1934 Gibson Roy Smeck Stage Deluxe Sunburst, Excellent, Hard, Call For Price!

SN: 966. SALE PENDING. The welcome return of an exquisite, early example of a Roy Smeck Stage Deluxe converted to standard play by Roy McAlister, the master builder who has converted a number of Smecks for singer/songwriter Jackson Browne. He also builds very fine repros of Smecks and a ¾ size for smaller players. This is a very early one as indicated by no pickguard, small sunburst, and scalloped braces. She started, of course, as a Hawaiian setup with raised nut and saddle, huge neck and flat frets. The first step in the conversion process is choosing a neck profile. Roy at the time was playing a 1935 L-00 with a nice chunky neck, 1 ¾” nut with a V-profile. We chose this as the model. The neck was carved with a wine glass volute, the fingerboard was radiused, and frets were installed. The neck was reset to the proper angle and finished in a dead-on match with the rest of the body. For the new bridge, Roy chose a figured piece of Brazilian that seems to blend with the shading on the top. Condition is excellent. There are no cracks. There is some wild but subtle checking throughout that reminds me of the veins in a muscly arm. The stenciled headstock is clean and the inside is very clean and original. I think most people think of these as 12-fret J-45s but there are subtle differences – smaller sound hole, wider waist, deeper body at the neck. It’s closer in DNA to the early Gibson Jumbo than the J-45. The sound is unique and one I find thrilling. The big bottom end has volume and resonance. Midrange is strong and woody as you’d expect from a big mahogany Gibson and the trebles are sweet but not shrill. Overall an amazing and quite rare piece. The tuners are original though Roy replaced the treble side because he was frustrated by the stiffness of the g-string. The original is in the case. Ships in a solid hardshell case.