Need help getting more information on a Stella tenor guitar...

[dadsaster]

There is this listing on ebay which has piqued my curisity: https://www.ebay.com/itm/STELLA-TENO...S/142581190514

I'm in the market for a tenor guitar. I like the size and sound of the Regal tenors floating around. I'm wondering if anyone has come accross this sort of Stella or has an opinion on this instrument.

Thanks!

[multidon]

It is probably made by Harmony in Chicago, and is most likely all solid birch. Not sure if that’s the original tailpiece. Seems like the original would have been trapeze style, or banjo style? But I could be wrong about that. Something about the “end pin” doesn’t look right. It looks like there might have been a hole there from the previous tailpiece that was plugged with a dowel? Why they left it sticking out is anyone’s guess. That it is crack free is a good thing, if the seller is giving you a straight story. Definitely restorable, but maybe priced a tad high given the condition. I would replace those tuners with geared planetary banjo style, and do something better looking with that plug that sticks out of the bottom. With a little work I’ll bet it could sound good.

[MikeEdgerton]

Actually that one was probably pre-Harmony and made by Oscar Schmidt. Ask the seller if there are any numbers stamped inside.

[dadsaster]

Actually that one was probably pre-Harmony and made by Oscar Schmidt. Ask the seller if there are any numbers stamped inside.

Does that effect the quality of the instrument or are pre and post Harmony tenors about the same? I'll update if the seller gets back to me with a stamped number.

[multidon]

A closer look at the bottom and I think maybe I see a hole in the thing I thought was a dowel? Maybe it’s an anchor screw for the original banjo style tailpiece?

[MikeEdgerton]

The Harmony Stella's weren't spectacular. It would be like comparing two different brands.

[Mark Gunter]

Looks like solid birch body, poplar neck and maple fretboard, like the Harmony Stellas I've had. I've never seen the OS construction, did they use those same materials?

Color has worn off the stained fretboard from use, the pic that shows top back of neck reveals the green color of the poplar neck, and grain patterns of the birch can be seen on the top and sides. The painted-on "binding" is in particularly good shape on this one, so it appears someone took care of this one and played it enough to wear the fretboard where the cowboy chords go. Make an offer of $100

[MikeEdgerton]

The Stella brandname was acquired by the Harmony Company in 1939. I think you'll find that one is earlier. It's not a Harmony model.

[nmiller]

Yup, definitely an Oscar Schmidt creation. The Harmony-built ones had totally different body shapes, finishes and headstocks.