An impressive, an uncommon instrument in the modern age - the harp guitar (sometimes referred to as a harp lute), has a deep history in virtuosity of the instrument. With a standard coarse of guitar strings, the player employs the "harp" strings typically as lower open bass drones to expand the range of the instrument, a complex task, that yields many experimental tunings and variations from instrument to instrument.
D'Orso is an uncommon brand, seen here and there having produced Romantic style instruments from the late 1800's into the early 1900's - with a broad catalog of fretted stringed instruments all varying in build quality. What we have here likely dates towards the end of the 1800's, and according to research was produced in Germany under the brands name. A well aged spruce top is met with a large bowl back construction, complete with 11 maple ribs and a matching skirt - with what appears to be a varnish finish. The highly detailed lute style sound hole furthers the intrigue with this nylon strung instrument, completed with a neck that joins at the 8th fret to the body (with more extended range up to 14 frets running towards the sound hole). Scalloped frets, the neck is designed with a correct 25" scale length, and a typical 1.75" nut width. It has a rosewood bridge with wire saddle, and matching pins that all appear original (albeit a bit mismatched). D'Orso stamped towards the base of the body, as well as on its interior center rib. The neck has fine detail at each string box on the joined peg heads - with flower decoration at its peak.
This instrument is very interesting and has a nice tone, with quite a bit of bottom. Currently strung with a mix of gut, nylgut, and silk strings, it functions well, and plays pretty easily as one gets accustomed. The instrument exhibits a bit of pick wear, checking, and well sealed top cracks (work that was likely done a long time ago). The frets have certainly been planed at some point. Some pencil marking is evident at the 8th fret appearing to read "5060B"
Included in the sale is a very heavy duty, hand made, fitted case.