1920s Oscar Schmidt Stella Spruce/Birch Parlor Guitar

Oscar Schmidt-made "parlor" guitars from the '20s are really popular in the country-blues scene. They've got the sound and they've got the provenance to match-up with any of the great old fingerpickers of yesteryear. This one's got "Stella" branded on the headstock and is a few steps up from the average all-birch guitars the company made for the bulk of their production.

This one's got solid spruce over solid birch, nice "rope" purfling, celluloid binding on the top and back edges, and a friendly, well-loved look to it. The (thin) finishes on these old Schmidt instruments tend to get really abused and that's just what's happened here -- in all the best ways.

This guitar was a team effort between Ancel, Jose, and myself and it's playing bang-on and ready to go.

Repairs included: a neck reset, new bridge install, side dots, fret level/dress, new nut and saddle, new pins, various brace reglues, seam repairs, back crack cleats and repairs, cleaning, and setup work.

• Weight: 2 lbs 14 oz
• Scale length: 24 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 13/16"
• Neck shape: big V
• Board radius: flat
• Body width: 13 3/8"
• Body depth: 3 3/4"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid birch
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: rosewood
• Fretboard: ebonized maple or similar
• Neck wood: poplar
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 52w-12 custom lights
• Truss rod: none
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium-lower/shallow

Condition notes: it has a replaced bridge, nut, saddle, and pins. There are repaired cracks to the back. The finish shows wear and tear all over via scratches, scuffs, nicks, and tiny dings here and there. The original frets are in good order but are lower/shallower than modern frets and have a different feel. The fretboard extension "drops down" a little over the body off the plane of the rest of the board but it's not an issue unless you're regularly playing frets 15 and up.

It comes with: sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: MM