1930s Harmony-made Suprema 3/4 (or Size 5) Parlor Guitar

Suprema was a brand used by Eaton Department Store(s) up in Canada and this one was made by Harmony in Chicago in the mid-1930s. It's basically the same critter as the size 5/terz Harmony Stellas and the like made from the same period all the way through the '70s. This one has an all-solid-birch body and a tailpiece (rather than pin-bridge) setup, and thus sounds a little more bluesy and boxy/funky than the pin versions. It's also a little louder, too.

The jury is out on whether the best way to use these is as a "terz" guitar with EADGBE tuned up three frets to GCFBbDG or whether it's best to use it as a mini/travel guitar in standard E-to-E. I like the sound of them tuned up better, but it sure is practical to have a cute little box like this for hanging-out with on the beach.

Work included: a fret level/dress, neck bolt install (angle was OK but just for security's sake), side dots install, a minor seam reglue, replacement compensated bridge, new bone nut, and a setup. It plays bang-on with 3/32" EA and 1/16" DGBE action at the 12th fret, has a straight neck, and is strung with 54w-12 gauges.

Scale length: 21 1/2"

Nut width: 1 11/16"

String spacing at nut: 1 7/16"

String spacing at bridge: 2"

Body length: 15 1/8"

Lower bout width: 11 1/4"

Waist width: 6 3/8"

Upper bout width: 8"

Side depth at endpin: 3 1/2"

Top wood: solid birch

Back/sides wood: solid birch

Neck wood: poplar

Bracing type: ladder

Fretboard: ebonized maple

Bridge: ebonized maple, compensated

Neck feel: medium-big C/V, flat board

Condition notes: no cracks, all-original save nut and bridge, finish looks good, and only a few minor scratches here and there with mild wear to the back of the neck.

It comes with: its original chip case.

It has a later retailer's (1960s?) sticker on the back of the headstock.