~1928 Oscar Schmidt First Hawaiian Conservatory Burgundy
Description
Oscar Schmidt First Hawaiian Conservatory of Music c 1928 | $1275 | (v2519) As we reported in a number of previous listings for these guitars, the First Hawaiian Conservatory of Music was a mail order study course with a mailing address in the Woolworth Building on Broadway, NYC. The Schmidt-owned business advertised heavily in periodicals of the day such as Popular Mechanics, with the hook "Free genuine Hawaiian Guitar". A student enrolled for a year's worth of lessons for $30, and at the end of the term they could keep the guitar. The campaigne must have been successful because a good number of FHC guitars have surfaced over the years, and are quite popular for their 'country blues' tone.
The FHC promotion appears to span the entire 1920s, with construction and appointments on the guitars remaining fairly consistent. Although some were offered in Hawaiian koa, most are solid birch construction, concert size, and stained with a reddish tone. There is some variation in color .. some in a bright orange-red, some in a more somber burgundy .. and in bridge type, which could be pyramid, retangular, or 'mustache'. The 'mustache' bridge is seen in a variety of Schmidt offerings, and is likely a nod to the influence of the Italian labor force who made the guitars in the Jersey City factory.
This particular example is made from solid birch, ladder-braced, stained a deep burgundy and features a pyramid bridge. The guitar retains its original black bridge pins with pearl dots. The neck is poplar and carved in a 'C'-shape. The fingerboard is maple painted black with two pearl position dots. The tuners are original. There is a gold-foil FHC label inside the guitar, and the headstock sports the gold FHC decal.
The concert-size body measures 13 5/8" across the lower bout. Scale length is 24 1/4". The neck measures 1 3/4" across at the nut and string spacing is 2 3/8" at the saddle.
There are no evident prior repairs. We recently reset the neck; fashioned a new saddle and nut; glued a back brace; leveled and dressed the frets. The guitar remains in original condition and still sparkles after nearly 100 years.
We've had a good number of FHCs over the years and they never disappoint. The play easily and always produce a deep, resonant tone perfect for old-timey or country blues fingerpicking.
No case.
Check out the sound clip!
The FHC promotion appears to span the entire 1920s, with construction and appointments on the guitars remaining fairly consistent. Although some were offered in Hawaiian koa, most are solid birch construction, concert size, and stained with a reddish tone. There is some variation in color .. some in a bright orange-red, some in a more somber burgundy .. and in bridge type, which could be pyramid, retangular, or 'mustache'. The 'mustache' bridge is seen in a variety of Schmidt offerings, and is likely a nod to the influence of the Italian labor force who made the guitars in the Jersey City factory.
This particular example is made from solid birch, ladder-braced, stained a deep burgundy and features a pyramid bridge. The guitar retains its original black bridge pins with pearl dots. The neck is poplar and carved in a 'C'-shape. The fingerboard is maple painted black with two pearl position dots. The tuners are original. There is a gold-foil FHC label inside the guitar, and the headstock sports the gold FHC decal.
The concert-size body measures 13 5/8" across the lower bout. Scale length is 24 1/4". The neck measures 1 3/4" across at the nut and string spacing is 2 3/8" at the saddle.
There are no evident prior repairs. We recently reset the neck; fashioned a new saddle and nut; glued a back brace; leveled and dressed the frets. The guitar remains in original condition and still sparkles after nearly 100 years.
We've had a good number of FHCs over the years and they never disappoint. The play easily and always produce a deep, resonant tone perfect for old-timey or country blues fingerpicking.
No case.
Check out the sound clip!