Anybody own or played the Larson Bros. copies? I was leafing thru a Vintage Guitar rag in a local music store when I saw the ad for a new company making LarsBros knock-offs. I got distracted and had to put the rag down and never got back to the article/ad. Anyone have info/feedback? Thanks,CC

Not that one, but Mass Street has the ultimate Larson copy: Blazer-Henkes. The best there is.

Franklin Jumbo is superficially close.

Roy McAlister in his Vintage Series (at least the OM-28 I have and the D-28 that SteveQ has) uses the "arched" top (for flat-top) construction method of the Larson Bros. from the turn of the last century.

I asked Roy about it and he mentioned that he started experimenting with this back in the 90's, and found the arched top gained significant strength, tonal projection and articulation. All I know is the McAlister version of the arched top produces a frickin canon, which is very loud and incredibly responsive, with notes jumpin out of the box.

Don't know if the Larson Bros. copies mentioned so far in this thread also use this technique.

Cowboycamper, try larsonbrothersguitars.com (see the reference to Frankie Montuoro, noted to be currently building guitars in the method of the Larson Bros.). That may be what your looking for.

I suspect that you're thinking of Tony Klassen's "ARK New Era" guitars ("ARK", I imagine, being Tony's initials). Tony has an extensive collection of original Larsons and his reproductions have drawn great praise from Bob Hartman, Carl Larson's grandson and the author of "Larson's creations." I've not played an ARK, but would like to.

ARK New Era

Here's an ARK that is very similar to my original Larson/Maurer 541 and 551:

Ah, I just looked a bit closer at the ARK site. Beautiful stuff, indeed. Tony does do Stahl style 7/Maurer style 51 that looks to be a perfect replication of my Larsons:



(BTW, I've got no connection with ARK and don't know Tony.)

Thanks guys,I'll check these tips out.

I used to own a great 30's Maurer J-185 shaped mahogany back and sides exactly like the one Patsy Montana is holding with her daughters seated around her in the Larson Bros. book.Tony Rice even played mine after I had the neck reset back in the early 90's. I don't know what I was thinking but I traded it for a new D-45 a few years later....DUH! Last I heard it was in Aussie-land. I got to play one of Steffan Grossman's old Larsons,same small jumbo shape but in maple I think. Great fingerstyle ragtime,blues machines.

Here's another builder who has gotten some positive stroke at UMGF.

http://www.montuoroguitars.com/index.html

My guitars are by no means Larson copies but they did inspire me to laminate my braces - the laminations are of Spruce and Brazilian Rosewood. This has an effect on both tone and stability.

http://www.nkforsterguitars.com