A lot of stringed instruments mainly members of the violin family present a scroll as a decoratively element. It is placed as the carved end of the neck. The scroll is typically carved in the shape of a volute (a rolled-up spiral). The quality of a scroll is one of the things used to judge the luthier's skill.
The scroll was also introduced on guitars, as made famous by Gibson in the early 1900’s. Several electric guitar builders used the scroll to enhance the design of their guitars, such as Pawar Guitars, … and also Premier.
Premier was started by Peter Sorkin Music Company in Manhattan, New York City, Began in Philadelphia and relocating to New York in 1935. Brands offered by Premier included Premier, Multivox, Marvel, Belltone and Strad-O-Lin.
Premier/Multivox started making these carved scroll mahogany solid bodies in 1958. The very earliest version was set-neck, going over to bolt-on pretty quickly.
The neck is solid Brazilian rosewood.
The binding on Premiers often deteriorates as also on this example. Nevertheless this is otherwise an extremely well-crafted guitar with bound body, fingerboard, and headstock, and gold plated hardware. The “Franz” pickups (as used also on early Guilds) are like dream P-90s.
Ry Cooder has been known to play a two-pickup early model of this guitar. less bursting that others of its type, giving it a truly unique look.
