WS20-3

S. S. Stewart               Orchestra No. 2                       5 String

 

S/N: 6357                    1890                            12 x 26 7/8 “                            5 5/8 lb.

 

Fully original

 

Condition: Excellent.

 

Background: The Orchestra model was one of Stewart’s most popular. In my opinion, all his models at the No. 2 level of decoration struck a happy medium between too plain and too cluttered with pearl.

 

About this instrument:

1) A moderately early Stewart with a wonderful chubby cherry neck.

2) Under the fingerboard are a narrow veneer of maple and a wide attractive one of walnut.

3) The heel carving is of short length but well above average quality for Stewart work and quite attractive.

4) In the middle of the dowel stick is an attractive metal plate stamped, “S. S. Stewart, 1889, Philad’a”. This is the only year this was done and predates the practice by Fairbanks by about 7 years. Instead of being merely mounted onto the dowel stick with screws in the Fairbanks manner, Stewart's plate is attractively countersunk into the stick.
5) Champion metal tuners that are probably original.

 

 

Click to enlarge: