Sovereign Grand Concert Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, made by Oscar Schmidt, c. 1930, made in Jersey City, NJ, natural varnish finish, koa body, mahogany neck, pearloid fingerboard.
This is a fabulous example of the higher level of guitars crafted at the Oscar Schmidt factory in Jersey City prior to 1935, and a truly great-playing and sounding guitar. While the Schmidt brand name "Stella" is most legendary for its association with acoustic blues players, the "Sovereign" brand was used for the more expensive, upscale instruments, like this grand concert-size Koa wood guitar.
Oscar Schmidt-built guitars have become increasingly sought after in recent years as awareness of their unique sound and feel has spread beyond the fingerpicking blues fraternity. These guitars are among the most interesting instruments of their era and have many unusual qualities.
This guitar is just under 15" wide with a long 26 3/8" scale neck. The back, sides, and top are high-grade Koa with gold faux pearl inlay around the top, back, and soundhole. The neck is a fairly sharp "V" profile and the fingerboard is engraved pearloid. An impressed and painted-in "Sovereign" logo adorns the slotted headstock.
The sound is both full and bright, with the special 'snap' particular to Koa instruments. This is a very fine fingerpicking guitar suitable for a wide range of styles, and would also make an excellent acoustic Hawaiian guitar with an extension nut added. Simply one of the nicest original Oscar Schmidt creations we have seen in a long time.
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm.), 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 26 3/8 in. (670 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7/8 in. (48 mm.).
Extremely nice overall, this guitar has had some intelligent restoration and is a very fine-playing instrument. There are two well-repaired back cracks; otherwise the instrument is crack-free. The neck has been set and the bridge is an excellent reproduction of the original style in ebony. Everything else appears original: tuners, finish, frets, nut, etc. There is a label in the guitar that is a reproduction of the period Sovereign style, which this guitar may or may not have had originally. Excellent Condition.
