We have always had a soft spot for Depression-era and catalog guitars with stenciled graphics, and this one really hits the mark. There were a surprising number of different graphic models made, but it feels like the same handful of variants turn up again and again, which makes it extra fun when a less common one shows up, especially with graphics this strong. This is a 1936–1938 Vaquero-branded parlor from the Spiegel mail-order world, featuring the wonderful “Amateur Hour 2” musician graphic. Between that artwork and the lightning bolt-shaped f-holes, this little guitar has all the charm you could ask for.
What really sets this one apart is the condition. The graphics are still bright and vibrant, without the heavy scratching and flaking that so often takes the magic out of these old stencil guitars. It is 100% original and has clearly not been abused. We have handled early stencil guitars for a long time, and examples this clean do not show up every day. There are a couple of small cracks extending from the f-holes, but they are not structural issues. We inspected the inside with a borescope and found the original bracing intact and firmly attached, with no signs of previous repair work. There is some honest wear here and there, of course, but for a roughly 90-year-old instrument that was originally built for children, this one is remarkably clean.
The original neck has that great chunky V profile that makes these old guitars so much fun to pick up. The neck is straight, the neck joint is solid, the tuners work as they should, and the original frets cleaned up beautifully. It has been freshly strung with low-tension strings, the action is low, and it is fully playable exactly as it sits. The original cloth carrying bag with snaps and the original rope strap are both included. Wild!
Available for a test drive in our Jamestown, Kentucky showroom, and we ship worldwide. Let us know if you have any questions.
