A few are actually antique "lap psalteries" or "zithers" or other legitimate musical instruments. In any given market, the version with the sliders is apt to bring in a little more than the other versions, just because they're so odd, not because people expect them to be playable. consequently, there was a wide-open place to the right of the chord bars for strumming, or even picking. If you are going to pay someone else to do it, $150 is a fair rate for all the work it will take - on top of the cost of strings and felts. Setting Up a 4-String Banjo NJ. SKU: SCHR1A. 36 strings and 12 chords. Musician Or Wannabe? The Autoharp Owner's Manual. 5 out of 5 stars. Sign Up for Our Momma Don't 'Low Newsletter. Evaluating and Buying Used Guitars Setting Up a 6-String Banjo Features: • Deluxe hardshell Autoharp case • Built in storage compartment There are currently no reviews for this product, be the first to write one! Note: If you have an Oscar Schmidt Autoharp, and you need more information to determine whether you have a "Type A" or "Type B" autoharp, please check out our article "Is My Autoharp a Type A or B?". Even if they are in excellent condition, chances are they need new strings and felts - and that's not trivial. Obviously, good, playable condition will increase value, but only by so much. Comments. They skootched the chord bars down to provide more room to strum above them, and they made the shape of the thing more ergonomic for playing upright. http://CreekDontRise.com The Oscar Schmidt Guitaro is probably the most desirable, but few of them are more than a novelty even to serious autoharp players. However, the 21-chord versions cost more than the 15-chord versions, so many more of the 15-chord versions have been purchased over the years. 5-String Banjo Buyers' Guides on Riverboat Music I hope this article will help you to figure out what you need to know about the value of your instrument, even if you're just curious about a family heirloom you'd never dream of selling off. Tips on purchasing an autoharp. To figure the potential price range for your autoharp, you need to figure out what kind and condition of autoharp you have and then determine what similar autoharps are going for used. Our Autoharp Buyers' Guide shows a sample range of new 21-chorders, which might give you some idea of features to look for. Oscar Schmidt Tuning Wrench Autoharp Chromaharp Zither. When Oscar Schmidt took over operations, his company registered the trademark "autoharp," and controlled it for decades. Though autoharps were changing very little, the way people played autoharps changed in the early to mid-20th century. If bidders intend to have an item delivered, it is the bidder responsibility to understand the potential delivery costs before placing a bid. Guitars $27.99. What about the really old ones? Update for 2018: - I just came across an internet site that will offer to "appraise" your autoharp, based on e-mailed photos and your statement of condition for a fee. Frequently the less-effective precursors to the autoharp show up on used markets, advertised as "autoharps," in part because there's no other name people would recognize. There are many fine, playable instruments in all three categories. Newer Instruments The Oscar Schmidt website offers specifications and prices for their entire current range of Autoharps, from the OS15B at $379.90 to the OS110 21FHS at $669.90 USD (as of August 2010). So it's time to take a closer look at condition. Some folks list things way over their value in hope of finding a sucker. I think a good value. For questions, comments, suggestions, trouble reports, etc. Autoharp repair, customization, & supplies . Folk and Traditional Music Introduction to Chords True, if the wood bits deteriorate, you have a big problem. Schreiber Oscar Schmidt Model B Autoharp String Set. History Oscar Schmidt Model OS21CE Acoustic Electric 21 Chord Autoharp. 5-String Banjo Tabs and Lessons Services include: Custom Action Hold Down System, Refelting, Restringing, and diatonic conversions. Harmonica Buyers' Guide on Riverboat Music Contact Only 2 left in stock. Closest Store Your Name. The twelve chords those early harps produced let you play most songs in F, and many songs in C or G. Later, 15 buttons became the standard. Something you should know at the outset: designs of the first generation autoharps stayed virtually static from 1900 to 1968. Who Owns Folk Songs? While I got them very cheap, every one I bought would require serious work to make playable (including new strings on at least three of them). Oscar Schmidt OS21CQTBL Autoharp. From United States. "Buyer beware" applies, but so does "Seller beware.". $499.99 New. How to Give Guitar Lessons (Humor) Oscar Schmidt OS21CQTBL Autoharp 3.6 out of 5 stars 21 CDN$ 423.53 CDN$ 423. 