Hawaiian guitar
Maker
Gibson, Inc.
Maker
Gibson
Date1942
Place MadeKalamazoo, Michigan, United States, North America
ModelRoy Smeck Stage Deluxe
Serial No.5814H
SignedStenciled in white silkscreen cursive text on top of peghead: GibsonStenciled in white silkscreen plain text and centered between the top two tuning pegs on the peghead: ROY SMECK / STAGE / DELUXE
MarkingsGeared metal tuners, three in-line on each side of the peghead. Stamped into tuner plates: KLUSON MFG. / CO./ ILL / CHICAGO
Stamped into tuner plates: PAT. / 2132792
Stamped in purple ink on top block, the “2” written in red pencil: 5814H 2
DescriptionThe Roy Smeck Stage Deluxe is a large-bodied dreadnought with Hawaiian set-up. Though the acoustic Hawaiian guitar was supplanted by the electric Hawaiian soon after the Roy Smeck models were introduced, the instruments’ excellent, rich tone and volume resulted in many being retrofitted with a Spanish-style neck and nut. The Stage Deluxe, with its mahogany back, sold for $50, half that of the rosewood Roy Smeck Radio Grande.
Known as the "Wizard of the Strings," Roy Smeck was an instrumentalist who was as famous for endorsing guitars and ukuleles as he was for his music. He was sought out as a big name to promote Gibson’s Hawaiian Stage Deluxe and Radio Grande in 1934, but the models were discontinued in 1942. Smeck, himself, soon switched to using a custom-made Gibson electric Hawaiian guitar that was never commercially available. Smeck also endorsed the Gibson-made Recording King instruments for Montgomery Ward. Later, he promoted instruments for Harmony.
DimensionsTotal instrument length: 990 mm (39 inches)
Fingerboard length: 415 mm (16 3/8 inches)
Vibrating string length: 627 mm (24-11/16 inches)
Nut to body joint: 313 mm (12-1/4 inches)
Fingerboard width at nut: 49.3 mm (1-15/16 inches)
Fingerboard width at body: 57.1 mm (2-1/4 inches)
Width at upper bout: 292 mm (11-1/2 inches)
Width at lower bout: 406 mm (16 inches)
Width at waist: 270 mm (10-5/8 inches)
Width of sound hole: 102 mm (4 inches)
Body depth at neck: 98 mm (3-7/8 inches)
Body depth at bottom: 123 mm (4-13/16 inches)
ProvenancePurchased from Clay Johnson, Jr., O'Neill, Nebraske, 2001.
Published ReferencesTimothy D. Miller. The Origins and Development of the Pedal Steel Guitar. M.M. Thesis. Vermillion: University of South Dakota, 2007.
Credit LineBoard of Trustees, 2001
Object number10033
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