This little guitar packs a big punch (stella h929 mini)

The Stella H929 is one of those workhorse guitars folks have been saving from thrift stores and flea markets all over America ever since they hit the market. But this rare-find is one I've yet to see before -- introducing the Stella 3/4 h929. It's a lovely little guitar from a period when student model guitars were just scaled down versions of the real things, and not merely small guitars found in the toy-sections of big box stores. These are absolutely cool little guitars, but the question is, will it be worth the work it needs to be a fully functional guitar again?
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[@olben58]

A few years ago I picked up a blond Silvertone parlor for $10 at a garage sale. Honestly it looked like it may never have been played. Neck angle perfect too. Even the case looked new. I immediately sold it for $100 and I’ve regretted getting rid of it ever since. What a cool little blues machine!

[@kostringworks]

Nice! They're getting harder find for $10 but, then again they're getting harder to find for $100 too! Good story though. Hope you find it again.

[@olben58]

A long time ago I picked up a super small one similar to the one you were given, but a different brand. I traded it to Jake Wildwood toward something else. He told me it was a terz guitar. He set it up for terz and sold it to someone overseas I believe.

[@billallen1594]

Never mind. We all make mistakes

[@jimjosefson2308]

I saw Melissa Carper play a vintage parlor with a gold glitter pick guard, and I thought it just sounded heavenly. So, I went home and scoured the internets until I found somewhere where Ms. Carper said it was a “First Institute of Allied Arts” guitar. Further research showed that FIAA was a circa 1928 business where if you paid for 40? weeks of lessons at $1.25ea, you got to keep the Regal-made guitar (value, about $15). These guitars feature open back tuners with dark buttons, poplar neck, finger board of ebony-painted poplar, solid slab-sawn birch top, back & sides, a “binding” of gold paint, and the aforementioned gold glitter pick guard screwed to the top. Next stop EBay, where I found one for $300. After I paid the Buy-it-now price, the owner insisted that he HAD to have $350, so I paid-up. But now I have a prewar guitar I love to play, and the case is about the size of Kyle’s in this video. It’s so small and light; it’s just so easy to whip it out and play at a moment’s notice.

[@kostringworks]

Wow, sounds epic! First I've heard of First institute of allied arts. So many old companies and brands during that period!

[@kobrian58]

I have a 1965 Harmony Archtone and love it! I bought it for $20 on eBay and had it refurbished (by Yale’s Music in Sayre, PA) during COVID for $200. Totally worth it. My friends with walk past my Martin, Fender, and Taylor to play my Harmony. I am constantly searching for more American made Stella’s, Kays and Harmonys!

[@kostringworks]

Score! There’s some real gold out there for sure, especially if you can get it worked on!

[@drewwilliams4642]

I remember looking for one of those when I was younger. I saw that little 3/4 guy playing moon river in the movie breakfast at Tiffany’s. One of my favorite musical memories from my childhood

[@kostringworks]

Oh woah I'll have to try to find a clip of that!

[@samuelhatman8995]

I watch every Ted Woodford, no misses! You make the most comfortable video to watch. That's a thing! And a compliment... ok. I am going to look in the back of my little closet here in the apartment. I will pull out my grandfather's guitar and begin a little journey based on your expertise with the older historical models. Say no more, say no more... if you want to see a photo, I could send you an email?... something like that. Let me know! Sam.

[@kostringworks]

Nice! Yeah I watch all his stuff too. So much great info. Yeah head over to my website and reach out so we can get a convo started from that!!

[@samuelhatman8995]

Like Saturday I'll dust that little old thing off and get a picture ready. My Grandpa was from Arkansas, then rural Oklahoma and worked as a ditch digger in California where I was born. I gotta save the mystery, but for now it is an unplayable guitar shaped object.@@kostringworks

[@alancandy6080]

They go very well strung with Martin Monel Retros. Great with Bill Lawrence soundhole pick-up for bottleneck blues.

[@kostringworks]

I bet! Those Lawrence pick up are sweet for sure!

[@ryangunwitch-black]

I would love to have a good little Stella like that. I think they’re making them again. I played something labeled Stella at a shop yesterday and it was definitely new. 🆕 played great.

[@kostringworks]

Word!! Yeah it’s a fun little guitar! I’m not sure who ones the Stella brand these days but cool if that’s true!!

[@markcobb6561]

I have a stella h929 and a Silvertone 604. Was told they were the same guitar but to hear them, you wouldn't think they were even related. Both have been reset and are amazing parlor guitars. I honestly would put them up against any new guitar in the same price range. Great video.

[@kostringworks]

Interesting! It’s also fascinating how sometimes even the same model guitar can sound leagues apart. Seems especially true with vintage stuff. Thanks for the thoughts!

[@rhomacity]

I have a Harmony H1260 from just before they cratered, neck reset ( of course), some good pickups. It is a joy.

[@kostringworks]

Love those too!

[@nathanduff2728]

I got one for you this summer i went to a yard sale found a 1963 Valiant EJ-1 made in Japan for $3.00 just beat up work great

[@kostringworks]

Ha! $3.00?!! What a random price too. I love it.