5-String Banjos ->>>> Frankly, there are very few significant differences between autoharps they produced in 1900 and autoharps they produced in 1967. Almost all pre-1968 autoharps are classified as "Type A" because they share the same general construction. The Oscar Schmidt musical instrument company has been producing Autoharps for more than 100 years. After its incorporation in 1911, it has been operating under different company names including “Oscar Schmidt Inc,” “Oscar Schmidt-International Corporation,” and “Oscar Schmidt-International, Inc.,” just to name a few. Setting Up Fretted Instruments With a few relatively bizarre exceptions, designs of the second-generation instruments have stayed pretty static since the 1960s. But they're are not autoharps. $76. 3.6 out of … So if you want to buy replacement strings, you need to know whether you need "Type A" or "Type B" strings. Oscar Schmidt 21 Chord Electric Autoharp Solid Spruce Back Os11021ae. An experienced dealer of Autoharps is a resource you should use. But that instrument is the most playable autoharp I own. +C $73.98 shipping estimate. 4.5 out of 5 stars. The value of a vintage instrument can vary tremendously, depending on the year it was made, its condition, the quality and originality of its hardware, even its story and previous owners. The Circle of Fifths Part 1 Is this feature helpful? Sure, you may have seen one change hands for a good sum recently, but it may have gone to the only person in the area who wanted an autoharp, and the next one to come on the market might languish indefinitely. This is especially true of Chromaharps, which were long marketed into school systems through their affiliation with Rhythm Band instruments. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. SKU: HDA5. Cracks in the soundboard, or the face or back pulling away from the blocks, might get so bad that the instrument is essentially irreparable. http://SchoolOfTheRock.com C $325.43. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from the University of Leeds and A-levels in music, theater studies and English literature. Whatever Happened to the Banjo? In other words, ShopGoodWill.com is a good place to find broken-down autoharps to rebuild or convert to diatonic or some such, but it's a bad place to figure out the value of a playable instrument. Don't get carried away and start buying stuff. If the strings are rusty, that's a $65-$74 replacement right there, if you do it yourself. 4-String Banjos ->>>> Banjo Buyers' Guides on RiverboatMusic.com When I was researching my first set of autoharp articles, I actually bought four different autoharps from ShopGoodWill.com because I wanted to examine some unique pieces and to verify whether certain "old wives tales" about certain models were true. Pros and Cons of ShopGoodWill.com - One place where "goofy" autoharps occasionally show up is ShopGoodWill.com. Chromaharp made some goofy instruments, too, but the vast majority of Chromaharps are made to the same basic plan and have the same number of strings. CDN$466.45. Autoharp Button Set for 15-Bar Oscar Schmidt. True, in some markets (say low-population regions), a buyer trying to find a usable autoharp regionally is likely to spend much more than I would have to in southwest Ohio. You might sell one to a music lover who would be interested in hanging it on the wall as a decoration or just owning it as a novelty, but those uses don't tend to attract "real money.". 4-String Banjo Buyers' Guide on Riverboat Music Checking the serial number against Oscar Schmidt’s database to establish the model, series and year of construction is a good start. If your autoharp came to you from a beloved family member, it is certainly worth a lot more to you than the dollar value it will probably get if listed for sale. That said, unless it seems brand new, it will never be worth much more than half of what the same model would cost new online. If memory serves, the cheapest one I bought cost about $12 plus shipping (a century-old Type A), and the most expensive one I bought (a Samick-built 21-chord Chromaharp in almost perfect condition) ran me about $125. But a 1915 black Type A is not going to be worth any more than a 1955 black Type A to most people. Antique Autoharp image by Scott Williams from, How to Determine the Age of an Antique Silvertone Guitar. Most people who buy these, buy them as novelties or decorations, not as musical instruments or collectors' items. Overview Product Experience. (1) 1 product ratings - Oscar Schmidt OS11021FNE 21 Chord 36 String Acoustic Electric Autoharp … Oscar Schmidt OS21C AutoHarp - Classic - Free Gig Bag and Chromatic Tuner Normal Price $568.78 Sale Price $359.99 Add to my order. Send an email directly to the company, or phone to ask for advice. As with any vintage instrument, establishing