Featured Any Guitar Fans? Thrift Find - OLD (1920s?) Santacilla Hollow Body(?) Acoustic Guitar w/F Holes?

Has anyone seen a Santacilla acoustic guitar with F holes? I've searched and haven't found another - the majority I've found were 'parlor' guitars circa 1920s - 1930s and none had F holes.

How old is this guitar? (It has the most unusual/primitive looking piece that the guitar's strings connect to at the base of the guitar's body?)

I know it's in rough shape but it was so beautiful I thought it would be a great wall hanger if it wasn't worth fixing it back up.

Is it as rare as I think? Is it worth putting it back like new or should I sell it As Is?

PS - I saw after taking the photos that I still had the $29 price on the back - I've already taken it off by slowly wiping it with a Mr Clean Magic Eraser & will photograph again before selling

Thank You!

 

Why do they write the price directly onto the item?! So many things must get devalued or damaged.

 

Sharpie pen written on stuff and then they tape stuff like old board games so much you usually have to leave most of it so you don't tear up the graphics.

 

Nice. IMO the dating fits. And it's still original.
Great find. Antique parlor!

2 probs though.
1/ It's in bad shape. And bad is said nicely.
2/ Only the most well known brands have serious worths.

These in good condition are a couple of hundred bucks.
https://reverb.com/item/1084295-collegiate-santacilla-parlor-guitar-1920-s-1930-s

I've owned a parlor that age myself, in good condition. And indeed simular worth.
Restaurating it is only for your pleasure.
And you must be able yourself, as if a specialist must do it you will have a loss. Restaurating this one always will cost. Most cheapest reastauration is leaving it as is, and only make it playable again if the neck is good (bridge, headbridge, new strings).

Decorative usage remains. Then it can have worth for that (more then 'guitar'?). And then the wear is complementing. Then just wax it.

Always a beautifull object Love old parlors.

 

It looks like it's had some not so great home made modifications over the years.

 

Looks like an archtop with f-hole sound holes, in a pseudo tobacco burst finish. I don't know if the floral stickers are original to the guitar. Doesn't look like solid wood for the body. Maybe a veneer or some type of laminate. Tail piece looks a bit crude but I actually saw one with a very similar.

As you suspect, it's beyond the point of restoration.

Here's a similar, minus the pick guard and with a different tail piece, and better fingerboard, from the looks of it:



They're calling theirs an "Oscar Schmidt made"

Reference->

 

Thank you!

 

Great reaction!

It still is in a condition it can be restaured (if the neck is straight or adjustable). If you love to do it yourself for the fun and honor of it. Serious work though, including repaint and all. Dilemma/choise is you won't see it back in profit value.
But i think i would take the fun efford to restore/resque it. And i guess i could do it within it's worth, so without loss (that's without counting hours of course, #justlove).

 

Anything is possible, but Journey is a reseller, and from that perspective, it's probably not something he'd endeavor.

 

Aaahh, ok. Didn't know. Clear.
For serious profit, guitar profit, ... walk on.
Or decorative some tenners if that's good enough? 29 could become 59.

As you say, anything is possible. Making profit from nothing is possible too, as long as the price is good and your selling arguments also.
(sales is a big part on my CV)

 

I'm journeymagazine on eBay & have around 1800 sales with 100% positive feedback so I can sell with the best - but usually with the help of this forum!!

 

If you would have said 1900 pos. fb's it was good for me to

I never doubted sales skills, from anyone
My point was in reaction on sabre123 and in general. That everything with a good price can be worth it, but eventually everyone has to make choises for it's own if something is worth to step into. That i and no one can't tell for another.

Good luck choosing.

 

Journey-This is all I could find matching yours,at the very least it should be worth $100-$200 as a vintage 'Wallhanger'.
Big Apple Music
New Hartford, NY, United States
Rare Vintage Santacilla Archtop Acoustic Guitar Project Plays Nice-Condition-Fair-Price$229

 

My dad owns a night club here in Fla. and one time he hired an older woman who was not in the best of shape (while most of the women who worked there were in their early to mid 20's) and when I asked him why did you hire her? He replied - "There is a butt (used a different word!) for every chair - someone will like her"

And I've learned since it's usually true; when selling something - whatever you have - there is someone, somewhere who wants it & thinks it's perfect for them!

I'm thinking I'm going to list it as:

RARE! Turn of Century Santacilla Archtop Acoustic Guitar with F holes for Restore or Display - Last of it's Kind?

 

Listing in auction format will make it more valuable...

 

I always list in auction format but also allow offers - probably 80% sell to a offer before someone places a bid at auction!

 

Interesting approach!


(quit eBay long time ago, but still miss it, still hunger to try it once again. Also 100%+ but much less counts as private seller)

 

A cautionary tale re first year I did Ebay.I listed an old handbill for a 50's rock concert,standard 7 day auction.I got an email 2 days in offering me a 'BIN' offer of $600-I was stunned-thought the piece was worth tops $100.
I emailed the buyer-'Sold !',got a cashiers check overnighted to me & promptly mailed the handbill.Next evening I get another offer of $1200 ! Needless to say-not a happy ending (but I paid $5 for the piece).
After that,I just keep my powder dry til the full auction ended-win,lose or draw.I developed Post Traumatic Auction Syndrome.

 

Did you see this one?

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/santacilla-guitar-mother-pearl-inlay-3839674004