Brand: SS Stewart
Instrument Categories: Acoustic Steel String, Guitars, SOLD
The SS Stewart company, named for Samuel Swain Stewart was a major producer of banjos between 1878 and 1904, and was bought by B&J (Bugellsein & Jacobson) a few years after Stewart’s death. Over the years, B&J shifted to producing mostly guitars with the brand, had many companies build the actual instruments including Chicago Musical Instruments, who also built Harmony, Kay, and Silvertone brands. At the end of the 1920s and the start of the 1930’s, both C F Martin and Gibson also produced some SS Stewart guitars.
Here we have an SS Stewart guitar from the 1930s. It features a sunburst finish on an OM or Orchestra Model sized body built using Birch, and has a maple neck. However, it’s not in completely original condition and in terms of playability, that’s a good thing.
Here’s what Grant MacNeill says about this guitar:
“This is the most playable 1930s guitar I’ve seen in ages. It is perfect for the serious bare-fingers Blues-player. Built under licence for B&J in the 1930s, it is stamped Made in USA indicating that it was designated for export to Canada.
This guitar has seen the hands of a master luthier, receiving a neck reset, a new ebony fretboard, and as conversion from trapeze tailpiece to Martin style pin bridge. It basically plays like a Waterloo (a brand now built by Collings) at a fraction of the price. This guitar should be making wonderful music for at least another century.”
- Model: Orchestra Model
- Year: 1930 | Approximate year
- Finish Sunburst
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: 0344
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Brand New
- Date Posted: 06/12/2017
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Instrument Weight: 3.6lbs 1.64kg
- Scale Length: 25 3/8in 644.5mm
- Nut Width: 1 3/4in 44mm
