Expert: Lynne May - 10/27/2009

Question
Hi, I volunteer at a retirement home and last night a sweet lady I would have never guessed played guitar pulled out a beautiful acoustic guitar.  She asked me if I could find out some information on it, but when I searched google, I came up with nothing....

She told me she has owned if for over 50 years and even then she bought it used.  Inside the guitar it reads:

PRARIE WESTERN GUITAR MODEL 5013 (or possibly 5018)   Made in Japan

Could anyone help me find out more about this guitar?  Thanks,
  Allen


Answer
Hi, Allen--

I also could find no information on this specific model. Is there any identification on the headstock? There was a guitar company called "Prairie State". I might possibly be one of th3ese guitars except I could not find out whether or not they were manufacture in Japan. Here is what the Blue Book says about them:

"Instruments previously produced between the mid-1920s and the early 1940s. Also see Larson Brothers.
The Larson brothers added the Prairie State brand to Maurer & Co. in the mid-1920s. This brand was used exclusively for guitars. The main difference between the Maurer and the Prairie State was the use of a support rod and an adjustable rod running the length of the guitar body from end block to neck block. These 12-fret-to-the-body guitars have the double rod system, which may vary according to the period it was made because August Larson was awarded three patents for these ideas. The rod closest to the soundhole is larger than the lower one, and, in some cases, is capable of making adjustments to the fingerboard height. The function of the lower rod is to change the angle of the neck. Most all Prairie States have laminated top braces and laminated necks. They were built in the lower bout widths of 13.5 in., 14 in., and 15 in. for the standard models, but special order guitars were built up to 21 in. wide. In the mid -1930s, the Prairie State guitars were built in the larger 14-fret-to-the-body sizes, all now sporting the large rod only. The common body widths of these are 15 in., 16 in., 17 in., 19 in., and a rare 21 in. The single cutaway style was used on one known 19 in. f-hole and one 21 in. guitar. The Prairie State guitar is rarer than the other Larson brands. They are of very high quality and are sought by players and collectors. The rigid body produces great sustain and a somewhat different sound from the Maurers and Euphonon guitars. Almost all the Prairie State guitars were made with beautiful rosewood back and sides except the f-hole models which were commonly made with maple bodies, all having select spruce tops."

Maybe you could compare her guitar to this info.

Sorry I could not be of more help.

Lynne
May Music Studio
http://www.may-studio-music-lessons.com