A.C. Fairbanks & Co. Parlor c. 1900s

This parlor guitar features a solid spruce top and solid Brazilian rosewood for the sides and back. The ebony fingerboard is adorned with beautiful mother-of-pearl inlays. The slotted headstock features non-original tuners, and on the back there is a metal plate engraved with “The A.C. Fairbanks & Co. Makers – Boston, Mass.”

This parlor guitar, which is over a hundred years old, has been through quite a bit over the years. The top, back, and sides show several repaired cracks, as can be clearly seen in the photos. The cracks are stable and do not affect the structural integrity of the instrument.

The bracing and neck construction are not designed to withstand the high tension of modern steel strings. That is why we have chosen to string the guitar with Silk & Steel strings and tune it a half-step lower.

The guitar also features an original ebony pyramid bridge with a slanted bone saddle. Despite its age and the inevitable signs of wear from its past, this Fairbanks plays and sounds exceptionally well.

A truly unique early American parlor for the enthusiast who isn’t put off by a bit of history and signs of wear. This vintage piece is certainly not for “the faint of heart,” but that’s exactly what makes it so interesting.

Comes with a sturdy case.