Harmony 'Stella' Decalcomania Standard Size Guitar c 1940 | SOLD | (vbg 2016) This is an interesting and fairly unusual guitar from the days just after Harmony of Chicago purchased the former Oscar Schmidt company. In the 1940 Harmony Musical Instruments catalog this guitar appears as model No. 919 on a page that touts the "known favorably to guitar players for 50 years" Stella guitars. The catalog copy goes on to explain that many Stella models are now presented in "improved models" with advances in construction, finish and seasoning of the materials used. The instrument does, indeed, look like a Stella from the '30s, except for the Harmony 'idento' tailpiece replacing the typical Schmidt tailpiece.
The guitar dimensions, when compared, are very close to the Schmidt-made instruments. Construction is all solid woods, ladder-braced, with the top appearing to be birds-eye maple, although the catalog text states "glossy oak finish"; but that may be a reference to the color of the stain. The neck appears to be poplar or basswood. The fingerboard is 'ebonized'. The bridge is the typical non-fixed type, common to the era, and appears to be original to the guitar. The Schmidt-style decalcomania surrounds the sound hole, and a "Stella" decal adorns the slotted head stock.
The standard-size guitar measures 13 1/4" across at the lower bout. Scale length is 24 1/8". The neck measures 1 11/16" across at the nut, and string spacing is 2 1/4" across at the saddle. The neck carve is more of a 'C' shape than 'V'.
The guitar has had some older repairs, including back cracks, and some parts of the back/top/side re-glued. Also, a previous owner added the 'stud' tailpiece to replace the original 'idento' type. We re-glued some braces and reset the neck. Note that for proper string alignment, a small shim is installed under the end of the tail piece. The finish is original and shows some wear and tear from use and age.
The guitar plays nicely with good action, and a nice, bluesy/old-timey tone, while retaining the 'Stella' appointments from a decade earlier. Overall, a nice solid guitar that won't break the bank.
Comes with a soft case.
Check out the sound clip
The guitar dimensions, when compared, are very close to the Schmidt-made instruments. Construction is all solid woods, ladder-braced, with the top appearing to be birds-eye maple, although the catalog text states "glossy oak finish"; but that may be a reference to the color of the stain. The neck appears to be poplar or basswood. The fingerboard is 'ebonized'. The bridge is the typical non-fixed type, common to the era, and appears to be original to the guitar. The Schmidt-style decalcomania surrounds the sound hole, and a "Stella" decal adorns the slotted head stock.
The standard-size guitar measures 13 1/4" across at the lower bout. Scale length is 24 1/8". The neck measures 1 11/16" across at the nut, and string spacing is 2 1/4" across at the saddle. The neck carve is more of a 'C' shape than 'V'.
The guitar has had some older repairs, including back cracks, and some parts of the back/top/side re-glued. Also, a previous owner added the 'stud' tailpiece to replace the original 'idento' type. We re-glued some braces and reset the neck. Note that for proper string alignment, a small shim is installed under the end of the tail piece. The finish is original and shows some wear and tear from use and age.
The guitar plays nicely with good action, and a nice, bluesy/old-timey tone, while retaining the 'Stella' appointments from a decade earlier. Overall, a nice solid guitar that won't break the bank.
Comes with a soft case.
Check out the sound clip