1981 Carlos Model No. 249 Acoustic Guitar

Yet another Quality Product of Korea, this one in near-mint condition

Since the last few months have seen more pieces make their way to the Museum, you knew it was only a matter of time before another Model No. 249 showed up on the site. This one was found at a pawn shop that specializes in estate sales. They had some other instruments laying around their shop, but this beauty was really the only thing worth looking at.

Unlike the previous 1981 Model No. 249 that was featured last year, this one doesn't have quite as much red in the finish and is closer to the 1982 versions that were found. It plays and sounds just as nice as the others, though the bridge has started to lift just a tad at the high E. Hopefully, it's something that can nipped in the bud, as it will be difficult to find another in this condition.

Another cool thing happened when the photos of this guitar were posted, we ended up becoming friends with another guitar blog, this one dealing strictly with Carlos guitars. It's nice to know there are other people out there who love these little-known beauties.

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1980s Carlos Model No. 240S Acoustic Guitar

Vintage solid-top dreadnought, date unknown, but sweeter than words can describe 

If you've been following this blog, by now you know that I'm a full-blown Carlos enthusiast. I had never even heard of them before I came across a Model No. 249 in August 2012, but the way that one played and sounded was enough to get me hooked. This is the 12th Carlos guitar that I've picked up since then and four of them are still in my possession.

This is the first Carlos solid-top model that I've had my hands on and it sounds absolutely incredible, with both the low end and brights ringing out loud and clear. Cosmetically, there are just a couple of small dings on the face of the guitar, but not really any other flaws. The wood on both the front and back of the guitar are very attractive and the cream binding also classes it up.

I'm having trouble dating this one, as there is no serial number listed anywhere, but my educated guess would be somewhere between 1981 and 1985. I did have a Model No. 240 at one point, but that one was an older one, based on the style of the tuning pegs and the adjustable saddle. The Carlos logo on the headstock of this guitar is also unlike any other that I've seen thus far. If you have any information on this model, please pass it along...

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1981 Carlos Model No. 249 Acoustic Guitar

The third Model No. 249 we've featured, this one also needed repair 

SCGM returns after a long hiatus with another one of our favorite finds, the Carlos Model No. 249 acoustic guitar. Unfortunately, this one needed more work than the previous two that I'd found, as the bridge was coming up so bad, that it wasn't playable at all.

This one was a year older than the others that I'd come across and the finish was just a tad lighter than the 1982 versions. Aside from the problem with the bridge, there was also a hairline crack where the neck met the headstock, but it didn't as though it was a fatal flaw.

This one was passed along to another Carlos collector, who will more than likely make the necessary repairs and add a very nice and inexpensive piece to their acoustic guitar arsenal. Check back here later this week for another Carlos dreadnought that will be arriving at my door in a few days.

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1981 Carlos Model No. 228 Classical Guitar

Beautiful vintage Korean nylon string guitar, still looks and sounds great

This is a vintage lower level nylon string guitar that is passable for gigging and a great banger for the beach or parties.

Not sure exactly what happened with the bars inside the tuning pegs, as four of the six have broken in half. They're all still fully functional though, even if the G was a bit difficult to replace.

But, there is no damage to the headstock or neck, the only thing I can think is that maybe there were steel strings on there at some point and they ate through the bars? Guitar still looks and sounds great though. There are some small signs of wear, the usual rubbing and light scratching on the surface.

That's to be expected for a 30-year old guitar and even though this one is a laminate, it gets a nice tone and really does play great. I have a solid mahogany 228 in my personal collection and this one isn't too far off.

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1985(?) Carlos Model No. 238 Acoustic Guitar

Another vintage high-end dreadnought from the Korean makers, this one might be the best yet

This is the 8th or 9th Carlos acoustic guitar that I've found since the end of summer and it's another really nice copy of a Martin or Guild, like the 249 that was featured yesterday, but this one has a natural finish. The serial number on the support beam reads either 1983 or 1985, it's a little smudged and hard to decipher.

The bridge has started to come up from the body, so I'll have to repair it before it can really be used for anything serious. There is hardly any wear on this guitar though, a couple of scuff marks on the edges, but the frets are still in great shape and the finish on the neck/headstock area are as nice as ever.

It sounds nice as is and as soon as I can remove the bridge and reattach it, this will probably end up being my #1 acoustic. I may end up sounding like a broken record, but don't pass up a Carlos guitar from Korea if you come across one at a good price.

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1982 Carlos Model No. 207 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage folk-style acoustic guitar, another beautiful guitar that was sitting in a closet for about a decade

The younger cousin of the Carlos folk guitar that was featured here a little while back, this one looks and sounds a little better, with the cream colored binding and natural wood grains on the back really making it pop.

On top of the fact that it looks great, this one also plays about as nice as any acoustic guitar ever will. I set it up with a set of D'Addario Acoustic Light strings and they really sing resonating off of the stock brass nut and saddle.

