NMM 10033.  Hawaiian guitar by Gibson, Inc., Kalamazoo, 1942. Roy Smeck Stage Deluxe (16").  Factory Order Number 5814H 2.  Board of Trustees, 2001. The 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. Front, Side, and Back Views Peghead 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. Return to Gibson Acoustic Guitar Checklist National Music Museum The University of South Dakota 414 East Clark Street Vermillion, SD 57069 ©National Music Museum, 2005 Most recent update: October 23, 2007 You are the 6,716th visitor to this page since May 23, 2005 The University of South Dakota Return to Top of Page