Beare and Son The Michigan

A well appointed and well preserved German made 'The Michigan' hollow body archtop Jazz Guitar, judging by the lack of mechanical truss rod, I suspect dating from the late 1950's.

The Michigan was a brand name of UK and Canada Based importers Beare and Son, who specialised in re-branding intermediate level instruments, largely acquired from The Continent, mostly Germany

This particular guitar is of fairly slight proportions for an instrument of the period, with a slimmish body and a shallow arch to the top, nevertheless it has multiple binding top and bottom and bound 'F' holes too.

Its appears as if the neck has been re-set at some point in the past, there is a hardwood plug at the heel, and when it came in the fingerboard binding had been replaced, it was a fair job but lacked finishing, so needed sanding smooth where it sat in the neck rebate and radiusing on the top edge adjacent the fingerboard, also it was a brilliant white colour so needed toning back.

A scrachplate has been made in cream single ply, and the bridge, a plastic affair common to many German guitars at this level, had just started to crack at the lower edge, so that has been epoxied from the inside, clamped and left to set. The crack is just visible but it isn't going anywhere (see photo).

The neck profile is essentially a square with the corners sanded off, there is also an inlaid strip to the rear so I assume it was fitted with a steel reinforcer when manufactured. Certainly this has proved to work, as the neck is nice and straight, and in spite of some age related fret wear (largely under the 'B' string on the first few frets), a nice low playable action is possible. The frets have had a tidy up, in terms of a very light dress, crown and polish.

In deference to its age its currently fitted with a set of light gauge steel strings, but given the girth of the neck, I'm sure it would carry a heavier set if desired.

Cosmetically in very nice order with just the right amount of patina and colour, please be aware that the energetic graining which appears on the back and side is, I'm, almost certain a decorative finish.