Help Identifying Pre Harmony ww2 Stella

[mikeph0210]

Hello, I am a big Charlie Patton and Robert Johnson fan. I recently saw this post in my local CL, selling this Stella. I was wondering if this advertisement is legitimate, and if there are issues with guitars of this age. I know that Martin's of this age can have bracing issues, the ones made without advanced bracing systems. Any help would be appreciated.

 

http://syracuse.craigslist.org/msg/4866999622.html

[FretFiend.]

You can count on a guitar that old having issues. That sixth photo shows a bit of a high action. Looks like it'll need a neck reset to start with.

[guitarist21]

FF is right about the guitar's likely issues. Also, regardless of issues that is a very steep price.

 

Here's a similar guitar that sold for $130. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1930s-KAY-STELLA-VINTAGE-PARLOR-ACOUSTIC-GUITAR-ART-DECO-GLITTER-PICKGUARD-GEIB-/141499768946?pt=Guitar&hash=item20f20b2072

 

Here's a similar (but nicer, non-floating bridge, although the ad said it needs a neck reset) one that sold for $450 http://www.ebay.com/itm/1920s-oscar-Schmidt-STELLA-Parlor-Guitar-PEARLOID-Neck-RARE-New-Jersey-USA-/331417029226?pt=Guitar&hash=item4d29fe8a6a

 

The only guitar I found on eBay even in the ballpark of that one on your local CL sold for $800 but that's with a restoration that probably includes a neck reset. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1920s-Oscar-Schmidt-Stella-Guitar-Pro-Restoration-Plays-Sounds-Great-L-K-/181624256217?pt=Guitar&hash=item2a49a636d9

 

Anyway, that's just my two cents. If you go play it and you love it, that's another story. But if it was me, I'd skip it.

[Freeman Keller]

Hi Mike, and welcome to the forum. Neil Harpe is one of the true experts on old Stellas - I would give him a call.

 

http://www.stellaguitars.com/

 

What I can tell you is that Robert Johnson probably never played a Stella (what he played isn't well documented but the iconic picture is an L-00 Gibson). Most of the pre-Harmony Stellas were ladder braced which is one of the things that gives them their distinctive sound. They can also suffer structural failures - be sure to evaluate that carefully. They have dovetail neck joints so a reset is straightforward - figure about $300. All of the other things apply - frets, fretboard, tuners. They don't have truss rods so if the relief is excessive the f/b will need to be planed - that can be done when its refretted.

 

Its very hard to judge that guitar by the pictures or to tell you if its worth what they are asking. My general feeling is that if it needs none of the above (unlikely) then it might be a funky little guitar to pick up. If it needs any of the work (and you are going to have to pay someone to do it) then either negotiate a significant price reduction or avoid it.

 

Let us know what Neil says and what you see when you look at it.