Oscar Schmidt Guitars

Oscar Schmidt guitars were made in many different sizes, from many different woods and they made guitars in many different styles.

Sizes

 

The most common size is the standard size. Often this size is called concert size too. Those guitars  have a width from 12,5'' to 13,5'' across the lower bout. Most common is 13'' to 13,5''. The scale length is around 25''. Early models often have a 24'' scale.

 

The next larger model is the grand concert size. The lower bout usually measures from 14'' to 14,75'', the scale lenght from 25,5'' to 26,5''.

 

The largest size is the jumbo or auditorium size with a lower bout width up to 15,75''. The scale lenght is around 26,5'' usually.

 

 

Woods

Many different kinds of woods were used to built  Stellas. Many are all birch guitars, this means the top, back and the sides were made from birchwood. Cherry wood was sometimes used too

 

OS standard size guitar with birchwood body from the lower end of the OS production line. No binding, purfling or decalcomania.
OS standard size guitar with birchwood body from the lower end of the OS production line. No binding, purfling or decalcomania.
TypicaL OS all birch Stella with red sunburst finish, poplar neck and a black stained fingerboard.
TypicaL OS all birch Stella with red sunburst finish, poplar neck and a black stained fingerboard.

Others have a spruce top with birch back and sides. Mid range and upper range Stellas often have spruce tops with oak or mahagonie back and sides.

 

Typical OS Stella with spruce top, birch back and sides and a poplar neck. Red-white purfling and a fingerboard made from dyed wood
Typical OS Stella with spruce top, birch back and sides and a poplar neck. Red-white purfling and a fingerboard made from dyed wood

Some guitars have  back and  sides  made of maple with a spruce top.

 

Many of the Hawaiin guitars were made from Koa.

 

 

Oahu branded all koa Schmidt guitar with mahagoni neck and ebony fretboard.
Oahu branded all koa Schmidt guitar with mahagoni neck and ebony fretboard.
Two high end Schmidt guitars. The "Tree of life" model was the top of the line guitar of Schmidt's production line. Selected spruce top, mahagoni back and sides, mahagoni neck, pearl inlaied fretboard, fancy purfling and full binding (body and neck).
Two high end Schmidt guitars. The "Tree of life" model was the top of the line guitar of Schmidt's production line. Selected spruce top, mahagoni back and sides, mahagoni neck, pearl inlaied fretboard, fancy purfling and full binding (body and neck).

For the neck they often used poplar, higher end models often have a mahagoni neck.  Most fingerboards werde made from woods , like birch or maple and are stained to black, higer end models have ebony or rosewood fretboards.  Fancy inlaid fretboards, like the "Tree of life" fretboard , are usually  a veneer of ebony and some sort of a  bright  wood, probably maple.

Construction

Schmidt guitars are well build instruments made from solid woods.Almost all Schmidt guitars have ladder braced tops.To be continued...