Weissenborn Style Guide

Weissenborn guitars were traditionally offered in four styles.

Style One

The affordability of the Style One made it popular in the 1920s and 30s. Today this style is sought after in modern reproduction instruments for its artful simplicity that gives full attention to the tonewood featured in the top, back and sides.

Style One features no binding and a simple set of concentric rings surrounding the soundhole.

“Back and sides of selected Koa. Top of Selected Koa or of spruce if desired. Fingerboard of selected Koa inset with round selected pearl position dots and fretted with white holly. Bridge of hardwood with white pins. Sound hole surrounded with three rings of inlay. Finished to the highest grade and hand rubbed to a gloss. Depth of body, 3 inches.”

PRICE $40.00 EACH

Tonk Bros. Co., Chicago, IL catalog, 1930.

Style Two

The simple black trim and ornate rope soundhole rosette make the Style Two a unique model in the Weissenborn range.

Back and sides of selected Koa. Top of selected Koa or spruce if preferred. Fingerboard of selected Koa inset with fancy selected pearl position marks and fretted with white holly. Top and bottom edges surrounded with black binding. Fingerboard bordered with white binding. Soundhole surrounded with rope and ring of genuine wood marqueterie. Finish of highest grade and hand rubbed to a gloss. Depth of body, 3 inches.

PRICE $55.00 EACH

Tonk Bros. Co., Chicago, IL catalog, 1930.

Style Three

The Style Three is a beautiful instrument that balances the ornate detail of rope binding with the natural wood. Features rope binding on the top and fretboard edge but an exposed back edge.

Entire body—top, bottom and sides—made from specially selected beautifully marked genuine Koa. Fingerboard of specially selected Koa with extra fancy position marks and fretted with white holly. Edges of top of body, also fingerboard and soundhole surrounded with rope binding. Beautiful finish hand-rubbed to a high gloss throughout. Depth of body, 3 inches.

PRICE $57.50 EACH

Tonk Bros. Co., Chicago, IL catalog, 1930.

Style Four

The most ornate and intricate of the Weissenborn models, the Style Four features rope binding on the top, back, fretboard and surrounding the headstock.

Entire body—top, bottom and sides—made from specially selected and most beautifully marked Koa. Fingerboard of specially selected Koa with extra fancy position marks, fretted with white holly. Edges of top and bottom of body, also fingerboard, neck and head, completely surrounded with rope binding and rich marqueterie around soundhole. A magnificent instrument of the most beautiful finish and appearance and tone of wonderful quality and carrying power. Depth of body, 3 inches.

PRICE $79.00 EACH

Tonk Bros. Co., Chicago, IL catalog, 1930.