Oscar Schmidt Concert-size Acoustic Guitar c 1920 | HOLD | (vbg#2019) We're always excited to offer top-of-the-line 'Stella' guitars because they don't come around that often, but when they do, you get to see what the Schmidt factory in Jersey City could produce when they pulled out all the stops. This concert-size flat top is unlabeled, but has all the hallmarks of a Schmidt-made guitar: square kerfing, the arch to the back, and the so-called 'Nick Lucas' finger board inlay. What makes this guitar cool and unique is the fancy marquetry done in rows of dark/light checks around the top, sound hole, back and back strip. One expects to see the more common 'Leadbelly' marquetry, but it only goes to show that if you see enough Schmidt guitars, you'll eventually see something different.
The top is red spruce, set-off with the unique marquetry. Back and sides are white oak; the back is beautifully quarter sawn. The oak has aged to a warm honey tone, more attractive than mahogany in our opinion. The neck is mahogany, carved in a modern-feeling 'C' shape. We've noticed this on many of the higher end Schmidt pieces we've handled. The fingerboard appears to be painted or dyed maple with fancy position inlays. The head stock is overlaid with Brazilian rosewood veneer, and inlaid with a pearl star, sometimes seen in the 'Bruno' branded Schmidt guitars. The fingerboard and head stock are bound in white celluloid. The pyramid bridge is ebony. One other unusual guitar-geek item to note. Often in Schmidt-made instruments the lateral top brace just below the sound hole is ink-stamped with two sets of numbers, one set of two numbers, the other of four numbers. This example has those numbers stamped on the inside back, just left and right of the heel block. No one has figured out any 'meaning' to these numbers, but they are likely some type of factory order number for the line workers as runs of guitars are assembled.
The body measures 13 3/16" across at the lower bout. Scale length is 24 7/8", which is short-scale. The finger board measures 1 3/4" across at the nut and string spacing is 2 3/8" at the saddle.
The guitar is mostly original, and very sound structurally. The tuners have a replaced plastic button. The frets were replaced (the original frets showed little playing wear but were way too low for comfortable playing). The ebony bridge appears to be original, and was reglued. The neck was recently reset and a new saddle installed. The bridge pins are likely original. There is a top crack with an old glue repair. The rest of the guitar is crack free. The finish is original, and shows some typical checking, and a few nicks and dings from play and age. Note the small section of play wear on the treble side just above the bridge .. that's the sign of a one-owner guitar!
Action is set at 6 & 7/64" and the guitar plays easily. The tone produced when played is not the harsh 'bark' one would expect from a birch-body Stella, but rather a more refined tone, with each string blending well with the other; a great finger picking guitar! When played with picks, the sound projects well without breaking up.
Comes with a soft case.
Check the sound clip!
The top is red spruce, set-off with the unique marquetry. Back and sides are white oak; the back is beautifully quarter sawn. The oak has aged to a warm honey tone, more attractive than mahogany in our opinion. The neck is mahogany, carved in a modern-feeling 'C' shape. We've noticed this on many of the higher end Schmidt pieces we've handled. The fingerboard appears to be painted or dyed maple with fancy position inlays. The head stock is overlaid with Brazilian rosewood veneer, and inlaid with a pearl star, sometimes seen in the 'Bruno' branded Schmidt guitars. The fingerboard and head stock are bound in white celluloid. The pyramid bridge is ebony. One other unusual guitar-geek item to note. Often in Schmidt-made instruments the lateral top brace just below the sound hole is ink-stamped with two sets of numbers, one set of two numbers, the other of four numbers. This example has those numbers stamped on the inside back, just left and right of the heel block. No one has figured out any 'meaning' to these numbers, but they are likely some type of factory order number for the line workers as runs of guitars are assembled.
The body measures 13 3/16" across at the lower bout. Scale length is 24 7/8", which is short-scale. The finger board measures 1 3/4" across at the nut and string spacing is 2 3/8" at the saddle.
The guitar is mostly original, and very sound structurally. The tuners have a replaced plastic button. The frets were replaced (the original frets showed little playing wear but were way too low for comfortable playing). The ebony bridge appears to be original, and was reglued. The neck was recently reset and a new saddle installed. The bridge pins are likely original. There is a top crack with an old glue repair. The rest of the guitar is crack free. The finish is original, and shows some typical checking, and a few nicks and dings from play and age. Note the small section of play wear on the treble side just above the bridge .. that's the sign of a one-owner guitar!
Action is set at 6 & 7/64" and the guitar plays easily. The tone produced when played is not the harsh 'bark' one would expect from a birch-body Stella, but rather a more refined tone, with each string blending well with the other; a great finger picking guitar! When played with picks, the sound projects well without breaking up.
Comes with a soft case.
Check the sound clip!