Oscar Schmidt c 1937 | HOLD | (v2158) This is an interesting guitar if only from the viewpoint that it's a challenge to pinpoint a specific maker. It has many features found in Schmidt-made guitars, but a few head-scratchers, too. The most common Schmidt features include: square top kerfing; flat head screws afixing tuners; Schmidt-like bracing. What veers from typical Schmidt features include the less steep arch of the back through the heel cap, the size/shape of the slots and the position dot at the ninth fret instead of the tenth (although we've had some OS guitars with the dot at the tenth). Our consensus is that this is a transition instrument in the time period after the Schmidt family sold the Jersey City factory, but before Harmony took over , c. 1939. Oscar Schmidt died in 1920 and his family tried to keep the business going, but the depression and bad business caused them to go bankrupt and the company was bought out by John Carner, under whose ownership the iconic Leadbelly 12-string was made, and within a few years sold again to Harmony, who gained the rights to the 'Stella' name. Regardless of manufacture, it's both an attractive and great sounding/playing blues guitar!
The top is made from a book-matched piece of spruce and trimmed around the top and sound hole with a very attractive and colorful marquetry. The back and sides are a nice grade of mahogany. The bridge is rosewood (may be a replacement) with two pearl dots covering (now removed) small bolt holes. The neck is mahogany and carved in a soft 'V' shape. The fingerboard appears to be 'ebonized' (dyed maple). The pick guard is afixed with four screws.
The body measures 14 1/16" across at the lower bout, slightly than a typical Schmidt concert-size guitar. Scale length is 24 15/16". The neck measures 1 3/4" across at the nut, and string spacing is 2 1/8" across at the saddle.
Prior repairs include a reset, refret and possibly a refin (but the guitar is so clean both inside and out, the jury is out on this question). We recently leveled and dressed the frets and installed a new saddle.
The guitar appears all original but for one bridge pin, the frets and saddle. There are no cracks. The tuners function well and show only a bit of patina. The finish shows some checking from age, and a few nicks from use. The action is set at 6/64" and, with it's short scale length, the guitar is a breeze to play. But best of all it produces a very open and balanced tone .. nice round low notes and strong mids and highs .. great acoustic blues guitar, or could hold its own flat picked in an old timey' band.
Comes with a new hard case.
Check the sound clip!
The top is made from a book-matched piece of spruce and trimmed around the top and sound hole with a very attractive and colorful marquetry. The back and sides are a nice grade of mahogany. The bridge is rosewood (may be a replacement) with two pearl dots covering (now removed) small bolt holes. The neck is mahogany and carved in a soft 'V' shape. The fingerboard appears to be 'ebonized' (dyed maple). The pick guard is afixed with four screws.
The body measures 14 1/16" across at the lower bout, slightly than a typical Schmidt concert-size guitar. Scale length is 24 15/16". The neck measures 1 3/4" across at the nut, and string spacing is 2 1/8" across at the saddle.
Prior repairs include a reset, refret and possibly a refin (but the guitar is so clean both inside and out, the jury is out on this question). We recently leveled and dressed the frets and installed a new saddle.
The guitar appears all original but for one bridge pin, the frets and saddle. There are no cracks. The tuners function well and show only a bit of patina. The finish shows some checking from age, and a few nicks from use. The action is set at 6/64" and, with it's short scale length, the guitar is a breeze to play. But best of all it produces a very open and balanced tone .. nice round low notes and strong mids and highs .. great acoustic blues guitar, or could hold its own flat picked in an old timey' band.
Comes with a new hard case.
Check the sound clip!