Very few Grunewald instruments of any type have survived, and a Grunewald 12-string is an extremely rare find today, and a true piece of guitar history.
This is our second Grunewald 12-string, and is identical to the other example we had. The ladder-braced top is spruce with decorative 'rope' purfling, and bound in holly. The back and sides are white oak and feature the same decorative purfling in the back strip. The neck appears to be cedar, typical of many 'parlor' guitars of the era, and is carved in a 'V'-shape. The fingerboard is Brazilian rosewood with three pearl position markers. The headstock overlay is Brazilian as well. The bridge (replacement) is ebony and features two extra bridge pins and metal pins to separate the coursed strings, a feature found on Grunewald guitars. Inside, the heel block, back strip and top brace are stamped with Grunewald inside a crescent, symbol of New Orleans.
The body measures 12 11/16" across at the lower bout, and body depth is 3 13/16" at the end pin. The scale length is 24 11/16", making it a short-scale guitar, easy to play. The neck measures a hair over 2" at the nut and string spacing is 2 9/16" across at the saddle. Action is set at 4 & 5/64".
There were a few repairs when we received the guitar. The bridge was replaced; a few top cracks repaired (under the fingerboard extension and below the bridge) and supported with cleats; the neck was reset; the guitar was over-varnished. We removed and glued a lifting bridge; leveled and dressed the frets. The original tuners were cleaned and lubed.
With a short scale, low action and tuned down a step-and-a-half, the Grunewald 'parlor 12' is a pleasure to play, perfect for ragtime and country blues. Although lacking the deep voice of the Stella jumbo and grand concert 12s, this little brother can hold its own. The sound is bright and jangly, with enough punch in the mid-range and bass to satisfy most ragtime pickers. A really unique instrument in both sound and rarity. Grunewald guitars rarely appear on the vintage market .. we've had two 12s and a 10-string, and are a worthy addition to any collection.
Comes with a new form-fitting hard case.
Check out the sound clip AND video clip!
Grunewald 12-String c 1905 | $OLD | (v2141) Rene Grunewald worked out of New Orleans, the Crescent City, and played a big part in the development of the 12-string guitar. At the tail end of the 19th century an inventor named Carl Brown held a patent for a 10-string guitar. Grunewald received license to manufacture a 10-string, and began doing so at least as early as 1897 according to a trade magazine of the period. The concept for the 10-string arrangement was to provide a guitar player access to octave strings in the first position, an idea that was touted as being 'mastered.. with a few days practice'. Instead of sliding the fretting hand up the fingerboard, the player simply plucked the octave string. Soon after the 10-string, Grunewald began offering the 12-string 'harp guitar'.