Weissenborn Style Guide

In the 1920s and early 1930s, H. Weissenborn Co. offered its hollowneck Hawaiian guitars in four distinct styles. Each reflected the same light construction and tonal character that made the instruments famous, but with varying levels of ornamentation and cost.

As the 1930 Tonk Bros. Co. catalogue described, these models ranged from the simplicity of the Style One — “back and sides of selected Koa… sound hole surrounded with three rings of inlay” — to the ornate Style Four, “a magnificent instrument… completely surrounded with rope binding… tone of wonderful quality and carrying power.”

Today, these four styles remain the foundation for how Weissenborn guitars are recognized, collected, and reproduced — from the understated to the elaborate, each is a testament to Hermann Weissenborn’s vision and craftsmanship.

Style One

The affordability of the Style One made it popular in the 1920s and 30s. Today this style is sought after in modern reproduction instruments for its artful simplicity that gives full attention to the tonewood featured in the top, back and sides.

Style One features no binding and a simple set of concentric rings surrounding the soundhole.

Back and sides of selected Koa. Top of Selected Koa or of spruce if desired. Fingerboard of selected Koa inset with round selected pearl position dots and fretted with white holly. Bridge of hardwood with white pins. Sound hole surrounded with three rings of inlay. Finished to the highest grade and hand rubbed to a gloss. Depth of body, 3 inches.

PRICE $40.00 EACH

Tonk Bros. Co., Chicago, IL catalog, 1930.

Style Two

The simple black trim and ornate rope soundhole rosette make the Style Two a unique model in the Weissenborn range.

Back and sides of selected Koa. Top of selected Koa or spruce if preferred. Fingerboard of selected Koa inset with fancy selected pearl position marks and fretted with white holly. Top and bottom edges surrounded with black binding. Fingerboard bordered with white binding. Soundhole surrounded with rope and ring of genuine wood marqueterie. Finish of highest grade and hand rubbed to a gloss. Depth of body, 3 inches.

PRICE $55.00 EACH

Tonk Bros. Co., Chicago, IL catalog, 1930.

Style Three

The Style Three is a beautiful instrument that balances the ornate detail of rope binding with the natural wood. Features rope binding on the top and fretboard edge but an exposed back edge.

Entire body—top, bottom and sides—made from specially selected beautifully marked genuine Koa. Fingerboard of specially selected Koa with extra fancy position marks and fretted with white holly. Edges of top of body, also fingerboard and soundhole surrounded with rope binding. Beautiful finish hand-rubbed to a high gloss throughout. Depth of body, 3 inches.

PRICE $57.50 EACH

Tonk Bros. Co., Chicago, IL catalog, 1930.

Style Four

The most ornate and intricate of the Weissenborn models, the Style Four features rope binding on the top, back, fretboard and surrounding the headstock.

Entire body—top, bottom and sides—made from specially selected and most beautifully marked Koa. Fingerboard of specially selected Koa with extra fancy position marks, fretted with white holly. Edges of top and bottom of body, also fingerboard, neck and head, completely surrounded with rope binding and rich marqueterie around soundhole. A magnificent instrument of the most beautiful finish and appearance and tone of wonderful quality and carrying power. Depth of body, 3 inches.

PRICE $79.00 EACH

Tonk Bros. Co., Chicago, IL catalog, 1930.

Vintage Heirlooms & Modern Weissenborns

Original Weissenborn guitars are among the most sought-after vintage instruments today, with prices often reaching well into the thousands — a far cry from the $40 price tag listed in the 1930 Tonk Bros. catalogue. Their rarity and distinctive voice make them treasured by players and collectors alike.

For those who wish to experience that same sound and spirit without the scarcity of an original, a small number of skilled modern luthiers craft faithful reproductions and thoughtful interpretations, carrying the Weissenborn tradition forward for a new generation.