A1045 Stella Double Neck Harp Guitar - circa 1910 ...Grand concert size body with a standard six string neck and a second fretless neck with six sub-bass strings. Red spruce top, birch sides and back with faux rosewood finish. Several repaired cracks to the top and back. Original finish throughout. The six sub-bass strings on second neck act as drones, vibrating sympathetically and creating a haunting, almost mystical sound unlike any other guitar I have played. Excellent action and playability. This is truly a remarkable instrument - and such fun to play!
Amaze your family and friends! Amaze yourself!!
Sorry, no case. $2750.00
Hear it again ... This time I'm trying to mess around a little bit with the sub-bass strings. It definitely takes some practice, but has all kinds of possibilities!
Selling for a whopping $15.00 in 1921, the No. 507DN Stella Double Neck or Contra Bass Guitar was one of the most expensive instruments offered in the Oscar Schmidt catalog. Until I acquired this one, I never had much interest in these strange looking instruments. I figured such an instrument would be ungainly to hold. And the sub-bass strings seemed entirely superfluous for the kind of music I play. I was wrong!
With excellent action and with the proper tuning of the "sub-bass" strings, this beast produces tone unlike any guitar I have played! Although originally intended primarily to be plucked for bass accompaniment, the secondary strings serve another function! They vibrate sympathetically, creating a subtle, yet unmistakable echo effect, thus strengthening to overall sound. Far from "ungainly", the instrument feels as comfortable as any standard 6-string Stella grand concert guitar.
This is an amazing instrument to play...perhaps this is the "Ultimate Stella!"
