This is a fine example of a Maurer Auditorium Model 498 made by the Larson Brothers around 1935 with spruce top, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, 14-fret Auditorium body (15"), multiple bound top, bound back, fingerboard dots. The Chicago-based Larson Brothers duo built hundreds of instruments between 1900 and the early 1940's, many under the Maurer name, a company they bought in 1900, as well as Stahl, Prairie State, and Euphonon. With Martin as a clear influence, Larson guitars were built more robustly and featured some very unique innovations for the time.

This Model 498 features several of them, including laminated x-bracing, dual steel support rods running between the neck and end blocks, and their "stressed" top where the top braces were purposely arched to introduce a false belly. Their guitars also have a slightly longer scale length (25 5/8") which helps compensate for the tighter build and creates a very strong, powerful, clear output.

The condition is very good with much of its originality in tact. The varnish finish on the back and sides is in excellent shape while the top has thinned out over the years and shows bear spots in various places. A clear pickguard was added at some point. When it came to us, the neck set was healthy but the neck itself was bowed. A pro compression refret by Laurent Brondel helped straighten things out and bring the action and playability well within modern spec's. Overall this is a wonderful guitar, very playable, and quite rare.