The body is not only thinner than a regular dreadnought, but the width and height are also smaller scale, making this one the same size as a standard classical. These Carlos guitars have a cult following of sorts in the collector's market and I guess you can count me among the faithful.

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1982 Carlos Model No. 249 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage high-end dreadnought copy, brass nut and saddle, made in Korea

This is the 2nd of this model that I've been lucky enough to find over the last few months and this one didn't need any repairs, unlike the previous copy that was featured. The body was a little more beat up, but it was still solid and there was nothing major wrong with it at all.

The brass saddle was sitting a bit too low and there was some buzzing because of it. I ended up passing it on to another longtime player here in So. Cal. This model was his first guitar way back when and he really wanted it for the sentimental value.

Hopefully I'll be able to find another, as both of these played and sounded so nice. Another Carlos from the same period will be featured tomorrow, I'm picking up as many of these that I can realistically get my hands on.

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1981 Carlos Model No. 228MH Classical Guitar

Vintage classical guitar, top-quality and in near-perfect condition, another gem of the Carlos brand from Korea

It's amazing to me that these guitars, which may have retailed for about $200 back in the 1980s, have aged so well and that there are so many of them still floating around out there.

This one is about as nice as any classical guitar that I've ever played, right up there with the Tres Pinos from a similar period that we also featured recently. The MH designation would indicate solid Mahogany, as the better-made Carlos guitar were rumored to have solid-wood construction.

If you find a Carlos acoustic guitar at a yard sale or pawn shop and it has the Egyptian Ankh style "L" on the headstock and soundhole, pick it up. Sometimes you can get lucky and score one for $50-$100, but collectors are known to pay anywhere between $200-$500, depending on the model.

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1970s-80s Carlos Model No. 236 Classical Guitar

Top-notch vintage classical, these Carlos guitars become unforgettable to collectors and longtime players

Once again, the sticker with the serial number was torn off by the time it got to me, so there is no way to know the exact year or even take a guess. Carlos guitars made in 1981 and 1982 have a date stamped on one of support strips inside the guitar, so this seems to be 1980 or before.

This was a rescue, it had no nut or saddle and there was a chunk missing just above the nut on the headstock. This guitar played and sounded so nice though, that I passed it on to a professional flamenco guitar player and he intended to use it for when he traveled, so the cosmetic flaws didn't matter at all.

I can't recommend these Carlos guitars enough. You can find them for as little as $50 in some cases and they're probably better than most brand names you'd pay $250-$300 for, even secondhand online.

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1982 Carlos Model No. 249 Acoustic Guitar

Made in Korea and in great condition for a 30+ years old acoustic guitar 

 

Here is a hidden gem, a top-quality Carlos guitar with a brass nut and saddle, reportedly constructed out of solid wood. This one needed a repair, as the bridge had begun to separate from the body.

Can't speak enough as to how nice this guitar sounds though and it plays great too. The dark (mahogany?) finish still looks beautiful and the structure of this guitar is still very sound, with no cracks or breaks.

Throw on a set of Grover tuners and you would think you were playing a much more expensive guitar. This is a copy of a Martin D28 or a Guild D25, but they are lesser known, because there were no lawsuits threatened against any of the Korean makers.

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1981 Carlos Model No. 209 Acoustic Folk Guitar

Made in Korea and in absolutely immaculate condition for a 30+ year-old acoustic guitar  

Another bonafide classic from the old Carlos company, right up there with the Model No. 249 as the best of the bunch.
Like it's younger dreadnought cousin, this beauty features a brass nut and saddle, giving this classic killer tone.

Not exactly sure that this is a Model No. 209, as the label inside the sound hole has been ripped out, but from what information I've been able to track down, it's the most likely fit.
It plays real nice and easy, just had a set of D'Addario XLs put on, but this one would probably benefit from a heavier gauge.

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1970s Carlos Model No. 240 Acoustic Guitar

Another under-the-radar classic, possibly handmade in Korea, in excellent condition

 

This is the 5th Carlos acoustic guitar that I've come across in the last couple of months and it's the oldest of the bunch.
This model was produced between 1976-1978, but with a serial number nowhere in sight, there is no way to tell exactly which year.

It's a great player, though not in the same league as some of the other high-end model Carlos guitars that were made in the early 1980s.

Top: Spruce
Back/Sides: Mahogany (Deep Cherry Finish)
Fretboard: Spruce
Solid Wood Construction

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1980s Carlos Model No. 226 Classical Guitar

Vintage classical guitar, perfect example of why one should never judge a book by it's cover

Carlos guitars are another brand that has a cult following in the collector's market, as you'll come to find in the days ahead here at SCGM. This particular model is not one of the high-quality copies that collectors covet, the difference being the way the word Carlos is designed on the label inside the sound hole.

This is still a very nice guitar though, sounds and plays like a mid-level Yamaha. Like the Ibanez acoustic that was featured earlier this week, you can find these all over the internet, ranging from $50 to over $200.

Top: Spruce
Back/Sides: Mahogany
Fretboard: Spruce (painted)
Made in Korea

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