritter gig bag (cost £30), and a fitted Seymour Duncan ‘Woody’ sound hole pick up (cost £40). The only issue with it was a strap button fitted in the wrong place. I have removed it and filled the small screw hole (see pic 9).

It is grand auditorium size, it has a solid spruce top with solid mahogany back and sides.

Here is a 50’s or 60’s parlour style guitar by Zenith. It plays really well with a good action. It is in good condition, good frets and fingerboard. There is slight shrinkage to the centre join in the top. The tuners are stiff to turn but still work fine. But it doesn’t affect it. The label has a model name “JOSH WHITE” crossed out and a new model name written in ink “SPANISH CONCERT”. It has the usual Ivor Mairants signature.

Here is a vintage 1960’s Selmer guitar case. I originally got it with an Hofner committee. But i’m sure Selmer supplied these cases with other arch top guitars. All the catches and hinges are present and working as they should. The leather handle has been repaired, and ideally needs replacing. It has obviously had 3 stickers on the lid, the silhouette drawing appears to be John Lennon. The green plush lining is in very good condition. Please study the 11 photos for the outer condition. 

Internal measurements –

Width at bottom bout = 18″.

Top bout = 13 1/2″.

Bottom to middle compartment = 24″.

Overall length = 44″.

Depth = 6″.

Late 50’s Roger archtop guitar. Handmade by Wensel Rossmeisl, it is a “Junior cutaway” model.
The serial # is 2518. It is all original apart from one changed tuner button. Both top and bottom parts of the bridge are hollow. The tuners are stamped Roger. The scratchplate is missing.  There are 2 filled screwholes where a floating pickup was once fitted.

Dimensions.
Width at nut = 45mm.
Scale length = 630mm.
Lower bout width = 435mm.
Overall height = 1060mm.

This is a Zenith 1950’s archtop imported by Boosey & Hawkes. I believe they were made in Germany. The label states, “The new zenith de luxe model. This instrument, Serial No. BIJOU 2068 has been tested and approved by Ivor Mairants (signature). Sole distributors Boosey & Hawkes LTD London”. It has new tuners, an added Artec neck pickup & a new bone saddle. Otherwise it is all original. No cracks or separations, good straight, 3 part neck. Neck, back and front are all bound. It is made of all solid wood. This is the 5th one of these I’ve had, & they have all had the same Serial No!

Here is a Lyon & Healy parlour or parlor guitar made around late 1800’s, 1900? If you can help with dating it, please let me know. I have just been informed it may be early 1926. See questions below.

Q:	Hi from Paris, The serial number places your guitar in early 1926. Although it is possible that the back is solid, sides are for sure laminated like all L&H of this period. This was made to strengthen the body, and at the time it was not a way to cut costs… It is not braced for modern steel strings so I would recommand Thomastik rope core or spectrum extra light. They will save the top and provide the perfect vintage sound of these instruments. I personally own a L&H of the same year with a bigger body but not in such a good shape and a 1912 Washburn. Good luck Jeff
A:	Hi Jeff, many thanks for your input. I thought the ink stamp is a model or style number. Also the ‘upside down’ tuner cogs date it earlier. I think they probably are original. Although they work fine, why keep them if they aren’t? Of course i may be totally wrong, you obviously have more experience of these than me. My knowledge of L&H guitars is limited, after all, they don’t turn up everyday! I’ll leave string choice to the new owner.

Originally it had a tailpiece & floating bridge, now it has a fixed bridge of the appropriate style. You can see the filled screwholes in the bottom where the tailpiece used to be.

The brand in the back strip states “MADE BY LYON & HEALY CHICAGO ILL. USA”. There is an ink stamp inside on the top block, 274-7. It has a bone nut & saddle, 5 bone bridge pins, the other being plastic. The neck is perfectly straight with no fret or fingerboard wear. It has the classic V profile. 

The bracing for the top is very minimal, one above the soundhole, one slightly diagonal below the soundhole, and a bridge brace that runs the whole width across. This gives it a large free area for producing that all important element, TONE.

It is very light and resonant.

Solid mahogany back and sides, solid spruce top, ebony finger board and bridge.

In all, a fantastic playing guitar, which has been restored with no expense spared.

Dimensions,

Length = 37″ (940mm).

Width at lower bout = 12 3/4″ (324mm).

Upper bout = 9 1/4″ (235mm).

Body depth at bottom = 4 1/8″ (105mm).

Body depth at heel = 3 1/4″ (83mm). 

Width at nut = 1 3/4″ (45mm).

Scale length = 20 1/4″ (515mm).

Weight = 1.4kg.