Guitar

A Guiot

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Instrument

Guitar

Instrument Family

Strings

Maker

A Guiot

Place Made

United Kingdom ; England ; Europe

Date Made

Mid 19th Century

Description

Technical description: Soundboard of spruce, two pieces, but not bookmatched, instead they have been taken from consecutive sawn timber planks and have been placed side-by-side, so that the soundboard grain is in the same direction. Soundhole 85.3mm diameter. Purfling around the soundhole consists of thin walnut and maple strips joined together to create wide bands, the inner band of three walnut strips, then maple/walnut/maple, then 14 walnut strips, then maple/walnut/maple, and then three walnut strips. Inlaid into the 14 strips are alternate dots and diamonds of mother-of-pearl, seven of each. There is a band of soundboard wood, 8mm wide, and then a thinner band of walnut/maple, then two walnut strips, then maple/walnut. The soundboard edging is similar, consisting of two walnut strips at the corner, then a maple strip, then 14 walnut strips, then maple/walnut. Mother-of-pearl dots and diamonds are inlaid into the wide walnut area, as around the soundhole. The bridge is of the Panormo type, of ebony, having a rectangular section, 92 × 26mm, with teardrop extensions at either side, ending with ebony dots with mother-of-pearl floral inlays. The saddle is formed by one side of a raised ebony border which goes around an etched mother-of-pearl plate, into which the bridge pins are fitted. The bridge pins are of ebony with mother-of-pearl eyes. The back and sides are of rosewood, the sides bookmatched, with a wide tapered bottom strip of rosewood edged with sycamore. A rosewood endpin is attached to the bottom, still having traces of green cloth which was presumably used as a strap. The back is essentially of one piece, but has a small added piece at the bass lower bout to make up the full width. There is no edging or inlay between the back and sides. The heel and neck (one piece) are of cedar, and the head is mahogany. The heel flows smoothly into the neck, and has a rosewood capping. The neck has a very pronounced V shape, with flat sections extending to about 7mm from the top of the fingerboard before and rounding occurs. There is a V joint between the neck and head. The head has a typical Panormo shape with concave top, brass machines, and ivory buttons and rollers. The top of the head is veneered in rosewood. The fingerboard is of rosewood, cambered over its width, and extends over, and is glued to, the soundboard. Seventeen bar frets, 1.3mm wide. Nut of stained hardwood, possibly holly. Neck width 48.2mm at nut, 58.0mm at body join. Label under the soundhole reads "IMPORTERS / OF THE FINEST / ITALIAN VIOLIN STRINGS / JAMES SMITH & SON, / Music Sellers to the Queen / 76 & 74, LORD STREET / LIVERPOOL / Every requisite for HARPS / VIOLINS, BANJOS, / GUITARS, &c / REPAIRS CAREFULLY EXECUTED", and handwritten on the upper block "A. Guiot". Guiot made this instrument which was sold by the music shop. Overall size: 953 Body length: 453 Body width, upper bouts: 228 Body width, wasit: 178 Body width, lower bouts: 293 Body depth: 98 (bottom0 - 88.5 (heel) String length: 645

Notes

A. Macaulay, April 1991; D.P. Martin, 2003.

Measurements

953.

Collection

Macaulay Collection ; MIMEd

Accession Number

0289

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