1920s Oscar Schmidt 4-String Banjo-Mandolin Conversion

We have a banjo-mandolin infestation in the shop at the moment and, considering the positive response I've gotten to my tendency to mod them to 4-string instruments, that's sort-of the plan going forward with the less-fancy instruments of the type we have here right now.

This was made by Oscar Schmidt in New Jersey in the mid-1920s, though it's unmarked. Many of this same model bear a Stella or LaScala mark at the headstock or dowel but this one must have been sold to a retailer to brand (or not brand) as desired.

My guy Jose did much of the work on this to get it going, though I did the mod to the tuners for him and helped him with the details. He's done a good job and it plays bang-on and is fit to serve. I love how 4-stringing a banjo-mandolin turns it from an instrument that's frustrating to keep in tune to one that does something new for a mandolin player. It can operate like a "mini tenor banjo" to chop chords and play chord-melody stuff but it also works well for following tunes fiddle-style, too.

Repairs included: a fret level/dress, side dots added, tuner and headstock conversion to 4-string, new nut, new bridge, bolted (rather than braced) neck joint mod, cleaning, and setup work.

Weight: 3 lbs 2 oz

Scale length: 13"

Nut width: 1 1/4"

Neck shape: medium V

Board radius: flat

Head diameter: 10 1/8"

Depth overall at rim: 2 3/8"

Rim wood: maple ply

Tonering: none

Bridge: maple/ebony 2-foot

Fretboard: ebonized maple

Neck wood: maple 2-piece with center strip

Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 32w, 20w, 13, 9

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: low/small

Condition notes: while it's been modified (8-string to 4-string) here in shop, it's otherwise mostly original. We scrapped the neck brace in favor of two bolts holding the heel firm to the rim (trust me, this is better than friction-set shims that fall at the merest wrong glance). The head is original and features lovely history throughout its many drawings. The nut and bridge are not original and there's minor wear and tear throughout the instrument via small scratches, scuffs, and whatnot. The headstock has 4 tuner-shaft holes filled.

It comes with: an original case.

Consignor tag: COM