MAGAZINE ARTICLES ABOUT THE LARSON BROTHERS
VINTAGE GUITAR MAGAZINE
Column, “THE (WAY) BACK BEAT” by Peter Kohman with Robert Hartman
6 issues- August 2017, September 2017, April 2018, May2018, August 2018, September 2018
This series relates to the lives of Carl and August Larson, Maurer & Co., and the plethora of hand-made musical instruments they built from 1900 to 1944. Peter’s enthusiasm and keen insight are evident throughout the series, and it was a thrilling and rewarding experience to be part of this unprecedented work.
1. August 2017 titled, “DUAL SINGULARITY, The enduring enigma of the Larson Brothers”- This is the first of six five-page articles that zero in on the important aspects of the careers of the now famous brothers from Sweden. It has photos of the brothers, selected guitars, and technical aspects of their craft. It mentions how I became interested in my grandpa’s career and my writing of four books on the subject of Maurer & Co. and even includes a photo of me with my hand-me-down Larson parlor guitar that was given to me in 1947.
2. September 2017 titled, “GUITARS TO DYER FOR, The Larson brothers’ Harp Guitar Creations”- The clever title hints at the main subject, the harp guitars and harp mandolins built for W. J. Dyer & bro., St. Paul, Minn. It shows many Dyer harp guitar models as well as a few of the Maurer and Stahl brands. Also included are Dyer ads, players, an instrument label, and a catalog page from a very early Dyer catalog.
3. April 2018 titled, “STEEL SERENADE, The Larson Brothers’ and William Stahl” - An interesting array of a Wm. Stahl picture, a patent, magazine ads, and many photos of Stahl guitars and mandolins. Bill Stahl was an agent of Maurer and was a teacher, arranger, and publisher of mandolin and guitar method books and sheet music. He ordered mostly mandolin family instruments for his students.
4. May 2018 titled, “THE ROD AND THE STAFF, The Larson Brothers’ Prairie State Patents” - Showing early Prairie State guitars, 1930s patents and player photos. The Prairie State line is delegated to the similar Maurer line but incorporates one of the patented rod systems.
5. August 2018, titled, “EUPHONIC AIRWAVES, The Larson Brothers’ Euphonons”. - This issue highlights the large body beauties built from the early 1930s, the Euphonon logo, 1942 bill-of-sale, and celebrity photos of players from the past. The Euphonon guitars were commonly used by performers on Chicago’s WLS National Barn Dance radio show. These customers would frequent the Larsons’ shop and put in their orders with their specifications of how the instrument was to look, sound, and perform. It is reasonable to consider the Larson facility a custom shop.
6. September 2018, “A Euphonic Legacy” - The Larson Brothers: Finale & Postscript - This issue speaks of the guitar market during and after the “Great Depression,” the quality of the Larson products compared to other big name guitar brands, the story of my early interest in the Larson saga and how the Larson books were born along with a few anecdotal stories from my past.
Vintage Guitar Magazine can be ordered by calling their office at .
LARSON ARTICLES FROM THE PAST
Guitar Player, August 1980
Guitar Player, September 1980
Frets Magazine, February 1982
Frets Magazine, May 1983
Guitar Player, November 1984
Guitar Player, December 1985
Frets Magazine, January 1988
Vintage Guitar Magazine, Fall 1994
Vintage Guitar Magazine, September 1996
Vintage Guitar Magazine, June 1997
20th Century Guitar Magazine, July 1997
20th Century Guitar Magazine, August 1997
20th Century Guitar Magazine, Patsy Montana, October 1997
Fretboard Journal, By Any Other Name, the Legend of the Larson Brothers, Fall, 2009
Fretboard Journal, The Power of the Symphony, Spring 2010
Pine Straw Magazine, Lunch with the Larson Brothers, September 2010
The Larson instruments have been included in most books relating to the vintage American flattop guitar history. Many historians and players consider the Larson guitars comparable to the offerings of the giant Martin and Gibson companies. It has been said about certain Larson guitars that they are the best-sounding guitars ever made!
