Mystery guitar! Any ideas?

Johnny333

Just saw this come up for sale and intrigued as to what it could be. Any ideas?

<a href="https://ibb.co/eEEJrR"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/k1TdrR/Screen_Shot_2017_10_29_at_11_43_07.png" alt="Screen_Shot_2017_10_29_at_11_43_07" border="0"></a>

Paul_C

It's knackered.

ICBM

Not sure of the maker, but it's old - 1930s or earlier I think. I've seen one like it fairly recently, although I can't remember much about it I think it was either German or Italian. @AntiqueGuitars should know more.

This one is obviously damaged, but assuming it's not much worse than what you can see in the pic it should be repairable by a good luthier.

How much is it?

proggy

It could be an old Selmer.

AliGorie

yeah - mid 1900's European  looking, if those m/heads are orig it was supposed to have nylon strings due to the l/diameter rollers. Also U may find the f/board markers are bone inlays.
Interesting project if U fancy.

Johnny333

Thanks guys, really appreciate all the knowledge and opinions. It's up for auction so just trying to figure out what would be a reasonable price, any thoughts? I have a headstock picture that might help with identifying it further, but the Selmer idea seems possible due to the 'S'?!

https://ibb.co/iRwcLm

MartinB

I think it's a Scarth, an English guitar from the 30s or thereabouts.  John Renbourn had one in his younger days and there are a couple of pictures of him with it.  

timhulio

Looks like you're right:
http://twogoodears.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/music-and-its-tools-john-renbourns.html

Johnny333

Cheers guys, great detective work! Any idea on the rough value of this one?

AliGorie

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sX7PrLpc40w/U_THtXdtu3I/AAAAAAAAOX4/G5BIU5ge29k/s1600/5270.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ij0RSXouIKg/U_TMiQWapWI/AAAAAAAAOaw/Xr2eV8V2E5s/s1600/john_renbourn_john.jpeg

If it were me I’d just go for it and make a little project outa it - as long as it was ‘reasonably’ priced.
Wow, as a point of interest after all these years I find what that guitar JR was touting on his album covers - used to think it was an obscure early American make - kinda curvy Gibson / Larson vibe.
A VERY interesting detail for JR was what looked like a split half of an ol’ style clothes peg under the f/board - didn’t bother with ’neck resets’ back then.
I have often thought the old utilitarian European guitars had a great filtering effect on  who would potentially continue playing - cause the / we REALLY wanted to and overcame the obstacles of shitty guitars and strings  that corroded so badly they could slice u’r finger with an over enthusiastic string slide.