Stella was an American guitar brand owned by the Oscar Schmidt Company. It was founded around 1899.[1] The Stella brand consists of low and mid-level stringed instruments.
Stella guitars were played by notable artists, including Elizabeth Cotten, Robert Johnson, Lead Belly, Charley Patton, Doc Watson and Willie Nelson[2] who learned to play on one. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana played an acoustic Stella for the recordings of the songs "Polly" and "Something In The Way" from the Nevermind album, and Mason Williams with Classical Gas.
Stella was acquired by the Harmony Company in 1939. The brand was dissolved in 1974, and was later reintroduced by M.B.T. International, which is the corporate parent of the Harmony Company.
History
Stella was one of several musical instrument brands made in