1920s Oscar Schmidt FHCM Parlor Guitar (#3)

Overview: This is a First Hawaiian Conservatory of Music model made by Oscar Schmidt for the mailorder brand. It's comparable to Schmidt's Stella line of instruments and has solid birch throughout the body, ladder-bracing, and sounds exactly like you'd expect a classic old country-blues box to sound. This model was made famous by Blind Willie Johnson who was photographed with one. I originally worked on this back in 2021. It came back for resale last year but I figured I'd make a full update to keep track of its changing aesthetics this time around before relisting it.

Tone: It's woody, warm, punchy, and doesn't mind a hard attack.

Interesting features: These have big old necks and generous string spacing and are suited perfectly to folks looking for that sort-of feel to aid their country-blues picking. The finish on this one has lots of nice patina and a nice, dark-red-brown color. It's almost like you're looking at a painting of a guitar when you're seeing this guy in person.

Repairs included: I previously gave it a neck reset, fret level/dress, side dots, fit a new bridge and saddle, cleaned it up, and set it up. I had to cleat and fill a couple of cracks at the fretboard extension (caused by travel and winter dryness) this time around and adjust the saddle but it was otherwise the same as when it left years ago. It's playing spot-on and ready to serve.

• Weight: 3 lbs 0 oz
• Scale length: 24 15/16"
• Nut width: 1 7/8"
• Neck shape: big C
• Board radius: flat
• Body width: 13 1/4"
• Body depth: 3 3/4"
• Top wood: solid birch
• Back & sides wood: solid birch
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: rosewood
• Fretboard: maple
• Neck wood: poplar
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 52w-11
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium-low

Condition notes: It has two cracks on the upper bout on either side of the fretboard -- they're repaired. It's got a replacement bridge, saddle, and bridge pins. There are numerous scuffs, scratches, small nicks, scrapes, and whatnot throughout the finish. This stuff is so thin and weather-checked that it scratches easily and then fades-back-in again after some time has passed.

It comes with: It's got a chip case.

Consignor tag: DVLC