VINTAGE GUITAR MAGAZINE
Column, “THE (WAY) BACK BEAT” by Peter Kohman with Robert Hartman
6 issues- August 2017, September 2017, April 2018, May2018, August 2018, September 2018
This series relates to the lives of Carl and August Larson, Maurer & Co., and the plethora of hand-made musical instruments they built from 1900 to 1944. Peter’s enthusiasm and keen insight are evident throughout the series, and it was a thrilling and rewarding experience to be part of this unprecedented work.
1. August 2017 titled, “DUAL SINGULARITY, The enduring enigma of the Larson Brothers”- This is the first of six five-page articles that zero in on the important aspects of the careers of the now famous brothers from Sweden. It has photos of the brothers, selected guitars, and technical aspects of their craft. It mentions how I became interested in my grandpa’s career and my writing of four books on the subject of Maurer & Co. and even includes a photo of me with my hand-me-down Larson parlor guitar that was given to me in 1947.
2. September 2017 titled, “GUITARS TO DYER FOR, The Larson brothers’ Harp Guitar Creations”- The clever title hints at the main subject, the harp guitars and harp mandolins built for W. J. Dyer & bro., St. Paul, Minn. It shows many Dyer harp guitar models as well as a few of the Maurer and Stahl brands. Also included are Dyer ads, players, an instrument label, and a catalog page from a very early Dyer catalog.
3. April 2018 titled, “STEEL SERENADE, The Larson Brothers’ and William Stahl” - An interesting array of a Wm. Stahl picture, a patent, magazine ads, and many photos of Stahl guitars and mandolins. Bill Stahl was an agent of Maurer and was a teacher, arranger, and publisher of mandolin and guitar method books and sheet music. He ordered mostly mandolin family instruments for his students.
4. May 2018 titled, “THE ROD AND THE STAFF, The Larson Brothers’ Prairie State Patents” - Showing early Prairie State guitars, 1930s patents and player photos. The Prairie State line is delegated to the similar Maurer line but incorporates one of the patented rod systems.
5. August 2018, titled, “EUPHONIC AIRWAVES, The Larson Brothers’ Euphonons”. - This issue highlights the large body beauties built from the early 1930s, the Euphonon logo, 1942 bill-of-sale, and celebrity photos of players from the past. The Euphonon guitars were commonly used by performers on Chicago’s WLS National Barn Dance radio show. These customers would frequent the Larsons’ shop and put in their orders with their specifications of how the instrument was to look, sound, and perform. It is reasonable to consider the Larson facility a custom shop.
6. September 2018, “A Euphonic Legacy” - The Larson Brothers: Finale & Postscript - This issue speaks of the guitar market during and after the “Great Depression,” the quality of the Larson products compared to other big name guitar brands, the story of my early interest in the Larson saga and how the Larson books were born along with a few anecdotal stories from my past.
Vintage Guitar Magazine can be ordered by calling their office at .
LARSON ARTICLES FROM THE PAST
Guitar Player, August 1980
Guitar Player, September 1980
Frets Magazine, February 1982
Frets Magazine, May 1983
Guitar Player, November 1984
Guitar Player, December 1985
Frets Magazine, January 1988
Vintage Guitar Magazine, Fall 1994
Vintage Guitar Magazine, September 1996
Vintage Guitar Magazine, June 1997
20th Century Guitar Magazine, July 1997
20th Century Guitar Magazine, August 1997
20th Century Guitar Magazine, Patsy Montana, October 1997
Fretboard Journal, By Any Other Name, the Legend of the Larson Brothers, Fall, 2009
Fretboard Journal, The Power of the Symphony, Spring 2010
Pine Straw Magazine, Lunch with the Larson Brothers, September 2010
The Larson instruments have been included in most books relating to the vintage American flattop guitar history. Many historians and players consider the Larson guitars comparable to the offerings of the giant Martin and Gibson companies. It has been said about certain Larson guitars that they are the best-sounding guitars ever made!