~1930 Oscar Schmidt Decalcomania Oxblood sunburst

Oscar Schmidt 'Decalcomania' Standard-size c 1930 | $1650 | ( v2162) Very clean example of an OS 'Decalcomania' guitar. The Schmidt factory produced their 'Decalcomania' line from the early 1900s through the mid-thirties when the factory was sold. Although fancy looking, the move to decals 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 lot of decalcomania guitar 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 white celluloid. The laddar-braced top sports a beautifully detailed decalcomania motif set off by a deep oxblood-red stain. The back sports a decalcomania strip. 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 painted black. 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.

The guitar is what the catalogs referred to as 'standard size', and measures 12 5/8" across at the lower bout. Scale length is 24 3/4". The neck measures 1 7/8" across at the nut, and string spacing is 2" across at the saddle. The neck is carved in the typical 'V' of he period. The action is set at 5/64".

The guitar is in excellent, original condition. The end pin is missing. The original ebonized nut was broken so we crafted a new one from bone. We removed the fretwire saddle and installed one made from bone which gives a better sound, and allows adjustments of the action. We reset the neck. The frets were leveled and dressed. One back brace was reglued with hot hide glue. The guitar appears crack free, shows some playing wear on the fingerboard, and only a few scratches and dings from age and use. The guitar seems to have been played but well looked after.

With a fresh reset, low action and short scale, the guitar plays easily. The combination of tailpiece, birch and standard-size body produce a fairly unique sound; lots of midrange with nice sustain. A great finger picking guitar.

Comes with a newish hard case.