1920s Luxor (Oscar Schmidt) Resonator Banjo-Ukulele

While it's branded Luxor at the headstock, this is clearly an Oscar Schmidt-made banjo uke. I've worked on scads of openback Oscar Schmidts but this is only the third resonator one (of this style) that I've worked-on. It's also in an incredibly-cool red/black "crackle" finish that you only see once in a while on old Schmidts and it has a rosewood fretboard, which most Schmidt ukes only get when they get to a fancier rim design.

For reference, click here to see a "black crackle" openback jo-uke and click here to see a similar resonator jo-uke. This one's a mix of both styles.

Anyhow, I bought this recently and it was fairly clean, though it did need work and parts thrown at it to make it right. Post-repairs, it plays fast and accurately and it has that mellow, sweet, chop-clop sound that I associate with these old Schmidts. I know a lot of customers who've bought the openback variety of these from me and have had them for years, now, without a thought to sell them. It's something about the comfortable (wider) neck and lightweight design, I think -- they make you want to play them vs. the heavier rim designs many jo-ukes have.

Repairs included: fret level/dress, side dots install, 4:1 geared Tune-A-Lele pegs install, new Grover 2-foot bridge, new brass no-knot tailpiece, cleaning, new bone nut, and setup.

Rim wood: unknown (poplar? birch?)

Tonering: none

Bridge: ebony/maple

Fretboard: rosewood

Neck wood: poplar

Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast)
String gauges: D'Addario fluorocarbon

Neck shape: medium C

Board radius: flat

Truss rod: n/a

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: low/small brass stock

Scale length: 13 7/8"

Nut width: 1 1/4"

Head diameter: 7 5/8"

Resonator diameter: 9 1/2"

Depth overall at rim: 2 1/4"

Weight: 2 lbs 5 oz

Condition notes: the head is a later replacement skin and it's in good shape but does have one tiny pinprick hole (not an issue). The tailpiece is a replacement and the tuners and nut are, too, but the rest of the hardware is original. The bridge is a new Grover 2-foot. The finish shows wear and tear around the edges, mostly, and is worn-off on the edges of the rim a bit, too. Still, it looks really good for its age and "market-level," heh heh. I added an endbolt (vintage) to hold the tailpiece because the one that was on it was a 1920s mandolin-style, screw-on tailpiece which was not original.