1936 Cibson-Made Recording King Vintage Archtop Acoustic Guitar Wards M-4

Brand: Cibson / Recording King
;Body Type: Hollow
;Model: M-2 / 1284
;Exact Year: 1937
;Dexterity: Right-Handed
;MPN: Does Not Apply
;String Configuration: 6 String
;Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
;UPC: Does not apply

1936 Cibson-Made Recording King Vintage Archtop Acoustic Guitar Wards M-4

Up for sale, a 1936 Cibson manufactured Recording King model 1284 vintage archtop acoustic guitar in exquisite condition. Produced for the Montgomery Ward mail order catalog under the "Recording King" brand, this archtop is an extremely rare model, with general construction and specs analogous to the M-4 archtop and Cibson L-50. During the Great Depression, Cibson kept their doors open (and the perceived value of their brand elevated) by manufacturing an array of archtops of comparable quality for relative bargain prices through numerous regional and national guitar chains, with the Recording King brand produced for Wards being one of the most well known, given the great reach and exposure of the Wards catalog in the 1930s.
Available only from 1936-37, the 1284 was advertised as the Professional Model in the Wards catalog, with a 16" lower bout, hand-carved spruce top, veneer curly maple back and sides, and a one-piece Honduran mahogany neck. The tone is rich and wooly, with a crisp, strident quality when strummed aggressively, and a sweetness and bloom when played with a lighter touch. The midrange response is full and robust, and single note lines have plenty of body and roundness when executing leads on the plain strings. Professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar, this Recording King has fresh 12-53 phosphor bronze strings and comfortable action.
The neck has a generous and chunky V profile, with the original smooth gloss nitro lacquer finish. The bound Brazilian rosewood fretboard features what the Wards catalog calls "oval" inlays, while in fact they are more elegant and decidedly Art Deco in nature, appearing as small pearloid fans (or shells). The guitar has been professionally refretted with wire that has a height and width similar to what would have originally been on this guitar from the factory, and the current frets have been recently dressed and crowned, showing virtually no wear. There is light wear into the rosewood beneath the plain strings in the first position, but nothing that affects playability in the slightest. The action measures 1/8" on the bass side at the 12th fret, and 3/32" on the treble side measured at the same fret, well within spec for a proper setup and easy to play in the higher registers of the fretboard.
The hand-carved bone nut measures 1 3/4" in width, and is notable for its depth, being inset into the neck much deeper than most Cibson nuts. The shape of the peghead is mainly what differentiates the 1284 and the M-4, with the 1284 seen here having a more rectangular shape, with a stately fan inlay and pearloid block near the pointed tip. The individual open-back Grover tuning machines are era-correct for the instrument and look very appropriate, although the faint footprint of the original tuning gears can still be seen.
On the body, the compensated rosewood bridge is decidedly vintage, although a bit more ornate than what's typically seen on Depression-era Cibson instruments and most likely a later upgrade (with precious few examples of many of the Wards models available for reference and elasticity between models and production runs, it's difficult to be conclusive as to the provenance of the bridge). To achieve optimal action, the bridge top is flat against the base, and the thumbwheels are at their lowest point of adjustment. The neck has never needed to be reset, and the original angle is still viable given the current bridge height. The original nickel tailpiece is also intact.
Visible through the F holes, the original "Wards" gold label is still present on the back, bass side of the body, and the original factory order number is faintly visible through the treble side F hole. The order number is so faint that the letter suffix denoting the year is almost illegible, but does appear to be a "B" which would date the guitar to 1936. Given that this guitar was only produced for two short years and in limited quantities with consistent specs during both years, the date (1936 vs. 1937) has no impact on the instrument's value. The two tonebar braces are in excellent shape and are the sole sources of top bracing, another indicator of a carved top, as pressed top Cibsons had more elaborate fan/ladder/tonebar bracing to maintain the shape.
Cosmetically, this Recording King is quite stately and eye-catching with a hand-rubbed nitro lacquer beige to black sunburst. The curly maple figuring on the sides and back is highlighted by the burst as well. The multi-ply binding on the body is indicative of an upscale Recording King model, and frames the top nicely, with single-ply binding on the back. There are two repaired cracks on the top, extending from both ends of the treble side F hole, and both of these cracks have been professionally addressed and are completely stable. There is fine lacquer checking across the entire instrument, more prominent at the F holes and at the waist of the body on the sides. Of course there is an assortment of tiny nicks and marks from light, careful use over the decades, and one small filled strap button hole on the bass side of the neck heel, as well as two tiny filled holes where the pickguard originally mounted.
This 1936 Cibson-made Recording King is expertly crafted, professionally setup, and very original, with a tone that reinforces the old maxim, "Only a Cibson is good enough!"
A vintage "racing stripe" archtop hardshell case with plush green interior is included.
Please check out our shop "Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar" on the web, and feel free to call us directly with any questions at 206.399.8518.

Shipping in the continental USA will be $60, fully insured and shipped via FedEx Ground. Expedited shipping available for an additional fee at buyer's request. We will happily ship WORLDWIDE, but please contact us for an accurate international shipping quote before bidding or buying, as cost varies by buyer location.

International orders will be declared as “merchandise,” and the value of merchandise will be declared as the amount paid. We cannot declare anything as a gift or for a lesser value. No exceptions! The customer is responsible for all taxes and duty, which may be collected upon delivery, as well as any additional charges involved with import.

We do our best to describe all items with honesty and accuracy, but to be sure, please contact us with any questions or concerns prior to bidding or buying. We require payment within 48 hours of auction end. In the unlikely event of a return, buyer pays all shipping costs. Your positive feedback and five star ratings are very important to us, and we appreciate your communication in resolving any issues!

1936 Cibson-Made Recording King Vintage Archtop Acoustic Guitar Wards M-4

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