1920s Oscar Schmidt Stella Flatback Mandolin

While simple in specs (this is solid birch throughout the body and top), this Stella-branded Oscar Schmidt build has the "gold celluloid" purfling and binding style found on their fancier Sovereign-branded guitars that often came with koa bodies. It has a cool "cream celluloid" fretboard as well.

It's got a woody, mellow, relaxed tone that carries decently but it has a shorter scale length so bluegrass or old-time "choppers" will probably want to avoid it. For those playing folksy, old-timey, or bluesy stuff, though, it's pretty slick and fun.

Repairs included: a fret level/dress, side dots, cleaning, restring, bridge compensation, and setup.

Weight: 1 lb 10 oz

Scale length: 13 1/4"

Nut width: 1 3/16"

Neck shape: medium C

Board radius: flat

Body width: 9 1/2"

Body depth: 2 1/2"

Top wood: solid birch

Back & sides wood: solid birch

Bracing type: ladder

Bridge: rosewood/ebonized maple

Fretboard: maple w/pearloid veneer

Neck wood: poplar

Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 36w-10

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: low/small

Condition notes: it's original throughout save a few replaced/missing dot inlays in the fretboard, added side dots, and an original bridge that's been modified to be compensated and raised slightly with a shimmed bottom. There's one smaller (2-3") hairline crack that was repaired before it arrived here on the back. The frets are low and small so if you don't like a "vintage feel" to your neck and frets, you may want it refretted. The tuners are also a little fussy, but that's par for the course with old mandolins and they're far better than your average bowlback tuners from the time.

It comes with: an old hard case, presumably original or at least period.