1920s Oscar Schmidt FHCM Parlor Guitar

Originally, this guitar was sent-in for repair and return to the owner but in the meantime he found a very fancy guitar and so this is now slated for resale instead. It's an Oscar Schmidt-built instrument and very much like a period Stella or Sovereign, save slightly downmarket. The "First Hawaiian Conservatory of Music" decal on the headstock signifies that this was intended for that mail-order-catalog/teaching course and, if this had arrived in its original configuration, it would have had a raised nut for Hawaiian "steel" playing (ie, slide played in the lap face-up)

This particular model is desirable in the market both because Blind Willie Johnson (famous blues player) played one and also because they have that "little something extra" that a lot of ladder-braced guitars from the time don't have. They're a little darker-sounding, warmer, and woodier than the average ladder-bracer -- in short, they sound a bit closer to x-braced guitars but still have the "sting" or "punch" of a ladder-bracer.

Repairs included: a neck reset, brace reglues, bridge modification (saddle slot and bridge pin relocation), new bone saddle, fret level/dress, new nut, crack repairs to the back, side dots install, cleaning, and setup.

Weight: 3 lbs 6 oz

Scale length: 24 7/8"

Nut width: 1 7/8"

Neck shape: medium-big V

Board radius: flat

Body width: 13 3/8"

Body depth: 3 1/2"

Top wood: solid birch

Back & sides wood: solid birch

Bracing type: ladder

Bridge: ebonized maple

Fretboard: ebonized maple

Neck wood: poplar

Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 54w, 40w, 30w, 22w, 16, 12 custom set

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: jumbo (refretted)

Condition notes: there are a number of repaired back cracks. The bridge has been modified but is original. One bridge pin and the endpin are replacements. The nut is a replacement. The neck was reset and bolt reinforcement was added as well. It has egregious amounts of finish wear and tear and topcoat discoloration throughout -- this is very common for Schmidts. There's also plenty of weather-checking and fine-line alligatoring here and there. There's pickwear at the soundhole.

It comes with: no case, sorry!