Full History

The Enduring Legacy of Larson Guitars
The Larson brothers, Carl and August, Swedish immigrant craftspeople, played a pivotal yet often understated role in shaping the American acoustic steel-string guitar. Active from around 1900 until World War II, they set high standards for structural integrity and tonal excellence, innovations that still resonate today. Uniquely, the Larsons rarely branded their own names on their meticulously crafted instruments. Instead, their creations were sold under various company names like Maurer, Stahl, Prairie State, Euphonon, Dyer, Stetson, and Bruno. This "white-label" approach allowed their groundbreaking designs to reach a wide market through established channels, prioritising craft over direct brand recognition. Today, modern luthiers are actively recreating Larson models, a testament to the timelessness of their engineering principles and the superior sonic characteristics of their instruments.

Swedish Roots, Chicago Soil: The Genesis (Late 1880s - 1900)
Carl (born 1867) and August (born 1873) Larson emigrated from Sweden to Chicago in the late 1880s, quickly integrating into the city's instrument-making scene. Their background as cabinet makers provided invaluable skills for lutherie. A significant turning point came in 1900 when August, with investors, acquired the Robert Maurer guitar company, where they had been working. This strategic move placed the young August at the helm of an established firm with a distribution network, consolidating the brothers’ control over the enterprise from their retail shop on Elm Street. Their swift ascent from employees to owners underscored their exceptional skill and business acumen, allowing them to focus immediately on refining craftsmanship and pioneering designs.

Pioneering the Steel String Era: Early Innovations and Brand Building (1900 - 1910s)
The early 20th century saw the Larson Brothers introduce groundbreaking technical innovations. Crucially, their guitars were designed specifically for steel strings decades before many contemporaries, addressing the structural challenges of higher tension. A cornerstone of their innovation was August Larson's 1904 patent (765019) for an ingenious laminated X-bracing system. This design, a "sandwich of spruce with an ebony or rosewood center strip," increased strength without adding significant weight, optimizing soundboard vibration. They also developed "Built under Tension" construction, involving slightly arched tops and backs, which enhanced structural integrity and contributed to their instruments' distinctive "bright, focused tone with a resonant bass and balanced mid-range."

Their business strategy of never labeling instruments with their own name, instead producing for established brands like Maurer, Stahl, Dyer, and Stetson, proved highly effective. This OEM approach allowed the Larsons to concentrate solely on design and manufacturing, leveraging partners' distribution networks and achieving significant national reach without direct branding efforts.

Craftsmanship and Expansion: The Roaring Twenties (1920s)
The 1920s saw the Larson Brothers consistently produce a remarkable range of handmade instruments, including guitars, mandolins, and harp guitars, from their Chicago workshop. Their "two-man shop" model ensured meticulous quality control and a personal touch. Larson instruments were celebrated for their "distinct sonic character," often described as a "singing quality." This superior tone stemmed from "immaculate craftsmanship," the use of "high-quality woods" meticulously aged for a minimum of 20 years, and their unique "built under tension" design with special bracing. In the late 1920s, they introduced the "Prairie State" brand, specifically associated with their latest structural innovations, including a unique steel bar body reinforcement system. This strategic branding allowed them to differentiate their premium, technologically advanced steel-string models.

Peak Influence and Recognition: The Thirties (1930s)
The 1930s marked the peak of the Larsons' influence. August Larson secured another groundbreaking patent in 1930 (1768261) for internal metal reinforcing bars. This system of steel rods supported the guitar body and allowed for neck adjustment, effectively countering string tension and preventing structural collapse, a common issue in acoustic guitars. This innovation was a hallmark of Prairie State models, solidifying their reputation as "the most advanced luthiers of their day." Following the success of Prairie State, the Larsons transitioned the Maurer line to the new "Euphonon" brand in 1934, aligning with the industry's shift towards larger body styles.

Larson instruments gained significant popularity among professional musicians, especially country and western singers on WLS-AM in Chicago. Notable artists like Marjorie Lynn, the Prairie Ramblers, and Gene Autry played their instruments. In a historic collaboration in 1934, Les Paul commissioned a unique maple wood guitar with a solid maple top and no soundholes from the Larsons. This modified Larson creation, to which Paul added pickups, became one of the first electric guitars, demonstrating the Larsons' crucial, albeit indirect, role in early electric guitar technology.

The Final Chord: Dissolution and Lasting Impact (Early 1940s)
The Larson Brothers' active period ended with Carl's retirement in 1940 and August's death in 1944. The timing coincided with World War II, which brought severe material shortages, particularly for spruce and metal, likely contributing to the closure of their specialized two-man operation

Despite the business's dissolution, the exceptional quality of Larson instruments ensured their lasting popularity. They remain "highly collectible" today, considered "some of the finest ever made." Their enduring designs led to the revival of the Larson Brothers brand in 2007, with modern luthiers meticulously building models based on original specifications. This continued appeal underscores the fundamental soundness and effectiveness of their innovations, proving their designs were truly ahead of their time. The Larsons' unwavering focus on core engineering principles—strength, resonance, and durability—created instruments that serve as a living blueprint for excellence in acoustic guitar building, cementing their place as unsung heroes in musical instrument manufacturing history.