Unlabeled Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, probably Oscar Schmidt, c. 1920, made in Jersey City, NJ, natural finish, Brazillian rosewood back and sides, spruce top, mahogany neck.
This lovely-sounding early 20th century Grand Concert guitar is a bit of a mystery, as it has been extensively reconstructed and many of the clues to its origins are missing. There is no brand or logo, although a letter "G" is stamped into the backbrace under the soundhole. The bridge, fingerboard, and tuners are all replaced, so they offer no insight.
The body is very much like many period Oscar Schmidt-made instruments, although rosewood Schmidts are extremely rare. The neck also has very Schmidt-like contours, including a strongly tapered peghead, but many of the detail touches do not match the known Schmidt stylings. The body is beautiful Brazilian rosewood, nicely bookmatched, although with several noticeably filled grain anomalies!
The top has fancy chain and half-herringbone inlay on the edges and soundhole, with the top edge bound in celluloid. The neck is a comfortable round contour, unlike many period guitars which feature a deep "V" shape. The bracing is very Stella-like, with several narrow straight braces and a large flat plate under the bridge.
While we are not absolutely certain of its origins, we do know this is a very fine-sounding instrument and a great value in a 1910's-20's guitar for playing purposes.
Overall length is 38 3/8 in. (97.5 cm.), 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 5/8 in. (9.2 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 has had a great deal of work done over the years, and is currently perfectly playable if not especially original! The back, sides, and neck have been refinished and the back appears rebound; the top still has the original finish intact with some buff-out. There are a number of repaired top cracks, with patches added underneath many.
The bridge is a fairly recent replacement in a semi-pyramid style. The fingerboard is an older rosewood replacement which looks quite a bit like a Gibson fitting, inlaid with pearl dots. Tuners are vintage style openback strip tuners (mounted in the original gear-over shaft configuration), but not as old as the instrument. The headstock facing appears refinished, and the heelcap is newer.
While this guitar has come a long way from its origins, it has a positively enchanting sound and is extremely responsive. A wonderful "player's vintage" 1920's instrument. Very Good Condition.
