Oscar Schmidt 'Miami' Auditorium-size Acoustic c 1925 | HOLD | The Schmidt 'catalog' guitars were known to be rough and tumble instruments favored by many of the legendary bluesmen in the 78 rpm era. However, if the factory wanted to produce a top-notch instrument, made with quality materials and an eye on detail, they could do it. This 'Miami' branded six-string 'jumbo' is a stellar example of what the Schmidt line could create. It appears that the Miami brand was an exclusive label for the Henry Stadlmair music company, which entered the 'jobbing' field in 1924 with a store on E. 23rd St. in NYC. Henry had worked as GM of C. Bruno and Son, a huge jobber of the day, so he knew his way around the business. Among the instruments offered to retailers were Miami-labeled ukuleles and Weissenborn Hawaiian guitars. We've seen no reports of Miami-branded guitars in the trade journals or catalogs, but it's quite likely that they were offered since Stradlmair had exclusive rights to the Miami name. Check the photo of the Miami label; it has the most pleasing design and colors of all the vintage labels we've seen! This is an extremely rare guitar. One other Miami jumbo has surfaced (see Neil Harpe's 'Stella Guitars' book). In fact, OS jumbo six-strings are likely rarer then the coveted jumbo 12s in our experience.
This is an auditorium or 'jumbo' size guitar, the largest produced in the Jersey City factory. The lower bout spans a full 15 9/16". The scale is 26 9/16" (long scale). These guitars are typically tuned down a full step or more to reduce string tension and create the low growl that the jumbo-six Schmidt instruments are know for. The fingerboard measures 1 3/4" across at the nut, and string spacing is 2 3/8" at the saddle.
The ladder-braced top is a fine grade of red spruce. Its perimeter and sound hole are trimmed with fancy marquetry and white celluloid. The back and sides are a quality grade of mahogany, with the back bound in white celluloid and a marquetry strip down the center seam. The neck is mahogany, carved in a 'V' typical of Schmidt guitars of this era. The finger board is ebonized maple, and inlaid with abalone in a trailing vine pattern. The board and head stock are bound in white celluloid. The head stock is overlaid with Brazilian rosewood. The bridge is an ebony replacement from the period.
Past repairs .. when we acquired the guitar, its owner told us that he'd had it since the early 60s when he had it refinished, refretted, and a very large mustache type bridge installed. It also appears that two cracks along the fingerboard extension were repaired. When we removed the replacement bridge we noted that there had been some top tear out hidden underneath. That damage was repaired with a small patch of spruce inlay, and the old bridge foot print blended into the top finish. Additionally, to eliminate an old and dirty center seam separation, we had a spruce splint installed in the seam. We reset the neck and installed a period correct pyramid bridge. The tuners, end pin, nut and several of the bridge pins are original (we added a few from our stash to complete the set). The guitar is now very solid, playable and quite attractive again.
We here at VBG get to play a lot of rare and wonderful guitars, and we've concluded that the OS jumbos are among the best sounding. If the jumbo 12 is the king, than the jumbo 6 is the queen. The combination of the long scale, ladder bracing and ample body size produces an instrument that is full and deep, with booming bass and inspiring, lush tones all across the strings. It will respond to the lightest touch, but when pushed with a plectrum, there always seems to be more tone in reserve.
Comes with an older hard case.
Check the sound clip!
This is an auditorium or 'jumbo' size guitar, the largest produced in the Jersey City factory. The lower bout spans a full 15 9/16". The scale is 26 9/16" (long scale). These guitars are typically tuned down a full step or more to reduce string tension and create the low growl that the jumbo-six Schmidt instruments are know for. The fingerboard measures 1 3/4" across at the nut, and string spacing is 2 3/8" at the saddle.
The ladder-braced top is a fine grade of red spruce. Its perimeter and sound hole are trimmed with fancy marquetry and white celluloid. The back and sides are a quality grade of mahogany, with the back bound in white celluloid and a marquetry strip down the center seam. The neck is mahogany, carved in a 'V' typical of Schmidt guitars of this era. The finger board is ebonized maple, and inlaid with abalone in a trailing vine pattern. The board and head stock are bound in white celluloid. The head stock is overlaid with Brazilian rosewood. The bridge is an ebony replacement from the period.
Past repairs .. when we acquired the guitar, its owner told us that he'd had it since the early 60s when he had it refinished, refretted, and a very large mustache type bridge installed. It also appears that two cracks along the fingerboard extension were repaired. When we removed the replacement bridge we noted that there had been some top tear out hidden underneath. That damage was repaired with a small patch of spruce inlay, and the old bridge foot print blended into the top finish. Additionally, to eliminate an old and dirty center seam separation, we had a spruce splint installed in the seam. We reset the neck and installed a period correct pyramid bridge. The tuners, end pin, nut and several of the bridge pins are original (we added a few from our stash to complete the set). The guitar is now very solid, playable and quite attractive again.
We here at VBG get to play a lot of rare and wonderful guitars, and we've concluded that the OS jumbos are among the best sounding. If the jumbo 12 is the king, than the jumbo 6 is the queen. The combination of the long scale, ladder bracing and ample body size produces an instrument that is full and deep, with booming bass and inspiring, lush tones all across the strings. It will respond to the lightest touch, but when pushed with a plectrum, there always seems to be more tone in reserve.
Comes with an older hard case.
Check the sound clip!