[@sc1915]

It breaks my heart to see those stars smashing a perfectly good guitar!... John Hiatt

[@kostringworks]

Haha I know, terrible.

[@scottkidwell3601]

Way back in the late 70s/ early 80s, I pulled my dad's Stella Sundale (circa mid-50s) out of the garage attic. It needed new strings, and the neck had a pretty significant bow in it. Turns out it was tuned too high. No truss rod (what would you expect for a guitar with no truss rod?). Dad says his mom paid $28 for it. Dad had one group lesson, then they moved. My high school guitar teacher told me if i could make that Stella sound good, I could make anything sound good. I took it as a challenge. Still have the Stella, its still not the easiest guitar to play. Forty years later, I'm still playing... Thanks for this video 🙏🏻

[@kostringworks]

Great Stella story, I love it. Glad you still have the thing too!

[@GuitarSmith.]

I call it the Q&D neck set, Quick and Dirty. Doing a short scale Kay right now.

[@kostringworks]

Nice. I like that. My mentor did it to cheapies too. Sometimes it's just the right thing. I'm preparing to be destroyed in the comments though haha.

[@GuitarSmith.]

@@kostringworks I have done many full neck resets on Harmony and Stella guitars. But sometimes the cost exceeds the customers budget and the value of the guitar. I would NEVER do a Q&D on a higher quality guitar but on an old import guitar that has a doweled neck it's the only way to go.

[@Wolftyr]

i just picked up a full sized h929 from a local antique store for 35 dollars i've yet to put strings on it and im still debating if i wanna customize it at all but i thought it was a cool little find and it even came in a cloth button up case!

[@kostringworks]

Niiice. Good to know you can still get these for a good price out in the wild.

[@tiki_trash]

I've had a few Stellas and Kays and Harmonys. They can rock! I had a really old Stella with a thick Bakelite batwing pickguard. I built a band out of that jangly rhythm sound.

[@tiki_trash]

I strung it with 11s and an unwound G string that I had to buy separately. I don't remember the gauge, but it was the G string an electric guitar set of 11s came with. Rockabilly licks for days. I miss that thing.

[@kostringworks]

Sounds sweet! I'm not sure I've seen a bakelite pickguard actually!

[@holzhausholz8215]

I enjoy my Gretsch Jim Dandy for similar reasons. It's fun to play, it's tough, I can leave it in my car, take it camping, whatever and I don't worry about it. But if anything happened I would replace it in a heartbeat!

[@kostringworks]

Dude for sure! I know a guy in town who has a seagull as his beater guitar. No case, just throws it in the bed of his truck, and 10 years later of solid abuse it’s one of the best sounding guitars I’ve ever heard. Sooo, 🤷!

[@markcobb6561]

1 other thing, the reissue stella 929, doesnt look like the old one. Larger lower bout for projection. The gretsch Jim Dandy is just a reissue of the old rex mail order guitars. It matches so much closer to the stellas and silvertones.

[@JPhil1961]

I leave my Stella in open d . Cool guitar . Great video

[@kostringworks]

Thanks James!! Super cool guitar, currently on loan to a kid who’s just starting out.

[@montemichelbleu]

Seems the H929 might be great candidates for setting up as a terz guitar.

[@kostringworks]

it would be perfect for that!

[@xxsoiiiboiiixx]

Ive got a 55(i believe.. the stamp is hard to read)h929 that was my grandfathers when he was a kid.

[@kostringworks]

Lovely! I'm def planning on giving this one to my boy too when he's ready.

[@Helm-w1q]

I'm not nor have I ever been or wanted to be s professional guitar play. I just enjoy sitting around playing my guitar. I own several, Mosrite, Ibanez, Samick and a Harmony Rocket, and a AHarmony H167. Of them all, and I do. The Harmonys arey favorite, and has been since I bought them new in 1968. Years ago I yuned my guitars doen to standard D tuning. That tuning brings out the age in the wood. And its easier on your fingers and the guitar neck. Good Blues Country tuning.good sing key. That old stella is ehat I started out on back in yhe fifties.

[@billallen1594]

Very nice. Nothing wrong with utilitarian

[@kostringworks]

Agreed!! Already just rented out to a kid today for 3 months! He’s been wanting to play guitar for two years and is stoked!! What a cool guitar to start on.

[@mecom3450]

The 3/4 version was played by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany's.

[@kostringworks]

Nice I didn’t know that!

[@kawikadavid8958]

That's for home, then you bring you Taylor mini to the gig.

[@kostringworks]

Ha! True! Those are great too.

[@benwright6330]

..those little First Act guitars aren't half bad sounding and pretty durrable, ..they even make a plastic version now so you can get wet without warping singing in the rain like a wet dog🎶🌧️🔥🚮

[@kostringworks]

I actually have one of those plastic version first acts I also rent out for this very reason!

[@benwright6330]

@@kostringworksYes, ..because they Know some kid's very likely gonna be using it for a Baseball bat, throwing it into his Toy box at about a million miles an hour, so Yes, Playable Toys Are Overbuilt, ..Durable really, ..like a Timex Watch, they're built to withstand a Licking and keep on Ticking. lol