Instruments for Sale
I do have some guitars in stock for sale: some new, some pre-owned older master guitars and some rare antique guitars too- enquire please. I also look to buy outright fine master guitars- contact me with what you have for sale please.
Louis Pons, 'le Jeune', Paris, 1820
A good guitar by Pons Jeune, made in Paris, 1820. There is a Mother of Pearl plaque inset into the ebony headstock veneer to this effect as well as the correct original paper label internally.Table is of fine grained pine, flush with fingerboard, the join being just beyond the 12th fret, and there are further tapered frets inset into the table. Rosette of plain bands in ebony, with whalebone stringing. Bridge original, with all bridge pins present
and a long repaired crack, extending in line with the 2nd b string, all the way from the rosette under the bridge and down to the rib. Another fine crack, repaired, on bass side flank, well repaired and almost invisible, and another in front of the rosette, in line with E pin all the way up to the rosette, again repaired. All cracks are hardly visible. The table is edged in ebony and whalebone stringing, with a small 5 cms section of whalebone replaced in the lower bass bout. One other short minor crack alongside the edge of the frets as they progress onto the table, treble side, of no structural consequence. The internal barrings are transverse, with the lower bout bar behind the bridge set at an angle, and another in front of the bridge, converging, at an angle- as well as the upper and lower straight set harmonic bars. There is also a further original support placed under the first string, extending from the block to the behind the upper harmonic bar, a feature later seen in for example much later for example in lutes by David Rubio and other early guitars too. The table has a natural waxed finish, and is probably the same type of finish as would have originally been used. The tables on these guitars was often left umpolished.
The ribs are Cuban Mahogany, now a commercially extinct specie, cut on the slab, very attractive dark bown colour, and have no major cracks, or repairs, apart from one where a bar has pushed through slightly, and 2 small splits about 1 cm long near the bottom block, and one near the top block. The ribs have at some stage been re-polished. For a guitar of some 180 years old, its not in bad condition!
Back of the same matching wood, 2 piece joined at the centre, with no inserted purfling, and a small repaired crack near the bottom block about 7 cms long, the wood being cut on the quarter with a most attractive lightly figured grain. The back may have been re-polished in my view, but some time ago. The back on this guitar is solid wood, rather than the veneered type often seen on guitars of this period.
Neck is veneered in ebony,( as opposed to being stained black and 'ebonised') with the unusual feature of the contoured heel block being of solid carved ebony, joined in 2 pieces, and the usual neck/head splice being a long tapered V join. The original fingerboard is of ebony, set flush with the table, and the replacement frets are true, so it will play clearly. The action is good.( It will be sold with a new set of correct strings fitted). The head is Cuban mahogany core, veneered both sides with ebony, and inset with a shield. The tuners are of Pons Patent ( I believe) pegs with tension screws, beautifully made brass wing nuts, to release, adjust and secure the strings, to keep tuning easy and stable. A complete original set like this in such good condition is rare to find. They work well.
Supplied in original contemporary wooden case, black, with the handle and latches intact and working.
Condition:
There are some old repairs, and some old cracks, but overall I would say in good condition. It is after all 180 years old. (see paragraphs above for full detail on repairs and cracks) but this guitar is fully playable, and looks very attractive. There is no distortion or sinking anywhere on this guitar. It has held up superbly over its long life, so far, largely because of the high quality of materials an design, and the high quality of workmanship displayed here.
The guitar was the property of a well known American collector, now deceased, and is now offered for sale from the estate, so all offers are subject to confirmation by the executors. Please contact me for the asking price.
Dimensions:
- Scale length: 63.3 cms
- Width of fingerboard at Nut: 45 mm
- Width of fingerboard at 12th fret: 58 mm
- Width of fingerboard at 19th fret: n/a
- String spacing at nut: 39.5 mm
- Neck Thickness under 1st fret: 19 mm
- String Spacing at bridge: 60 mm
- Neck Thickness under 10th fret: 24,5 mm
- Body length, excl. heel: 435 mm
- Body Width Lower Bout: 285 mm
- Waist: 163 mm
- Body Width Upper Bout: 208 mm
- Body depth: from 90 mm to 76 mm.
Photos: Click here
Price:
Enquire. (Subject to confirmation) Sale includes original wooden case
Price excludes freight, taxes etc. and VAT ( VAT zero rated if exported from EC, packing free, freight charged at cost- (ParcelForce, FedEx, or UPS)
The guitar can be sent out for approval, for a 48 -hour period after receipt. However, all freight charges, inwards and outwards, must be borne by the client, import duties may be levied in some countries, and for the USA the 'Lacey Declaration' has to be complete in addition to any CITES permit needed. Payment must be in full in advance, and evidence provided of insurance for the journey. For these additional services, a charge will be made. Funds will be refunded in full, provided the guitar arrives back in the shop in the same condition as when it left. If these conditions are not met, then the guitar will be considered 'Sold'.
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