~1932 Oscar Schmidt Stella Decalcomania

Oscar Schmidt Stella Floral c 1932 | $1475 | (v2423) A nice example of a top-of-the-line OS 'Decalcomania' guitar. The Schmidt factory produced their 'Decalcomania' guitars from the early 1900s through the mid-thirties when the factory was sold. The decalcomania technique was developed in the 18th century and involved transferring a print (decal) onto a surface. Although fancy looking, the move to decals from actual purfling inlay was likely a way to produce glitzy guitars for less cost, since inlaying purfling was time consuming and the material cost was likely more than decals. This surely paid off for the factory during the depression, since a decent amount of decalcomania guitars survive today. This example offers one of the more attractive motifs from that period.

The body is made from solid birch. The top and soundhole are trimmed with gold sparkle and white celluloid. The laddar-braced top sports a beautifully detailed decalcomania motif set off by a deep walnut stain. The neck is poplar and finished in the same dark stain. The head stock has the Stella brand embossed in gold script. The fingerboard is maple, laminated in embossed celluloid. The bridge is the 'floating' type and is combined with a stud tailpiece. The tuners are three-on-a-side and original to the guitar. A portion of the original Stella label remains inside the sound hole.

The guitar came to us in original condition, set up and ready to play. It appears that the neck was reset, braces reglued and a thick cleat glued under the pickguard. This guitar does not have the typical flat bridgeplate/brace as seen on examples with fixed bridges. The bridge is shimmed to give it a bit more height. Small side dot position markers were added. The metal parts show oxidation. There are no cracks or breaks anywhere, only nicks and dings from age and use, with significant finish wear on the back of the neck.

In the 1932 OS catalog the guitar is listed as 'standard' size, measuring 13 3/16" across at the lower bout. Scale length is 25". The fingerboard measures 1 7/8" at the nut and string spacing is 2" at the saddle. Action is set at a very comfortable 4 & 5/64" and the guitar plays easily!

Overall, a nice, solid blues guitar in good original condition. The tone is strong across the spectrum with the typical ladder-braced 'bark'. Comes with a 50s era soft case.

Check out the sound clip!