Anybody know anything about old Weissenborn Hawaiian Guitars?

gilded

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Hi guys,

I picked up a '20s Hawaiian guitar. The brand is called Kona. Kona is a brand name for a guitar biz owned by a guitar teacher named Charles DeLano, but most of the instruments were made by a guy named Weissenborn and that's the name that is most associated with these cool guitars.

I thought I'd see if any of you guys had a source of knowledge about repairs, photos of disassembled guitars, etc.

I have a great repairman, but those old Hawaiian guitars don't come along too often, so I'd like all the help I could get.

Thanks, gilded
 
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mavuser

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Harry, I have seen this guy Jonny Lam play some vintage Hawaiian pedal steel and lap steels. you could try to reach out to him. http://jonnylam.com/

u can tell him someone from the " Campilongo forum" sent u!
 

gilded

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Mav', Ralf, thanks so much for taking the time to help me. The Style 1 is the economy model Weissenborn. My Kona is also the economy model, but it has a semi-hollow neck instead of the fully hollow Weissenborn model. Slightly different sound, as well.

The vids certainly helped me get an idea what the back and top should look like. My guitar has the same bridge shape, too.

Again, many thanks. gilded
 

SFIV1967

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A picture from https://www.facebook.com/lutheriech...3/?type=3&size=1000,667&fbid=2270817896463953

60354605_2270817956463947_4242353504242368512_o.jpg


Ralf
 

wileypickett

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John Fahey used his Weissenborn for an ashtray when he was on the 1969 PBS show, *Guitar, Guitar* with host Laura Weber. He was smoking during one of the interview segments, looked around for an ashtray at one point, and finding none on the set, tapped his cigarette into the soundhole of his Weissenborn. Weber was aghast.
 

gilded

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wileypickett,
I like that story, a lot.

Ralf,
yeah, that's a pic of a later model Kona guitar. The label gives it away, it's more ornate. I'm guessing/speculating that it's post '25 to '30. Mine has the early model label and it's also the Kona 'economy model'.

One good thing is that any Kona made after 1923 is supposed to be made by Weissenborn & Co.

My guitar is in the shop. My luth' is gonna take the back off and get some pics.

Later, gilded
 

SFIV1967

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John Fahey used his Weissenborn for an ashtray when he was on the 1969 PBS show, *Guitar, Guitar* with host Laura Weber. He was smoking during one of the interview segments, looked around for an ashtray at one point, and finding none on the set, tapped his cigarette into the soundhole of his Weissenborn. Weber was aghast.

6a00e5529414a08834019104bde17e970c-pi


Ralf
 
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