NGD...Stella!!!

generalliamsayn · #1 11-11-2020, 12:51 PM

1940 Stella found on local CL in amazing condition for its age - where's Stanley Kowalski when you need him?

The small, ladder-braced birch body (in "Glossy Oak" finish) is feather-light. It has a super-easy playing 24" scale and a lively, midrangy tone - perfect for older fingerpicking folk and blues. It's a blast to play. Can't wait to put some round-core monels on it to push the vintage vibe even further.

And check out the craftsmanship of the mother-of-pearl inlay around the sound-hole!!! (oh, wait, that's just a decal)...

jricc · #2 11-11-2020, 12:54 PM

Sweet find! I love those old Stella guitars. I had one as my first guitar...

Goat Mick · #3 11-11-2020, 01:14 PM

That one is in remarkable shape!! Great find.

Mr. Jelly · #4 11-11-2020, 01:31 PM

Cool! Enjoy.

godfreydaniel · #5 11-11-2020, 01:55 PM

The image isn’t showing up for me.

Inyo · #6 11-11-2020, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by generalliamsayn

Stella - where's Stanley Kowalski when you need him?

Karl Malden's performance was the only good thing about that movie.

I had a 1968 Stella Harmony 12-string that was a mighty fine instrument, indeed.

Rosewood99 · #7 11-11-2020, 04:14 PM

Let’s see some photos.

Dogma · #8 11-11-2020, 04:28 PM

no photo for me either : (

zombywoof · #9 11-11-2020, 04:38 PM

Cool! Here ya Go. Based on features this one was a leftover Oscar Schmidt Stella which Harmony acquired in 1939 and re-sold. Harmony continued to use the old style underlined Schmidt Stella logo at the Chicago factory until 1944.

Dru Edwards · #10 11-11-2020, 04:46 PM

That's a beautiful Stella! Sounds like a fun guitar to play. Enjoy.

generalliamsayn · #11 11-11-2020, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombywoof

Cool! Here ya Go. Based on features this one was a leftover Oscar Schmidt Stella which Harmony acquired in 1939 and re-sold.

zombywoof, I’m no expert but I’m guessing the parts for mine were all Oscar Schmidt leftovers. Outside of the finish option and the tailpiece, our guitars are identical. Nice sunburst on yours.

Also, I don’t know why my pic is showing up for some and not others...it’s a Dropbox link.

Any guesses?

zmf · #12 11-11-2020, 08:05 PM

Nice. That guitar looks like it was pulled out of a time capsule.

Conomor · #13 11-12-2020, 02:19 AM

Very cool! I love the old OS Stellas and their sisters.

pegleghowell · #14 11-12-2020, 04:44 AM

I love Schmidt Stella guitars.They have a unique sound.Congratulations on finding such a nice example.

zombywoof · #15 11-12-2020, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by generalliamsayn

zombywoof, I’m no expert but I’m guessing the parts for mine were all Oscar Schmidt leftovers. Outside of the finish option and the tailpiece, our guitars are identical. Nice sunburst on yours.

Also, I don’t know why my pic is showing up for some and not others...it’s a Dropbox link.

Any guesses?

The photo showed up fine for me.

It is pretty easy though to determine how much Schmidt DNA an early Harmony Stella has. What you need to look for, as example, is the neck heel. If a Schmidt-made neck it will be slightly slanted/angled rather than parallel to the back of the guitar. Also the back of the guitar will be arched so it is deeper in the middle than at either end. And the top kerfing is usually square rather than rectangular shaped. The scale length and the nut width on your guitar though are throwing me. It almost sounds like the neck was originally built for a 3/4 size guitar which both Schmidt and Harmony offered.