~1930 Oscar Schmidt UAC 'Stella' Hawaiian Sunburst

Oscar Schmidt UAC Hawaiian Stencil c 1930 | $725 | This attractive concert-size UAC (United Artist Conservatories) 'Stella' was produced in the venerable Schmidt factory in Jersey City, NJ sometime around 1930. It boasts all the features of a Schmidt from the era including the 'snakehead' headstock, square kerfing, ink-stamped top brace, and overall body contour. We've had severl versions of this motif, and at least three in this color combination .. they're always attractive in both appearance and sound!

The body is made from solid slab-sawn birch, and features a sunburst 'Hawaiian' motif on top and a sunburst on back. A gold-painted ring adorns the sound hole. The neck is poplar and features a maple fingerboard painted black with four pearl position markers. The headstock features the UAC label in gold paint. The neck is carved in a 'V'-shape common to the era. The bridge is maple painted black with a fret wire saddle. We fabricated a bone nut to replace the ebonized original.

The body measures 13 1/2" across at the lower bout, and scale length is 25". the neck is 1 13/16" at the nut and string spacing is 2 3/16" at the saddle.

The guitar is 100% original and crackfree, but for the nut. The neck had been previously reset (with some glue residue maring the finish at the heel/body joint). We leveled and dressed the frets; made a new nut; cleaned and lubed the tuners. The guitar is well set up and plays easily with the action set at ~ 5/64". There is minor wear from age and use, and a slight dip in front of the bridge, typical of ladder-braced guitars and not detrimental.

Overall a clean and original guitar that plays and sounds great! The solid birch body with ladder bracing produces the blusey 'bark' sought by afficionados.

Comes with a decent, possibly original, purple-lined soft case.

Check out the sound clip!