Oscar Schmidt Keystone State OM Jumbo c 1932 | HOLD | (v2036) This is a guitar that is rare on a couple of levels. First, it's a 'jumbo' OM-size acoustic made by the Oscar Schmidt company in the early thirties. This was Schmidt's response to the new-to-market Martin OM, a guitar built with 14-frets clear to the body, a big design step for the ultra-traditional Nazareth builders, but one that re-set the idea of what an acoustic flat top guitar 'is'. Second, this is a guitar branded for the Philadelphia-based Weymann & Son guitar and banjo maker, that was about to go under by the early thirties, but began to outsource guitars to other makers in an attempt to stay afloat. This is the only example we've seen of a Schmidt-made guitar branded for Weymann, and only the third we've seen of this Schmidt-made OM model. Check the photos for a scan of the back page of the 1932 OS catalog for an example of the high-end version of this OM guitar.
The body is made from slab-sawn birch, the top ladder-braced and bound in white celluloid. It measures 15 1/2" across the lower bout. The neck is poplar, joins the body at the 14th fret and is carved in a 'V', typical of the period. The fingerboard is 'ebonized' maple with a number of pearl position markers and bound in white celluloid. The neck measures 1 3/4" across at the nut, string spacing 2 3/8" at the saddle and scale length is just under 25 1/2". The head stock is the 'solid' type and sports the gold 'Keystone State' label, a Weymann & Son brand. The bridge is maple, painted black. The entire guitar is finished in black lacquer with the top set off by a Gibson-like small sunburst and faux-tortoise pick guard.
Considering the repair history of the guitar, it pretty much retains its original components including tuners, finish, bridge, bridge pins and end pin. The only replacement parts were post neck reset saddle and nut, and one tuner bushing. The guitar came to us with a number of cracks (some repaired), a bolted-on bridge and neck, and a long back crack that was slathered over with what appeared to be epoxy. We recently cleaned up that mess, removed the old 'repair' bolts and filled the holes, glued and cleated a long side crack along the bass side, re-glued the bridge, reset the neck, and leveled and dressed the frets. There is a small crack from the end of the pick guard to the bridge, about an inch, fingerboard divots in the first position, and a fingerboard shrinkage crack sealed with ebony dust and CA. There are various nicks and dings from age and wear. The frets appear to be original and have plenty of height, considering the wear on the board itself. The guitar is now in solid playing shape, set up and ready to go for another 90 years!
Action is set at 6/64", and with its longish scale and jumbo body, this OM acoustic can really put out some sound. It's a wonderful guitar for blues finger picking, but really makes its presence known when played with a pick. The ladder bracing and birch body give it a bright and strong focus in the mid range, with ringing highs and full bass .. a unique guitar with a unique sound for sure.
Comes with a newer hard case.
Check out the sound clip!
The body is made from slab-sawn birch, the top ladder-braced and bound in white celluloid. It measures 15 1/2" across the lower bout. The neck is poplar, joins the body at the 14th fret and is carved in a 'V', typical of the period. The fingerboard is 'ebonized' maple with a number of pearl position markers and bound in white celluloid. The neck measures 1 3/4" across at the nut, string spacing 2 3/8" at the saddle and scale length is just under 25 1/2". The head stock is the 'solid' type and sports the gold 'Keystone State' label, a Weymann & Son brand. The bridge is maple, painted black. The entire guitar is finished in black lacquer with the top set off by a Gibson-like small sunburst and faux-tortoise pick guard.
Considering the repair history of the guitar, it pretty much retains its original components including tuners, finish, bridge, bridge pins and end pin. The only replacement parts were post neck reset saddle and nut, and one tuner bushing. The guitar came to us with a number of cracks (some repaired), a bolted-on bridge and neck, and a long back crack that was slathered over with what appeared to be epoxy. We recently cleaned up that mess, removed the old 'repair' bolts and filled the holes, glued and cleated a long side crack along the bass side, re-glued the bridge, reset the neck, and leveled and dressed the frets. There is a small crack from the end of the pick guard to the bridge, about an inch, fingerboard divots in the first position, and a fingerboard shrinkage crack sealed with ebony dust and CA. There are various nicks and dings from age and wear. The frets appear to be original and have plenty of height, considering the wear on the board itself. The guitar is now in solid playing shape, set up and ready to go for another 90 years!
Action is set at 6/64", and with its longish scale and jumbo body, this OM acoustic can really put out some sound. It's a wonderful guitar for blues finger picking, but really makes its presence known when played with a pick. The ladder bracing and birch body give it a bright and strong focus in the mid range, with ringing highs and full bass .. a unique guitar with a unique sound for sure.
Comes with a newer hard case.
Check out the sound clip!