~1930 Oscar Schmidt Sovereign Koa

Oscar Schmidt 'Sovereign' Standard Size koa c 1930 | $1950 | (v2126) The Sovereign line of guitars was the top-of-the-line for the Schmidt company, and were built to a higher standard and quality materials compared to the rest of the Schmidt production. Like most Schmidt guitars, it's a little hard to pinpoint an exact date of manufacture, but this exact model appears in the 1932 OS catalog as model "8032 Sovereign, Standard size: Beautifully grained genuine Hawaiian Koawood body. Top and bottom edges bound with gold inlaid celluloid. Three piece mahogany neck. Strip of gold celluloid through the center. White pearlette fingerboard, edges bound with white celluloid ... really an exceptional instrument for the price." This example matches this description but for the three-piece neck with gold strip down the back of the neck. Be sure to check out the beautiful binding and purfling!

This guitar is 'standard size', 12 1/2" across the lower bout, about an inch smaller than the typical 'concert size' guitar. Scale length is 24 7/8". The mahogany neck measures 1 13/16" across at the nut, with string spacing 2 3/16" across at the saddle. The neck carve is a comfortable, flat-ish 'V', typical of the factory and the era.

The guitar is structurally very sound. There is evidence of a prior neck re-set, and an accurately made replacement bridge with a straight saddle. The bridge pins are replacements, but of the period. There are two filled screw holes in the top where a pickguard was attached at one time (likely non-original). The side at the upper treble bout shows a small impact ding. The tuners appear original and in good working order. We recently leveled and dressed the frets. When you view the 'Sovereign' and 'crown' headstock logo, you're not seeing double; a double die stamp is common on these guitars. Another unusual feature on this guitar is the series of numbers ink stamped inside on the back and again on the neck block .. we've not seen this before on Schmidt-made guitars. The action is smooth and the guitar plays easily.

This is one of the nicest Schmidt-made guitars we've had the pleasure to offer. Condition, aesthetics, rarity, playability and sound make it the total package for a vintage guitar enthusiast who enjoys finger picking country blues and old time music.

Comes with a hard case.

Check the sound clip!