1910 Unknown Premier JW Pepper Natural, Very Good, Soft, $425.00

JW Pepper Premier Parlor Guitar Ca 1910 |
Every now and then a guitar comes along that we just really fall in love with, and this is one of them. Actually, it's a pretty inauspicious little parlor guitar, by an unknown maker, but the quality of workmanship, and tone, place it among our favorites.
JW Pepper is a large music publisher that began operations in the mid-to-late 1800s and continues through today. They never constructed guitars per se, but functioned in the instrument trade as 'jobbers'. That is, they had various makers produce guitars with the 'Pepper' label, which were subsequently marketed to music stores around America. Guitars with the 'Pepper' label are very scarce in the vintage market today.
This guitar was likely produced in a small guitar 'factory', or a very small shop with few employees. The quality of materials and workmanship is first-rate, and rivals what you'd expect to see in a Martin guitar produced in this period. The body is constructed from a fine grade of spruce on top, and a fine grade of mahogany on the back and sides. The lower bout measures just 12 1/16" across. The top and sound hole are bound in multiple rings of red, green, white and black purfling, with a black and white strip inlaid down the back seam. The original bridge is Brazilian rosewood. The neck is also fine straight-grained mahogany, and the headstock is capped in Brazilian in front and sports the "Premier JW Pepper Philadelphia & Chicago" black and gold foil label. This is reminiscent of the Weymann label, but the serial numbers stamped on top of the head don't appear to be Weymann numbers. The fingerboard is Brazilian rosewood, with a scale length of 24 1/2". The neck profile is a soft 'V', and measures 1 3/4" across at the nut. The top is ladder braced.
The neck attaches to the heel block in a straight mortise and tendon joint (like a Weymann), as opposed to the traditional tapered dovetail found on most guitars of the period. Action is set at 4/64" and 5/64".
We recently reset the neck, repaired the bridge plate, removed the fret wire saddle and slotted for a bone saddle. Frets were leveled and dressed. Previously, an large impact crack was repaired on the lower bout. We inspected it carefully and it appears very stable.
This little beauty is strung with light silk and steel strings and it sing like a bird, with open, round tones .. quite a presence for such a small guitar. With the comfortable neck and low action it's a joy to play. Comes with an old soft case in excellent condition.