Stella Concert Size Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, made by Oscar Schmidt (1930s), made in Jersey City, NJ, mahogany stain with decals finish, birch body, poplar neck with ebonized fingerboard, chipboard case.
This is a very cool if relatively basic Depression era Oscar Schmidt-made Stella guitar, yet another example of the endlessly varied pre-war instruments carrying this iconic blues-approved brand. It has been around for something like 85 years but remains a fully playable icon and a direct link to the pre-WWII blues tradition. These inexpensive but solidly made Stella guitars were often the only decent instruments affordable to rural Americans of every stripe, and offered great looks and sound for the money. When asked decades later what guitars the pre-war bluesman he championed played, early talent scout H.C. Speir responded "Stellas, they all played those old Stellas".
Over a production history from the late 19th century into the mid-1930s, the Oscar Schmidt factory in Jersey City produced seemingly endless variations of Stella and Sovereign branded guitars. This is a fairly basic concert sized model built with a dark-stained birch body and poplar neck with plain appointments except for the elaborate decal decoration on the top. It carries a later version of the classic yellow "Stella Guitar" label in the soundhole, showing two musicians presumably enjoying their Stella instruments with the Oscar Schimdt info and 87 Ferry Street address. The label claims "carefully made to professional specifications" which is an optimistic claim for this simple guitar, but not entirely unfounded!
There is no binding anywhere, the soundhole edge is painted white. The dark-stained top is ornamented with a gold floral pattern decal around the soundhole and musical motif above the bridge. The dyed maple floating bridge and bent flat-plate metal tailpiece are original and as simple as it gets. The tuners are standard period strips but with black composite buttons.
Internally, the construction is typically Schmidt/Stella including the 'lazy" square un-mitered kerfing under the top. The 13 1/2" wide 12-fret body has a ladder braced spruce top with a large flat bridgeplate in the classic Stella mode. The 24 3/4" scale neck has a fairly typical "V" profile; the ebonized fingerboard has plain pearloid dot inlay and an ebonized maple nut.
This is a very good playing and sounding guitar of its type. Like many Stellas it seems happiest in open tunings and is perfectly suited to the sort of pre-war blues and hillbilly stylings that make players lust after an original Stella in the first place. This is a genuine relic showpiece, a bit ragged but righteous that would stand out in any context!
Overall length is 37 1/8 in. (94.3 cm.), 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.).
This guitar is structurally solid and a surprisingly good player, somewhat worn in but with these Stellas the funk of the ages is part of the story. It shows some wear and typical repair work but nothing tragic. The original finish has some mostly light general wear just about everywhere, with scuffing to the top, sides back and some minor fabric pattern transfer from some old case lining on the back. The top finish has some wear to the wood from picking mostly around the soundhole.
The original small frets are intact, not too much worn and as playable as most of these. There is wear to the dyed fingerboard in the first position and all along the edges. The neck has been reset, the action very good and the guitar is perfect for the types of blues picking Stellas are De rigeur for. There are no cracks in the instrument; The interior is relatively clean with the original braces intact and a couple of extra finger braces added under the sinkhole area for added top longevity.
This old Stella plays today at least as well as it did 100 or so years ago and has strong enough mojo for anybody who has ever coveted an old Bluebird 78 to be self explanatory. While it likely won't replace anyone's Martin as an everyday player, this is a really surprisingly good sounding guitar. If you want a real relic of when blues was only heard in the street, plantation or on shellac discs this is a very good if not fancy example. Overall Very Good + Condition.
