SOLD Stella 12-String GC ca 1920 SOLD
Oscar Schmidt 12-String Grand Concert | HOLD | This is an early example of a Schmidt 'BBQ Bob' Stella 12-string. BBQ Bob was an Atlanta bluesman who recorded in the late 20s, and was known to have played a similar grand concert-size 12-string Stella, not to be confused with the auditorium-size 'jumbo' played by Leadbelly. Based on the guitars components, including its narrow back braces, we'd date this one circa 1920, and declare it one of the more compelling examples we've offered.
The top is spruce, and is adorned with 'rope' binding around the top and sound hole. Back and sides are birch, with a decal along the center strip. The neck is poplar. The fingerboard is a white wood, dyed black, as is the rather large (but not uncommon for this era 12s) pyramid bridge. An early yellow 'Stella' label is pasted inside.
The body measures 14 3/4" across at the lower bout, and the fingerboard is 2" at the nut. Scale length is long scale at 26 1/2".
The neck was recently reset, and frets leveled and dressed. A few back cracks were glued. The guitar shows the nicks, dings and scrapes of a life well-lived, the so-called 'blues mojo', but is solid and original.
The guitar plays easily with comfortable action. The sound produced is surprisingly more full and 'big' than expected from a GC-size 12, and is dead-on the Stella 12-string sound heard on early 78s, and coveted by country blues players today. It truly conveys that piano/organ sound. If you didn't know, you'd think you were playing a jumbo. Comes with an old hard case.
