Stromberg Guitars
Encyclopedia
Stromberg Guitars was an American company producing guitar
s, mainly for jazz musicians, between 1906 and 1955. They produced only around 640 guitars, and while their craftsmanship, though of high standards, is considered less than that of John D'Angelico
, Stromberg's guitars are praised for their superb sound quality and for their contribution to the development of the jazz guitar
.
, Massachusetts
, in 1906, who had learned the trade at the local Thompson & Odell
company. His oldest son, Harry, worked with him until 1927, and in 1910, his son Elmer (later praised as responsible for "some of the finest archtop jazz guitars ever made") joined him in the business. Initially Stromberg was making mainly banjo
s and mandolin
s, but when in the 1920s the guitar began to replace the banjo among professional musicians Stromberg followed suit and in 1927 produced their first carved-top guitars. The first series was the G-series, 16 inches wide. In the 1930s, Stromberg followed the direction indicated by Gibson
and other companies, and began increasing the size of their guitars, widening the G-series (G-1 and G-2) and the Deluxe models to 17 inches.
The company's reputation is based mainly on its Master 300 and 400 archtop guitar
s (the latter inspired by the Gibson Super 400
). They were first introduced in 1937, during the big band
era, and their "mammoth" size (19-inch width) gave them the necessary volume to compete with horn sections. Just before World War II
they started producing instruments with a cut-away as well, most notably the G-5. Their guitars were admired by players like Barry Galbraith
, who introduced the guitar to Hank Garland
, a Nashville studio musician, who also ordered one. Innovation came from Elmer, who devised a new system to brace the top of the guitar.
Charles Stromberg died in 1955, followed at the end of the year by Elmer.
reported being unable to afford an eight-thousand dollar Stromberg.
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, mainly for jazz musicians, between 1906 and 1955. They produced only around 640 guitars, and while their craftsmanship, though of high standards, is considered less than that of John D'Angelico
John D'Angelico
John D'Angelico was a luthier from New York City, noted for his handmade archtop guitars and mandolins.In 1952, he hired Jimmy D'Aquisto as an apprentice, who would eventually buy the business from the D'Angelico family...
, Stromberg's guitars are praised for their superb sound quality and for their contribution to the development of the jazz guitar
Jazz guitar
The term jazz guitar may refer to either a type of guitar or to the variety of guitar playing styles used in the various genres which are commonly termed "jazz"...
.
History
The company was founded by Charles Stromberg, a Swedish immigrant to BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, in 1906, who had learned the trade at the local Thompson & Odell
Thompson & Odell
Thompson & Odell of Boston, Massachusetts, published music and repaired and manufactured musical instruments. Musicians Charles W. Thompson and Ira H. Odell ran the business. They kept a shop on Tremont Street and later on Washington Street. Towards 1900 "Carl Fischer purchased their catalogs of...
company. His oldest son, Harry, worked with him until 1927, and in 1910, his son Elmer (later praised as responsible for "some of the finest archtop jazz guitars ever made") joined him in the business. Initially Stromberg was making mainly banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
s and mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
s, but when in the 1920s the guitar began to replace the banjo among professional musicians Stromberg followed suit and in 1927 produced their first carved-top guitars. The first series was the G-series, 16 inches wide. In the 1930s, Stromberg followed the direction indicated by Gibson
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
and other companies, and began increasing the size of their guitars, widening the G-series (G-1 and G-2) and the Deluxe models to 17 inches.
The company's reputation is based mainly on its Master 300 and 400 archtop guitar
Archtop guitar
An archtop guitar is a steel-stringed acoustic or semi-acoustic guitar with a full body and a distinctive arched top, whose sound is particularly popular with blues and jazz players.Typically, an archtop guitar has:* 6 strings...
s (the latter inspired by the Gibson Super 400
Gibson Super 400
The Gibson Super 400 is an archtop guitar, "the biggest, fanciest, and most expensive archtop ever built," and a highly influential model guitar which inspired many other guitar makers . It was first sold in 1934 and named for its $400 price.The Super 400 was the largest guitar that the Gibson...
). They were first introduced in 1937, during the big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
era, and their "mammoth" size (19-inch width) gave them the necessary volume to compete with horn sections. Just before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
they started producing instruments with a cut-away as well, most notably the G-5. Their guitars were admired by players like Barry Galbraith
Barry Galbraith
Joseph Barry Galbraith was an American jazz guitarist.Galbraith moved to New York City from Vermont early in the 1940s and found work playing with Babe Russin, Art Tatum, Red Norvo, Hal McIntyre, and Teddy Powell...
, who introduced the guitar to Hank Garland
Hank Garland
Walter Louis Garland , better known as Hank Garland, was a Nashville studio musician who performed with Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison and many others.-Biography:...
, a Nashville studio musician, who also ordered one. Innovation came from Elmer, who devised a new system to brace the top of the guitar.
Charles Stromberg died in 1955, followed at the end of the year by Elmer.
Legacy
Stromberg guitars are highly collectible and fetch significant prices: in the late 1960s or early 1970s Douglas B. GreenDouglas B. Green
Douglas B. Green , better known by his stage name Ranger Doug, is an American musician, arranger and award-winning Western music songwriter, best known for his work with the Western music and comedy group Riders in the Sky in which he plays guitar and sings lead and baritone vocals. He is also an...
reported being unable to afford an eight-thousand dollar Stromberg.
Notable users
- Laurindo AlmeidaLaurindo AlmeidaLaurindo Almeida was a Brazilian virtuoso guitaristand composer who made many recordings of enduring impact in classical, jazz and Latin genres...
- Barry GalbraithBarry GalbraithJoseph Barry Galbraith was an American jazz guitarist.Galbraith moved to New York City from Vermont early in the 1940s and found work playing with Babe Russin, Art Tatum, Red Norvo, Hal McIntyre, and Teddy Powell...
- Douglas B. GreenDouglas B. GreenDouglas B. Green , better known by his stage name Ranger Doug, is an American musician, arranger and award-winning Western music songwriter, best known for his work with the Western music and comedy group Riders in the Sky in which he plays guitar and sings lead and baritone vocals. He is also an...
- Freddie GreenFreddie GreenFrederick William "Freddie" Green was an American swing jazz guitarist. He was especially noted for his sophisticated rhythm guitar in big band settings, particularly for the Count Basie orchestra, where he was part of the "All-American Rhythm Section" with Basie on piano, Jo Jones on drums, and...
- Fred GuyFred GuyFred Guy was an American jazz banjo player and guitarist.Guy was raised in New York City. He played guitar and banjo with Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra, and in 1925 he joined Duke Ellington's Washingtonians, replacing Elmer Snowden...
- John PayneJohn Payne (actor)John Payne was an American film actor who is mainly remembered as a singer in 20th Century Fox musical films, and for his leading roles in Miracle on 34th Street and the NBC western television series The Restless Gun.-Background:Payne was born in Roanoke, Virginia...
- Tony Rizzi