ABOUT LUTHIER

Larson Brothers Guitars and Structural Design

Larson Guitars, marketed under a myriad of names such as Maurer, Euphonon and Prairie State, are legendary. Yet there were so few of them built, that many guitar aficionados , even many vintage guitar dealers have seen only a few if any. The few guitar experts who have encountered a reasonable quantity of Larsons recognize that these are extraordinary instruments , built notably differently than any other maker. Martin and Gibson guitars are often very fine, factory built instruments , but in no way do they compare sonically to a Larson . In much the same way as a D’Angelico or D’Aquisto is a exceptional , handbuilt arch top , the Larsons sense of structure, sonic identity , and hand craftsmanship sets them apart from any other guitar maker.

Frankie Montuoro is possibly the only luthier alive who has had the good fortune to be exposed to a substantial quantity of Larsons, and being the meticulous craftsman he is , has made a years long study of the structural ,as well as cosmetic details of Larson instruments. Over the course of restoring well over 20 of these exceptional instruments , he has amassed a depth of knowledge and intimate familiarity with the subtlties of Larson building theory and now has undertaken to apply these observations to his own hand built instruments. The guitars he is now building are not only cosmetically similar to Larsons, they incorporate the unique concepts of structure that truly set the Larson instruments apart . There are many fine craftsmen building guitars today , but none of them are built like Montuoro guitars, built in the tradition of Larson guitars, the finest steel string acoustic guitars ever made.

Dan Alexander

www.larsonbrothersguitars.com