Oscar Schmidt 'Stella' Concert-size c 1920 | SOLD | (vbg2002) This example is the quintesential Stella, made in Jersey City, NJ probably around 1920. Schmidt made fancier ones, and plainer ones, too, but this one is right about in the middle and just right for a blues or old-time picker.
Back and sides are slab-sawn birch, stained an attractive honey brown. Top is spruce, bound in white celluloid, and the edge and sound hole set off with layers of black, red and white purfling. The back sports a decalcomania center strip. The neck is poplar and stained an oxblood red. The fingerboard is likely maple and painted black with pearl dots at 5, 7, 10 & 12. The pyramid bridge is maple and painted black. There is an early yellow 'Stella' label inside.
The lower bout measures 13 5/16". Scale length is 24 13/16" (short scale). The neck is carved in the classic 'Stella' soft 'V' and measures 1 3/4" across at the nut. Sting spacing is 2 1/4" across at the saddle.
The guitar is all original except for the saddle, which is amazing due to the overall wear the guitar exhibits. The only prior repairs evident is that the finish is disturbed around the bridge, indication that it has been reglued a few times, or replaced. We think the former, since when we acquired the guitar, a previous owner had packed glue around the perimeter of the bridge in an attempt to secure it better. We removed the bridge, cleaned things up, and reglued with hot hide glue. The neck was recently reset, and frets leveled and dressed. Typically, Schmidt fret dressings appear to have been done with a coarse file, and these frets still show some file marks. But with leveling and dressing they function well. There are a few small cracks in the waist, bass side. The tuners were taken apart, cleaned, lubed and reassembled and function fine with only a bit of oxidation. The finish overall shows lots of wear and dings, but the guitar is very solid.
The action is set a 5 & 6/64" and the guitar plays smoothly. The tone is what players make a fuss about, the classic Stella 'bark', with nice sustain, mellow bass, with an overall dry, warm and woody voice.
Comes with a soft case.
Check out the sound clip.
Back and sides are slab-sawn birch, stained an attractive honey brown. Top is spruce, bound in white celluloid, and the edge and sound hole set off with layers of black, red and white purfling. The back sports a decalcomania center strip. The neck is poplar and stained an oxblood red. The fingerboard is likely maple and painted black with pearl dots at 5, 7, 10 & 12. The pyramid bridge is maple and painted black. There is an early yellow 'Stella' label inside.
The lower bout measures 13 5/16". Scale length is 24 13/16" (short scale). The neck is carved in the classic 'Stella' soft 'V' and measures 1 3/4" across at the nut. Sting spacing is 2 1/4" across at the saddle.
The guitar is all original except for the saddle, which is amazing due to the overall wear the guitar exhibits. The only prior repairs evident is that the finish is disturbed around the bridge, indication that it has been reglued a few times, or replaced. We think the former, since when we acquired the guitar, a previous owner had packed glue around the perimeter of the bridge in an attempt to secure it better. We removed the bridge, cleaned things up, and reglued with hot hide glue. The neck was recently reset, and frets leveled and dressed. Typically, Schmidt fret dressings appear to have been done with a coarse file, and these frets still show some file marks. But with leveling and dressing they function well. There are a few small cracks in the waist, bass side. The tuners were taken apart, cleaned, lubed and reassembled and function fine with only a bit of oxidation. The finish overall shows lots of wear and dings, but the guitar is very solid.
The action is set a 5 & 6/64" and the guitar plays smoothly. The tone is what players make a fuss about, the classic Stella 'bark', with nice sustain, mellow bass, with an overall dry, warm and woody voice.
Comes with a soft case.
Check out the sound clip.