the value of an old Autoharp can be difficult, but newer models are fairly easy to price. $24. Where Can I Find the Value of Fine China? Others, who have no idea what they have, start with a low price in hope that there's a demand for what they have that will drive the price up. Verified Purchase. A Guitaro is an autoharp constructed to be held like a guitar.. Oscar Schmidt-International, Inc. manufactured the Guitaro in the mid-1960s through the early 70s to take advantage of the guitar's popularity in the folk music revival of that era. What Kind of Guitar Should I Start On? Back. Are You a "Brand Bigot"? But the more common problems are rust on the metal parts and wear on the felt parts. If you have a 21-chorder, you'll discover that there are far fewer 21-chord autoharps in most markets, so that gives you an advantage as a seller. In addition, they made other changes, such as getting rid of the long wire bridge and changing the way the strings fastened on. OSCAR SCHMIDT 36 STRING 21 CHORD APPALACHIAN ACOUSTIC AUTOHARP USA MADE W/Case VINTAGE APPALACHIAN AUTOHARP BY OSCAR SCHMIDT 15 BUTTON 36 STRING Excellent New Listing Oscar Schmidt Autoharp. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. All Rights Reserved. E-mail Us Beginning 5-String Folk Banjo Most of them are built by companies like Rhythm Band that make inexpensive music instruments for school children. An 15-chord autoharp that has more than a few of those issues may only be of interest to someone looking for an instrument to rebuild or convert to diatonic. But this is a reminder that these instrument were all "donated," which is to say that many, if not most of their owners saw no value in them to speak of. The autoharp came from Robbie’s Music City in Wayne. Fortunately, that's not hard, and this article gives you the basic tools and examples you need. Did God Really Give Rock and Roll To You? But in the end, any given autoharp is worth only what a buyer is willing to pay for it at the point of purchase. $21.95. Oscar Schmidt backs this instrument with a five-year warranty, for added peace of mind. It was inconvenient to strum in the big gap between the chord bars and the bottom of the instrument, but there wasn't enough room above the chord bars to strum all the strings. (2) Total Ratings 2, $16.99 New. about this page or this site, please Mandolin Buyers' Guide on Riverboat Music The "hard part" about these is that so few of them come onto the market and actually change hands that it's hard to determine what intrinsic value they may have, if any. About the Cast up for auction is a oscar schmidt autoharp model#73 for the 1950's in good condition just needs a good cleaning i don't know much about these harps i picked it up at an estate sale. Look at what they actually sell for. - Paul In the 1960s, a competing company started making similar instruments called "Chromaharps" that solved both of those problems. Hammered Dulcimer Buyers' Guide on Riverboat Music But I’ve been fussy about the condition and concerned about not buying it in person. Sign Up for Our Discussion Forums To figure the potential price range for your autoharp, you need to figure out what kind and condition of autoharp you have and then determine what similar autoharps are going for used. For decades, Oscar Schmidt had no real competition and, consequently, no reason to improve their instruments. But eventually that was challenged, since the term "autoharp" actually predates the Zimmerman models. Something you should know at the outset: designs of the first generation autoharps stayed virtually static from 1900 to 1968. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. What the Oscar Schmidt company owns today is actually the Autoharp logo in the fancy script. The Oscar Schmidt website offers specifications and prices for their entire current range of Autoharps, from the OS15B at $379.90 to the OS110 21FHS at $669.90 USD (as of August 2010). In addition, since the basic autoharp models never tended to get much in the way of innovation, a 50-year old student instrument may be all but identical to a 5-year old instrument, except for wear and tear and/or issues like rust, warpage, splitting, and mildew arriving from storage problems. It's easy to go there and just search for "autoharp." Because they're generally harder to return to playability, many autoharp repair people consider most Type A autoharps as less desirable than most post-1968 harps. Autoharps were designed to be laid in the lap or on a table. About 4-String Banjos Except for some goofy-shaped or kid-oriented Autoharps, the vast majority of Oscar Schmidt Autoharps made since 1968 are made to the same basic plan and have the same number of strings. Extra pockets provide storage for accessories.

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