Gibson Roy Smeck Stage Deluxe Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1934), Kalamazoo, Michigan.
In 1934 Gibson offered a new large-body acoustic Hawaiian guitar endorsed by Roy Smeck "Wizard of the Strings" in two versions; This mahogany "Stage Deluxe" and the extremely rare rosewood "Radio Grande". This first-year Stage Deluxe is essentially a 12-fret version of the contemporary Jumbo, the primary difference being the shorter neck with a very wide fingerboard. Like most, it has been converted for regular Spanish play and is in exceptionally fine guitar for either style.
The $50 Stage Deluxe was slightly less fancy than the $60 jumbo, with silkscreen logo and plastic-button strip tuners, but shares the 16" wide single-bound mahogany body with a lush dark sunburst top. Gibson built no other 12-fret slope-shoulder jumbo guitars besides the Smeck models; this unusual combination of features has long been prized for its deep powerful sound. A favorite of discerning players including Norman Blake and especially Jackson Browne.
Overall length is 39 1/2 in. (100.3 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 9/16 in. (11.6 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/16 in. (52 mm.). Suberb clean conversion to Spanish play; excellent fretwork, neck not thinned and original bridge intact. A little wear overall but no major issues or repairs. Huge sound! Excellent Condition.
