~1930 Stromberg Voisinet Hawaiian Red Stencil

Stromberg-Voisinet Hawaiian c 1930 | $875 | (v2431) Stromberg-Voisinet, with its factory in Chicago, produced a good number of guitars through the 1920s, until Henry 'K' bought the company and named it Kay Musical Instrument Company in 1931. Although Stromberg-Voisinet was known to produce an early electric guitar and the pointy-but-stylish 'Venetian' instruments, the bulk of the production appeared to be 'catalog' instruments aimed at the amateur and semi-pro musician market. This example dates from the late 1920s, and is a classic example of a so-called 'catalog' guitar.

The top, back and sides are made of solid birch, providing a canvas for the deep red oxblood stain and colorful Hawaiian beach scene, which was a nod to the now-waning Hawaiian music craze that had washed through America in the first part of the twentieth century. The body sports colorful edge marquetry set off with white celluloid binding and a white celluloid pick guard. The neck is basswood or poplar and features a white celluloid fingerboard with dark position markers. The head stock is neither slotted nor solid but a unique hybrid created by Stromberg-Voisinet, aptly call 'ice cream cone' by todays guitar geeks. The tuners are brass and stamped Grover. The top is ladder braced. The bridge is ebonized maple and shaped in a 3-point motif.

The concert-size body measures 13 1/4" across at the lower bout. Scale length is 24 3/8". The fingerboard is 1 3/4" across at the nut with string spacing set at 2 1/4". The neck is carved in the typical V-shape of the era. The nut is a replacement made from bone.

The guitar is pretty much in all original condition but for the nut, one bridge pin and the end pin. We recently reset the neck; installed a carbon fiber rod under the fingerboard for stiffness; dressed and leveled the frets; made a bone nut; replaced the fret wire saddle with bone; replaced a bridge pin and end pin; filled two splits between a couple bridge pin holes. There are evident cracks, only various nicks and dings, along with some finish crazing from age and use. The back of the neck shows some capo wear. Frets are like new. Action is set at ~ 5/64".

With its great looks, smooth action and straight neck, the guitar has a cool vintage vibe, plays easily and produces a ringing, boxy tone, strong in the mids and perfect for finger picking blues and old-time music! We've had a number of the SV instruments and have never been disappointed.

Comes with its original 'trap door' soft case.

Check out the sound clip!