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Smith Family Music

Smith Family Music, makers of the Melobar® guitar, the acoustic guitar ENHANCR®, the new SteelGitr®, and the Stummr® guitar. We are a family owned and operated business that has been making acoustic, slide, and EZ Play guitars and accessories since 1967. Come see us and visit the Smith Family Music online store, where you can shop for new & used instruments, accessories, song books, and learning materials. You’re just a click away from seeing images of some of the quality guitars and vintage instruments that we have in stock!

10 thoughts on “Smith Family Music”

    1. Re: melofonic
      Dutch

      I should’ve said this in the note to Tim. I paid $125 for my Melofonic in late ’94. I sold it in late ’95 for about $150. I’d guess no more than $250 for a late 2005 value. I’ve never seen any info in books about a Melo, but you could try to contact Paul Bechtoldt. He did some Regal articles and might know something.

    2. Re: melofonic
      Gary Tackett

      I just purchased a melofonic resonator guitar with the pizza pan style resonator unit that rests on top of the guitar. Very cool vibe. I paid $120.00 for it and it came with the old stevens slide bar and original case which is very cool. The tuning pegs disintegrated in my hands yesterday while putting strings on it. Oh Well. Needs a little work, but a nice mantle piece.

      1. Re: melofonic
        tim

        : I just purchased a melofonic resonator guitar with the pizza pan style resonator unit that rests on top of the guitar. Very cool vibe. I paid $120.00 for it and it came with the old stevens slide bar and original case which is very cool. The tuning pegs disintegrated in my hands yesterday while putting strings on it. Oh Well. Needs a little work, but a nice mantle piece.

        I just recieved a melofonic hand me down guitar which my grandfather inherited from his buddy when he died in WWII somewhere in europe. His buddy always told him if I don’t make it I want you to have my guitar. Well, obviously he didn’t make it and my dad was moving and gave me the guitar when he moved. Gramps long passed away so now I’m trying to get it restored to original condition. Anyway, that makes the guitar at least as old as early 40’s and I was just wondering how I could find out what model it is or if they still make this brand. Thanks for any info. Tim

        1. Re: melofonic
          Dutch

          I had a Melofonic in ’94 – ’95, when my National lust was still unconsummated. I asked Geo. Gruhn about it at a Detroit Vintage Guitar show (w/o the guitar in hand); he guessed that it had been Regal-made. Like all the guitars I’ve sold, I wish I’d kept the Mighty Melo "just to have it".

          1. can someone tell me what the blue book value is on a melfonic in good con.Re: melofonic
            luckie

            : I had a Melofonic in ’94 – ’95, when my National lust was still unconsummated. I asked Geo. Gruhn about it at a Detroit Vintage Guitar show (w/o the guitar in hand); he guessed that it had been Regal-made. Like all the guitars I’ve sold, I wish I’d kept the Mighty Melo "just to have it".

            can someone tell me blue book price on a Melofonic guitar in good con. is? thanks L,D.

    3. Re: melofonic
      Dutch

      Re: Melofonic
      I had one about 7 years ago. It may, technically, be a resonator; but there was just a "pizza pan"-depth thing below the cover plate–not a cone, as with resonators as we commonly know them.
      I asked George Gruhn about it at a guitar show. I no longer had the guitar and could only describe it. He thought it likely that Melofonics were one of the variety of low-end, "student-grade" instruments made in Chicago in the 30’s by Regal or the like.
      I sold mine in ’97 or so for $150. If yours is in excellent condition, I’d guess its worth at $250-300.
      Note: I have no credentials to back up this guesstimate.

    4. Re: This popular thread has been given its own page :... Ron Montgomery
      Ron Montgomery

      I have a Melofonic Resonator guitar left to me by my dad when he passed away.Could someone give me some history on it and what it would be worth.
      Thanks, Ron

      1. Melofonic Tenor w/ pizza-pan resonator.
        Anonymous

        I understand that tenor guitars were popular with people who also played the banjo – since they only had 4-strings and were turned the same as banjos. I’ve got a Melofonic tenor that looks to be from the 30s or 40s and cannot imagine how long it has been without a case. Maybe NASA has the technology to restore it. It’s puzzling because it has a chrome or aluminum pizza-pan, but if you look carefully between the cut-outs, there is no opening underneath. It’s all solid.
        I’d have to agree that at least some of the Melafonics (if not all of them) were “student-grade” and something about the sunburst style coloration (not yet completely faded) reminds me of a circa 50s Regal 6-string I dragged around as a kid.
        If the wood of the guitar could somehow record all the songs, gigs and serenades ever played on it. What a biography…

  1. web site
    RICHARD BRISTOR

    Ted, I miss your site. Hope this isn’t permanent. I certainly hope that the problems your having will work out for you and your family business. I would like to see all the guitars get built(especially mine) and business for you to get back to normal. Unfortunately, Ted, sometimes for a lot of us(i’m including myself in this one) We often wonder what NORMAL really is? Anyway, email if you can get time. Best of luck, Sincerely yours, Dick

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