Oscar Schmidt 'Lyra' Standard-size Guitar c 1918 | HOLD | (v2165) Bruno was a 'jobber' of guitars through the early twentieth century, and the Oscar Schmidt factory provided a lot of their inventory. This example sports the large, yellow 'Lyra/Bruno' label and is made up of qulaity materials, including white oak back and sides. It appears that white oak was a desirable body wood through the teens, but seems to disappear by the ninteen-thirties. A Bruno catalog from 1912-13 lists the No. 214 as "Standard size. Oak. Selected Figure Wood ... Inlaid edges and soundhole..." and a 1915-16 B&J catalog lists the No. 284 as "Standard size. Quartered oak..." But by the 1930s, there are no oak offerings in the catalog. Based on this information we'd guess that this guitar dates from the teens into the early twenties.
The back and sides are quarter-sawn white oak. The ladder-braced top is red spruce. The top and sound hole are adorned with fancy marquetry, sometimes referred to as "Leadbelly" style since it's the type used on his iconic 12-string. Top, back and soundhole are also bound in white celluloid, with the back featuring a 'decalcomania' strip. The neck appears to be poplar, stained a cherry red, and topped with a black-painted maple fingerboard. The nut (reproduction) and pyramid bridge (reproduction) are ebony. There are four inlaid position markers. The bridge pins and strip tuners are original. The original bridge pins are dyed maple with pearl dots. The end pin is a replacement.
The top measures 13 5/16" across the lower bout. Scale length is 24 7/8". The neck measures 1 3/4" across at the nut, and string spacing is 2 1/4" across at the saddle.
The body is crack-free and the finish is original, applied generously on the body with some checking, and thinly on the neck .. both typical of OS instruments of this era. Overall, the guitar exudes an attractive patina from age.
Recent repairs include a neck reset; replica bridge installed (original 'ebonized' bridge too warped to salvage); a 'popsicle' brace installed under the top at the finger board extension; chip out between pin holes repaired on the bridge plate; frets leveled and dressed; action set at 6/64" with ample saddle. There is some play wear on the top and overall nicks and dings from use, but a really clean, attractive and mostly original Stella-type blues guitar!
The guitar plays silky-smooth, with a nice 'fit' to the hand of the 'V'-carved neck and thin finish and spot-on intonation. The combination of spruce over oak produces, to our ears, a guitar with a bit more warmth that the usual spruce over birch or all birch models. We feel that this particular example has exceptional sound among its peers, and perfect for fingerpicking old blues and old-time music.
Comes with a soft case.
Be sure to check out the sound clip!
The back and sides are quarter-sawn white oak. The ladder-braced top is red spruce. The top and sound hole are adorned with fancy marquetry, sometimes referred to as "Leadbelly" style since it's the type used on his iconic 12-string. Top, back and soundhole are also bound in white celluloid, with the back featuring a 'decalcomania' strip. The neck appears to be poplar, stained a cherry red, and topped with a black-painted maple fingerboard. The nut (reproduction) and pyramid bridge (reproduction) are ebony. There are four inlaid position markers. The bridge pins and strip tuners are original. The original bridge pins are dyed maple with pearl dots. The end pin is a replacement.
The top measures 13 5/16" across the lower bout. Scale length is 24 7/8". The neck measures 1 3/4" across at the nut, and string spacing is 2 1/4" across at the saddle.
The body is crack-free and the finish is original, applied generously on the body with some checking, and thinly on the neck .. both typical of OS instruments of this era. Overall, the guitar exudes an attractive patina from age.
Recent repairs include a neck reset; replica bridge installed (original 'ebonized' bridge too warped to salvage); a 'popsicle' brace installed under the top at the finger board extension; chip out between pin holes repaired on the bridge plate; frets leveled and dressed; action set at 6/64" with ample saddle. There is some play wear on the top and overall nicks and dings from use, but a really clean, attractive and mostly original Stella-type blues guitar!
The guitar plays silky-smooth, with a nice 'fit' to the hand of the 'V'-carved neck and thin finish and spot-on intonation. The combination of spruce over oak produces, to our ears, a guitar with a bit more warmth that the usual spruce over birch or all birch models. We feel that this particular example has exceptional sound among its peers, and perfect for fingerpicking old blues and old-time music.
Comes with a soft case.
Be sure to check out the sound clip!