Help me please - do you know what's that guitar?

[Adalbert Arbuscula]

Hello friends.
I need some help :)  Just few days ago I've discovered this lovely instrument. And to be honest I have no idea what guitar is this... Someone told me that is an old English guitar... I'd love to know sth more.  Thank you very much in advance! Have a great day! 2395403431.jpg

[Jelma van Amersfoort]

Hello Adalbert. Is that guitar yours or did you spot it somewhere? The bridge ornaments look Austrian somehow. Maybe you can give more details such as measurements, are there marks, labels, staps etc, and close-up photos of the bindings?

[Adalbert Arbuscula]

Hi!
My friend found that on the attic, and gave it to me (he said it's form "England...").  Unfortunately there are no marks etc. I'm not a specialist - I know that it's not a "holy grail" but I'm just curious ;) I will maesure and write all details. Here I have more pictures. http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7722/56202928.jpg
I would like just to know period (more or less - and country [maybe]) - it's always good to know what we have in hands ;)
Thank you very much!

[Lars Hedelius-Strikkertsen]

I wished my attic could behold such surprises. But alas its only could and filled with rockwool. :-) Congrats with it. Hope it plays well.

[Scot Tremblay]

Looks pretty much Viennese/German to me as well.

[Adalbert Arbuscula]

Thanks guys.
Now I have to go to luthier to fix damages - I hope this guitar will play again ;)
Do you think its 1900-1930?

[av8t0r]

It's almost certainly mid 19th century.

[Adalbert Arbuscula]

Wow! What a surprise!

[av8t0r]

You should get the opinion of one of the very knowledgeable luthiers on this forum before having any work done. Most luthiers have never seen, let alone worked on an early guitar.

It looks like the finish is original and so are the inlaid tuner pins. The top is not too bad and the bridge looks untouched; all very nice.

I see it has what looks like steel strings on it. I'd recommend only normal tension nylon or gut strings tuned to A=415 or less; these are not built for steel.

[Adalbert Arbuscula]

Thanks for info! These strings looks like old ones - so it means that many years ago someone tried to play that with this steel strings without any knowledge. Later on, he just throw it away to the attic and forget.  I'm really happy that just by accident I get this instrument, and my dream is to bring it back to life. Maybe I will discover lovely sound... ;)

Can we call this instrument as a "romantic guitar"?

[av8t0r]

Yes, it's a nice example of a Romantic Guitar. I take it there was no case with it?

[Adalbert Arbuscula]

No... unfortunately there was no case. It was just lying somewhere between old stuff...

[av8t0r]

Too bad, it might have helped with dating. You should get one to protect it; the Canadian Case "0" size works well for small bodied guitars.