1930's Hensel Artist

Far and away the best kept secret in vintage guitars are the instruments built for Toronto-based R.S. Williams & Co. by the enigmatic Canadian builder Arthur Hensel during the 1920's though 1940's. We really know very little about Hensel, but come across his instruments semi-regularly around here. As a Canadian builder, Hensel's guitars have really not garnered much attention in the vintage guitar world; but that's a good thing in our books - and Hensel branded instruments continue to fall on the affordable side of the price spectrum. This one, like most Hensels, is an X-braced 12 fretter, built of solid Canadian Spruce and Maple. It has a big mahogany neck, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, bound body and neck, screwed-on pickguard, cool sunburst finish, and Hensel's idiosyncratic bas-relief carved headstock face. A good sounding guitar thanks to it's X bracing, the tone of this guitar is warm, rich, and unrefined. Something of cross between a harmony and Gibson L-00. It plays well with average action, but will get a bit buzzy up past the 10th fret. About the size and shape of an L-00, but with a bigger neck (1-27/32" at the nut) this is a great ragtime and country blues picker with a nice mid range, punchy fat trebles, and not so much bass response.. Its uppermost back brace is missing, but it doesn't seem to matter. New bone saddle, and set up in our shop.