Stromberg-Voisinet Concert-Size Guitar

Stromberg-Voisinet, along with Harmony and Regal and others, was a large scale producer of catalog guitars. Many of their offerings were a bit 'out there' in design, the Venetian-bodied instruments being one example. The company eventually became Kay.

This guitar was made sometime in the twenties, and must have looked like a million bucks in a mail order catalog back in the day, and really attracted a buyer when seen in person. It sports a strong red-mahogany finish adorned with trailing decalcomania and inlaid marquetry, a white 'pearlette' celluloid fingerboard, topped off with the S-V signature 'ice cream cone' headstock bound in celluloid and embossed on the back.

Top, back and sides are slab cut, solid birch. The neck is likely poplar, with the heel capped in ebony?. The bridge is probably maple painted black. The top is ladder braced.

The overall condition is excellent, retaining its in-store sparkle. There are no major repairs evident. The neck was recently reset and it appears the original fret wire saddle was replaced with bone, and intonation is excellent. There appears to be one tight back crack. There is chip out in the bridge plate. Nut, and end pin appear original. Treble side tuners are replaced.

The body measures 13 1/4" across at the lower bout. Scale length is 24 3/8". The neck is carved in a 'V' shape. The neck measures 1 3/4" across at the nut, and string spacing is 2 1/4" at the saddle. Action is set at about 6/64" and the guitar plays easily.

We strung this one with silk and steel strings, but we've also strung them with 11-50 with no problem. The tone is bright and woody with good sustain. A fun guitar to play for ragtime or old time music.

Comes with a soft case.

Check the sound clip!