A 1938 Euphonon Dreadnought Featured in Acoustic Guitar Magazine
Acoustic Guitar magazine explores a remarkable circa-1938 Euphonon dreadnought and the innovative craftsmanship of Carl and August Larson.
Few instruments tell the story of American acoustic guitar making quite like those produced by Carl and August Larson in Chicago during the early twentieth century.
In a feature published by Acoustic Guitar, writer Michael John Simmons takes a closer look at a remarkable Larson-built Euphonon dreadnought dating from around 1938. The instrument helps explain why the brothers’ work remains so highly regarded among collectors, musicians and guitar historians.
A different approach to guitar building
Carl and August Larson built instruments under several names, including Maurer, Stahl, Prairie State, Dyer and Euphonon. Rather than simply following established methods, they explored structural ideas intended to improve strength, responsiveness and projection.
The Acoustic Guitar feature highlights August Larson’s patented laminated bracing, which pressed the top into a subtle arch. The publication describes the resulting “built under tension” construction as producing a clear, balanced voice with exceptional volume and projection.
An exceptional Euphonon
The featured instrument is a circa-1938 Euphonon dreadnought with a spruce top, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, abalone purfling and an unusually large pickguard. According to the magazine, the brothers were building their own dreadnoughts by 1936, soon after the 14-fret form appeared.
The article also places Larson instruments within the musical culture surrounding Chicago’s influential National Barn Dance radio programme. Performers associated with the show, including Gene Autry and Patsy Montana, owned custom Larson-built guitars.
A legacy that continues
Decades after this Euphonon left the workshop, the work of Carl and August Larson continues to attract serious attention. Their willingness to experiment helped establish a distinctive approach to acoustic guitar making that remains central to the Larson Brothers story.
Today, that heritage continues through the Larson Brothers Tribute and Masterbuilt collections, carrying the name and its design philosophy forward for a new generation of players.
Read the full article: Great Acoustics—1938 Euphonon Dreadnought
Article by Michael John Simmons. Originally published in the Spring 2026 issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine and online on 22 July 2026. Photographs are credited by the publication to George Aslaender and Retrofret.