This well-played Recording King Roy Smeck represents the original Gibson made electric Spanish guitar for Montgomery Ward.  The model was based on the orignal Gibson ES-150, the one most often associated with Charlie Christian. Like the ES-150, the Roy Smeck features a single-coil, rail style pickup with attached bar magnets mounted to the top.  Also like the ES-150, the guitar has an x-braced, carved spruce top, laminated maple back and side, mahogany neck, and rosewood fretboard.  The Roy Smeck differs in having an arched back in contrast to the flat back of the ES-150, an oval shaped pickup bobbin, no adjustable truss rod, and controls mounted on the bass side of the upper bout.  With the electronics being essentially identical to those used in the ES-150, this model represents the best way to get the vintage Charlie Christian sound for a fraction of the price of an original ES-150.
 
This guitar plays very nicely.  The frets show areas of wear, but still have a significant amount of life in them. The neck has the typical V-shaped carve being done by Gibson on many of their 1930s guitars.  The tuners, pots, pickup bobbin, wiring, bridge, and tailpiecs all appear original.  The magnet assembly the bobbin sits on is a CC Pickups UK reproduction, but the center rail appears original.
 
The finish shows extensive wear throughout and there are a few stable appearing top cracks.  There are spots on the bridge and headstock where it was "bedazzled" sometime in the past, a few of the "jewels" remain on the headstock.  The guitar is structurally sound and really delivers the early jazz tones of players like Charlie Christian and Oscar Moore.
 
Weight - 5.2 pounds
Nut width - 1.74 inches
1st fret depth - 0.98 inches
9th fret depth - 1.11 inches
Scale length - 24.75 inches
 
The guitar comes with a non-original hardshell case.  All hinges work and one latch is broken.
 
Ships free in the United States and for reasonable rates worldwide.