In a catalog from late 1920s, "The Weissenborn Hawaiian Steel Guitar - Internationally known - is constructed scientifically under the most strict supervision. The special feature of the Hollow Neck enables the artist of today to accomplish every known phase of guitar playing with the maximum tonal volume of quality". Weissenborn referred to his Style 1 as "Back and sides of selected Koa. Top of selected Koa or Spruce if desired. Fingerboard of selected Koa inset with round selected Pearl position dots and fretted with white Holly. Bridge of hard-wood with white pins. Soundhole surrounded with three rings of inlay. Finish of the highest grade possible and hand rubbed to a gloss. Depth of body, 3 inches".
Made in the old school Hawaiian style, my Style 1 is patterned from a gorgeous circa 1927 Style 1 – down to the finest detail. It features best quality air dried koa wood, Hide glue construction throughout and hand applied nitrocellulose finish without any modern fillers or primers. Like the late ‘20s original it is designed and constructed to be light but still solid, and setup to have most musical and lyrical voice possible.
Although the koa used for the Style 1 is a simple koa grain, it produces an exceptional sounding instrument. For those who prefer curly koa, the Style 1 deluxe is also available by special order.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hourglass Style 1 Hawaiians
- Style: Hawaiian style acoustic lap slide
- Scale length: 25 inches
- Depth of body: 3 inches
- Top: Hawaiian koa
- Back and Sides: Hawaiian koa
- Bracing: Spruce
- Bridge plate: Maple
- Joints: Hide glue, exclusively
- Fret board: Hawaiian koa
- Frets: 19 inlaid white holly markers
- Inlay: Select round pearl abalone dots
- Bridge: Sugar maple
- Saddle: Aluminum wire
- Nut: Free range cattle bone
- String spacing: Nut: 1 5/8 inches , Bridge: 2 3/8 inches
- Finish: Hand rubbed nitrocellulose lacquer
- Tuning heads: 1920's spec plate tuners by Blazer & Henkes
- Pins and buttons: 1920’s style Ivoroid
- Case: TKL (Cedar Creek or Calton by special order)
- Strings: D’Addario .014" - .056"