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NEW LISTING! - 12/04/2024. - Overhaul in progress! - New set of photos will be added on completion....meantime, showing series of "pre-workshop" photos and I will be adding suitable YouTube links.
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For background information on Harmony Stella flattop mandolins please see next page VTG 8D.
I regularly "pre-sell" my guitars, at the stage where I am still working on them, or even before starting, so I list some, not all, of the guitars waiting to come through the workshop, and welcome further enquiries, if you don't see what you are looking for.
*** Bags more character and vintage appeal, for lot less bucks than the various flattop mandolins currently available as new purchase.
Stock Number: VTG1479.
One of the two very similar earlier examples of the Stella H331 all sold Birch built, flat top & back, "A" Shape Mandolin. This one thought to date from Early/Mid-1950s (see note below), with the traditional, iconic, Dark Burst Stella livery, Black buttons to the Waverly pattern Harmony 4x4 tuners, and the Original Clamshell Style Tailpiece with Integral Scalloped Cover.
DATING: The two very similar Stella mandolins currently in the workshop, were initially thought to be of pretty much the same age....the only obvious difference being that VTG1478 has Cream tuner buttons, whereas those on VTG 1479 are Black...that might have suggested that the black buttons were earlier?
However on close scrutiny, other slight differences were noted. Ignoring the difference in colour....one obviously bit more faded over time, is just evidence of more exposure, rather than any difference in original colour, this just leaves a slight difference in the "Stella" headstock logo lettering. Basically similar, but VTG1478 shows more complete letters for "a" & "e". This of course could be just a stencilling issue, but looking through images of both Stella mandolin & guitar headstock logos, a pattern does emerge.
Those with the more complete letters seem to date from the late 1940s, whereas all the other images showing the less complete letters date from 1952 to 1956.
Not impossible of course that here is another explanation, in the absence of visible date stamps on either of these Mandolins, but the assumption might be that VTG1478 could be late-1940s/early-1950s dating, whereas VTG1479 might be described as early/mid-1950s?
Initial inspection suggests that a general overhaul is required, rather than what could be termed as a full-blown restoration.
Main item noted is the need to replace the original wooden nut, which has slight damage, so a purpose-made replacement will be made on Ebony. Otherwise a little attention, cleaning/lubrication to the Waverly pattern Harmony tuning machines, general cleaning, and usual set-up attention. Original pressure-dyed Maple floating bridge and Clamshell pattern tailpiece both in good order.
Action at the 12th. fret is already spot-on at around 1.5mm./2mm. I expect to be fitted set of Eagle Puretone Nickel, either Light Gauge 10-36 or Medium Gauge 11-40 strings.
There is no original case with the mandolin, but I may be able to locate an original, period correct, pressed board type case, or possibly a Hiscox hard Mandolin case additionally.
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*** YOUTUBE ***
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Embedded YouTube clip is from the irreplaceable Jake Wildwood, Country Guitar Doctor, entitled "1970s Harmony Stella H331 flatback mandolin - Jake Wildwood & Co". Additional link is to the accompanying write up on his blog.
It has not been possible to find a clip of older Stella H331 in the traditional iconic dark Stella livery, but the fact that Jake is demonstrating one in the the much later "Teaburst" livery confirms his comment about the long-running model, same design, same construction....nothing changed in decades, other than the finish colour!
