German-born Hermann Weissenborn was one of many builders who rode the surge of Hawaiian music’s popularity in the early 20th century, pivoting from violin making and piano repair into guitar building. His earliest instruments followed violin tradition with maple construction, before he settled on koa - the wood most closely associated with his work.

Refinements like a narrower bridge paired with a larger bridge plate improved resonance, but the defining feature remained the hollow neck; a design choice that set Weissenborn guitars apart, both structurally and sonically.

This 1929 Style 1, the simplest visually of Weissenborn’s instruments, features very little visual flare, letting instead the single rosette and beautiful koa speak for itself.

This example has been refinished.

Tuned in open D.