Playability of a late 50's Stella Harmony acoustic

[Paul Said]

Hi,

     I purchased a Stella Harmony a number of years ago and was attracted by their woody/box sound especially when tuned to open chords when playing delta blues style music.

Although I enjoy the sound this guitar produces I find it difficult to play probably due to the flat fretboard and the thin/low fret height. The neck is reasonable straight and the action is quite good .

I was wondering if thicker/higher frets will improve the playability of this guitar.

Regards

Paul

[Steve Bettesworth]

I've owned a number of these Stella guitars and most of them are unplayable. However I have one which I would not swap for anything. Its a H929 tiger stripe with the  painted rose and and pick guard; it plays like a dream, low action and very forgiving. It actually seems to play better the longer the strings are on.

I replaced the original bridge which was giving problems and levelled the frets, and since then it's the house guitar. The biggest problem I did have was the tail piece is over long and I thought it was too close to the bridge, I replaced it for a while but missed the original, so that's back and the sound hasn't altered any. 

IMO try replacing the bridge level out the frets and try some different strings. 

[Paul Said]

Hi Steve,

              thanks for your response.

I have had a look online for a replacement bridge and could only find arch top style bridges which would be too high as a replacement bridge. Do you know where I can pick up a similar style replacement bridge (floating). My Stella in also the H929 tiger stripe but an earlier model before pickguards were introduced.

Regards

Paul.

[Brian Evans]

Given that a Stella is a pretty entry level guitar but deserving of respect simply for it's age, I would try to make it a player if I could.  I find nothing sadder than those wall-art guitars you find in a certain type of road-house restaurant and I hate to see that happen to any instrument so I really like to see them played.  If you like the sound and don't mind the investment, you could have the frets replaced, have the fretboard planed and radiused at the same time, and have a great player.  I did that to a 1957 Hofner Senator almost (heck, probably more than!) 30 years ago, along with a neck reset, and it is a great player to this day.  I agree that even with decent action a dead flat fingerboard with tiny frets and steel strings is hard to manage.  You'll have to make a new bridge, or have one made, you won't find a ready made one.  What is wrong with the current one, you don't mention it.  Refretting with a radius will probably require bridge work at a minimum, or a new bridge anyway.

Brian

[Steve Bettesworth]

The problem I had with the existing bridge was that time and the action of the strings had sawn slots into it dulling the sound and making a rather tinny sound. I made mine from a piece of mahogany with a thin layer of bone on top. The nut will have to come off someday soon as this seems to be wooden and is going the same way as the bridge. 

I don't know about radiusing the fretboard as this would mean loosing the finish which like the pick guard is painted , I've never found the flat fretboard a problem, but I'm not exactly subtle in the technique department, cowboy chords and hit it hard! 

[Paul Said]

The floating bridge on my Stella is also slotted. I not sure if the string spacing would hinder picking if the string and bridge set up was different.

Refer to picks

[Thomas James]

If you re-fret this guitar beware that the wood can be a bit punky. I use glue and clamp them down. IMHO a radius is an overkill of time, effort, money, and erases the original funky charm of it's cheapness. Years ago I bought a some after market bridges for this style guitar. They are Japan made and have the string space slots and fret saddle. A slight improvement over the wooden peak with slots. See attached photo right side group. On the left are several original similar bridges for comparison. A replica of what you have could be made and installed in short order by most luthier guys. Cheers Tom

[Paul Said]

Thanks for the info Thomas. I knocked up a bridge/saddle in the workshop last night. The Stella now  has some sustain with the new bridge and bone saddle and the boxy sound seems to have disappeared. The bridge however does not fit the 50's era. I'II have to make another.

Regards

Paul

[Thomas James]

Oh ya. I will send you one of those Japan models - if you need it - and live within range of standard mail USPS.

[Paul Said]

Thanks Thomas,

                           I'm from Australia so definitely outside USPS standard mail.

I could knock up a similar style floating bridge in my workshop and I'm starting to relies that radiusing the fretboard is probably not worth the effort.

I will however look at replaced those thin low frets with higher fatter frets.

I love these older cheap guitars and enjoy the challenge of attempting to improve their sound and playability.

Regards

Paul.

[Steve Bettesworth]

If you've got ebay out in the bush these are good. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OLD-ROSEWOOD-BRIDGE-FOR-TENOR-OR-PARLOUR-...