Stella Jumbo 12 String Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, made by Oscar Schmidt , c. 1925
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An important instrument.
This item has been sold.
Item # 1928
Prices subject to change without notice.
Stella Jumbo Model 12 String Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, made by Oscar Schmidt, c. 1925, made in Jersey City, NJ, natural varnish finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, black tolex hard shell case.
One of the "Holy Grails" of acoustic guitar collecting, this Stella mahogany 12-string is a spectacular instrument both in historical importance and in sound. This is the exact same model as used by Leadbelly, although this example is somewhat earlier than his. While Schmidt sometimes built fancier 12-strings for other customer accounts, this is the top-of-the-line "Stella" and the guitar's retail price new of around $28.00 was a substantial sum in those days!
This guitar is a fantastic playing experience for anyone interested in country blues, East Coast blues, period Mexican music, finger-picked ragtime and the styles of Leadbelly, Blind Willie McTell, Barbecue Bob Hicks, Lydia Mendoza, and a host of others.
The body is solid mahogany, with a spruce top. The original Stella ladder bracing is completely intact (many of these guitars have been re-braced, which substantially changes the sound). The top and soundhole are bound and bordered with the wide colored wood purfling that is a Stella trademark. The bridge is typical Schmidt with sharp pyramids on the ends, with the strings running to the special 12-string tailpiece.
This guitar has an extremely deep resonance and a sound all its own, not like modern 12-string instruments. This is as fine-playing an example of this instrument as one is likely to find.
Overall length is 42 1/4 in. (107.3 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm.) deep. Scale length is 26 1/2 in. (673 mm.).
Excellent overall condition; this guitar has had some repairs to put it in perfect playing condition. The neck has been reset into a perfect reproduction neck block, and the action is very smooth. The finish has been left mostly undisturbed and there are no major cracks or damage.
Stellas of this type are rarely found in such a well-preserved and playable state. Provided with a new high-grade HSC. Excellent Condition.
One of the "Holy Grails" of acoustic guitar collecting, this Stella mahogany 12-string is a spectacular instrument both in historical importance and in sound. This is the exact same model as used by Leadbelly, although this example is somewhat earlier than his. While Schmidt sometimes built fancier 12-strings for other customer accounts, this is the top-of-the-line "Stella" and the guitar's retail price new of around $28.00 was a substantial sum in those days!
This guitar is a fantastic playing experience for anyone interested in country blues, East Coast blues, period Mexican music, finger-picked ragtime and the styles of Leadbelly, Blind Willie McTell, Barbecue Bob Hicks, Lydia Mendoza, and a host of others.
The body is solid mahogany, with a spruce top. The original Stella ladder bracing is completely intact (many of these guitars have been re-braced, which substantially changes the sound). The top and soundhole are bound and bordered with the wide colored wood purfling that is a Stella trademark. The bridge is typical Schmidt with sharp pyramids on the ends, with the strings running to the special 12-string tailpiece.
This guitar has an extremely deep resonance and a sound all its own, not like modern 12-string instruments. This is as fine-playing an example of this instrument as one is likely to find.
Overall length is 42 1/4 in. (107.3 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm.) deep. Scale length is 26 1/2 in. (673 mm.).
Excellent overall condition; this guitar has had some repairs to put it in perfect playing condition. The neck has been reset into a perfect reproduction neck block, and the action is very smooth. The finish has been left mostly undisturbed and there are no major cracks or damage.
Stellas of this type are rarely found in such a well-preserved and playable state. Provided with a new high-grade HSC. Excellent Condition.