Oscar Schmidt 'Stella' c 1928 | SOLD | (v2203) There is often a discussion among vintage guitars buffs that guitars like Regals and Stellas don't survive in good condition because they were initially cheap guitars and not well cared for over the years, and that the 'better' Martins and Gibsons are more often found in tip-top shape because they were expensive to buy and therefore well cared for by their owners. We here at VBG don't subscribe to that notion because we've seen and owned too many examples of 'cheap' guitars like this Stella. This is an all original, pristine example, including the purple-lined soft case. So it was either well cared for or put under the proverbial bed early on in its existance and forgotten.
This example appears to be the model 570 from the 1932 catalog, but without the pearloid. The ladder-braced top is spruce with a beautiful sunburst. The top and sound hole are bound in colorful marquetry and white celluloid. The back features a sunburst and a decalcomania strip down the middle. The bridge is maple, painted black. The original nut appears to be ebonized maple. The neck is poplar with an ebonized, non-radiused finger board and is tinted a cheery and attractive red mahogany. The head stock sports the same tint, as well as 'Stella' in gold script. We might add that this is the cleanest 'Stella' embossing we've seen, and we've seen a lot!
The concert-size body measures 13 1/2" across the lower bout. The scale length is 24 7/8". The finger board measures 1 13/16" across at the nut, and string spacing is 2 5/32" across at the saddle. Action is set at 5-7/64".
We recently reset the neck; reglued the bridge and a few back braces; reglued a bit of the back where it had separated from the sides; glued a 1" crack on the back; filled in some chip-out in the bridge plate; leveled and dressed the frets; installed a new bone saddle. The original tuners were cleaned and lubed, function well and show only a hint of oxidation. The bridge pins are original. The end pin is missing.
With the recent reset, the guitar plays very well and produces a nice ladder 'bark', as expected from these old blues machines. A great guitar for old blues and country picking. Comes with its original purple-lined soft case also in excellent condition.
Check out the sound clip!
This example appears to be the model 570 from the 1932 catalog, but without the pearloid. The ladder-braced top is spruce with a beautiful sunburst. The top and sound hole are bound in colorful marquetry and white celluloid. The back features a sunburst and a decalcomania strip down the middle. The bridge is maple, painted black. The original nut appears to be ebonized maple. The neck is poplar with an ebonized, non-radiused finger board and is tinted a cheery and attractive red mahogany. The head stock sports the same tint, as well as 'Stella' in gold script. We might add that this is the cleanest 'Stella' embossing we've seen, and we've seen a lot!
The concert-size body measures 13 1/2" across the lower bout. The scale length is 24 7/8". The finger board measures 1 13/16" across at the nut, and string spacing is 2 5/32" across at the saddle. Action is set at 5-7/64".
We recently reset the neck; reglued the bridge and a few back braces; reglued a bit of the back where it had separated from the sides; glued a 1" crack on the back; filled in some chip-out in the bridge plate; leveled and dressed the frets; installed a new bone saddle. The original tuners were cleaned and lubed, function well and show only a hint of oxidation. The bridge pins are original. The end pin is missing.
With the recent reset, the guitar plays very well and produces a nice ladder 'bark', as expected from these old blues machines. A great guitar for old blues and country picking. Comes with its original purple-lined soft case also in excellent condition.
Check out the sound clip!