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Stella
Jul 28, 2011 11:47:45 GMT
Post by Malc on Jul 28, 2011 11:47:45 GMT
Hi,I noticed that on E-Bay there is a Stella for sale. The seller states that it is a copy but sounds great.It appears to have the Stella and reinforced neck logo on it. Does this means that it's a forgery?I don't understand. kind regards Malc
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Stella
Jul 28, 2011 16:37:30 GMT
Post by Michael Messer on Jul 28, 2011 16:37:30 GMT
Hi Malc,
Can you put a link here to the eBay item?
Thanks
Shine On Michael
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Stella
Jul 28, 2011 17:49:05 GMT
Post by Malc on Jul 28, 2011 17:49:05 GMT
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Stella
Jul 28, 2011 18:18:36 GMT
Post by Mark Makin on Jul 28, 2011 18:18:36 GMT
Hello Malc The word "forgery" is not really fitting here. You are confused because there are "2" types of Stella.
The desirable (and consequently expensive!) Stellas that the old pre-war bluesmen used both in 6 string and the super-desirable 12 string versions were made from the late 19th century until around 1939 by the Oscar Schmidt company of New Jersey USA.
After this time the company and brand name was taken over by the Harmony Company who then proceeded to produce many thousands of cheaper, less well constructed 'budget' instruments up to the end of the 1970s. Some people like these instruments but really they are NOT the instruments to buy if you like pre war blues playing as performed by the likes of Charley Patton, Blind Blake, Blind Willie Johnson etc..
How do you tell the difference? The first and obvious way is the logo - if it is a stamped or incised script (often gold paint filled) at a rising angle with a swash, wavy shaped underline it is pre war - if it is horizontal, printed in white with NO underline - it is a later cheap one.
Second. Most early pre-war Stellas have dot markers on the 10th fret NOT the 9th.
Third. Newer, cheaper instruments have a Star printed in white on the headstock. They also refer to a 'steel re-inforced neck'.
Fourth. Old pre-war Stellas have the bottom of the neck heel cut away at an angle. Later, cheap ones have a flat heel parallel to the back of the body.
Five. Old Stellas usually have a yellow paper label inside marked "Stella" in black and probably Oscar Schmidt New Jersey. Often with a black picture of two musicians.
Harmony Stellas may be worth from £50 to £250 Oscar Schmidt Stellas can be worth £800 to £2000 with the 12 strings reaching around £6000.
Condensing all this - the ebay instrument is a 60s cheap Harmony Stella. OK?
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Stella
Jul 28, 2011 18:51:57 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2011 18:51:57 GMT
I've got a pretty decent knowledge of Harmony and Harmony Stella guitars (I've bought, sold, repaired and traded dozens upon dozens of 'em).
It' s Chicago made guitar, and Grand Concert size - it's not a parlour or half size guitar. Probably mid 1960's. The necks generally stay pretty straight BUT they often have monstrously high action (hence the common "great slide guitar" description) and to get them anything like playable, most of them need a neck re-set. You might get lucky and find it's OK. They have solid birch bodies with ladder bracing - other common faults include loose braces, split seams and splits in the top and back- all relatively easy fixes. These always were a cheap 'catalogue' guitar - basic native north american timbers, painted 'bindings', skinny brass frets. The machine heads can be horribly stiff, but it's easy to get replacements if they are really bad. I like these guitars, but don't expect Gibson quality or Martin tone...stick a soundhole pickup in it, plug into a guitar amp and it's instant Lightnin' Hopkins.
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Stella
Jul 28, 2011 19:29:52 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2011 19:29:52 GMT
good stuff mark and CBJ tt
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Stella
Jul 28, 2011 23:00:19 GMT
Post by gaucho on Jul 28, 2011 23:00:19 GMT
I love the little parlor sized Stellas from the 50's and 60's. They make great little sliders. In the US you can find them pretty easily for $20 or $30 bucks and they ar d efinitely worth that if you find a good one. I have 2 that are in awesome shape and sound really good for what they are. I even put a little homemade (for less that $5) piezo tab pick up in one of them and it really sounds great thru a little battery powered busking amp (Roland Micro Cube). The one in your E-bay ad is not a parlor size tho as CBJ pointed out. Personally I like the parlors. Here's mine:
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Stella
Jul 29, 2011 5:57:20 GMT
Post by Malc on Jul 29, 2011 5:57:20 GMT
Hi all,thanks a lot for the info really appreciate it. kind regards Malc
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Stella
Jul 29, 2011 6:31:13 GMT
Post by kiwi on Jul 29, 2011 6:31:13 GMT
I am a big fan of Harmony guitars, currently have 6 but had as may as 15 at one stage. Like CBJ, I have bought, repaired and sold a fair few Harmony guitars. They made a wide range of student to very high quality guitars, but yes that is a budget model. I would say they never used ply on their acoustics they were all solid wood. Gauchos and my little Stellas are solid wood, birch. Gives a unique tone I like a lot. Love them for slide. And an H74 and minty Rebel
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