This is necessarily a very limited discusssion of lap steel guitar. The very first Fender guitars were lap steel guitars. Fender steel. The serial numbers I've. Fender Champ Model Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1954), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 8358, yellow pearloid finish, hardwood body, original tweed hard shell case. This is a fine example of Fender's 'bread and butter' lap steel guitar from the first half of the 1950's. I just bought a vintage Fender steel guitar. It started as a triple-8 Custom, but has been cut down to a double 8. I've been told that the serial numbers are different than the guitars.
Tuners have been replaced on this oné 1952 Fender Champion Lap Metal. These outdated Fender Clapboard Steel are usually a little bit tough to time accurately. Fender started producing this model around 1948 and my greatest guess making use of serial amount and pot codes is certainly this one was most likely produced around 1952. These Champ Lap Metal used the exact same pick-ups as the early Fender Tv producers. It is certainly quite hard to discover these unchanged with all initial parts. People grab the pickups and dome knobs off of these to choose on Telecasters. This one appears to to end up being all primary.
Arrived in a initial hard case that will be still in excellent form. GE Smith has been highly motivated by his extremely earlier 1948 Fender Champion Lap Steel and his signature bank Fender Telecaster displays this.
GE acquired Fender use the same style for the fret guns and mounted the bridge pickup straight into the real wood. GE Smith Tele was influenced by Fender Panel Metal I am a terrible lap steel player, but still a fun time attempting. Nice Classic Fender Champion Lap Steel Demonstration Tunings I discovered from many sources like Wikipedia Lap steel electric guitars are not tuned in regular guitar tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E, reduced to higher). Generally they are usually tuned to an open chord like G, D, Age or actually A. Occasionally an prolonged chord like a 6th, 7th, or 9tl.
During the 1920s and 1930s, significantly of the bed sheet music created for lap steel utilized open up A tuning ás the de factó regular tuning for the instrument. Most Rock and Blues players use open G/open A or open Deb/open Elizabeth.
Joe Perry of Aerosmith utilizes Open At the on his electrical lap steel. David Lindley will be another participant who uses transposed variants of these tunings. Open G can be tunéd D-G-D-G-B-D Open up A will be tunéd E-A-E-A-C#-Age Open M is tunéd D-A-D-F#-A-D Open E is certainly tunéd E-B-E-G#-B-E BIuegrass and Nation Dobro players making use of a square-neck device have a tendency to prefer an changed Gary the gadget guy tuning, usually called “High-G”, whére the 6th line is tuned up to “H” rather of down to “D”, and the 5th line is also tuned up, to T: G-B-D-G-B-D.
They furthermore sometimes raise it up tó “High-A”: A-C#-E-A-C#-Elizabeth. These tunings are probable on a Iap steel or block neck Dobro that can take the extra stress, but could cause harm on a róund-neck resonator ór standard flute. Dobro participants also generally use a set of strings with different gauges than those utilized on regular electric powered or acoustic electric guitars to help them to task more good and to attain their increased tunings. Modified Chemical6 tuning, with a Bb in the largemouth bass: Bb-E-G-A-C-E European Golf swing and Country lap steel players generallyy make use of a C6 tuning. There is certainly no one ‘standard” C6 tuning.
A well-known one is usually C-E-G-A-C-E. This tuning is definitely a good for those previous Hank Williams records. The E7 tuning is usually utilized when studying with the Mel Gulf Steel Electric guitar Method instructional books. Elizabeth7 tuning is definitely C0-D-E-G#-B-E or with the 6th string reduced to the tonic Age: E-D-E-G#-B-E Also see even more about Lap Steel and various tunings.
The Lap Steel Clarinet. Learning to Have fun with. Biographies. '. Picture below © 2001 Rickenbacker Cosmopolitan Corporation. Produced by authorization. This is usually always a really limited discusssion of lap steel harmonica versions.
I've selected to focus on electric lap steel guitars, as there still isn't a defined reference book for these tools (as there is definitely for the National and Dobro® traditional acoustic electric guitars). As I find out more, I'll try to include to this page. If you are usually searching for details on pedal steel acoustic guitar models and producers, try. Very much of the details supplied in this web page is definitely paraphrased from Gruhn't Manual to Classic Electric guitars by and WaIter Carter, ISBN 0-87930-195-3. Released by the marketers of Flute Player journal, it's a important reference if you desire to discover out anything about good American guitars. If you want to discover out more about your specific steel harmonica (like as the time it was manufactured, or specifics about the design you very own), you ought to buy this publication. The suggested list price will be $27.95 in the USA.
It can be obtainable from any great music store or from. Eric Shoaf provides graciously offered me with extra information structured on his numerous years gathering steel electric guitars.
His feedback follow the dialogue of each manufacturer. Clay Harrel offers a wonderful with much more info, not only about lap steeIs, but all kinds of musical technology instruments. Numerous of the Gibsón lap steels demonstrated on this page are from his collection. I have got information on, and. Alamo Alamo was established by Charles Eilenberg as Southeast Music of San Antonio, Texas around 1947.
Fender Champion Lap Steel Serial Numbers
Alamo made many various guitars and amplifiers. Versions included:. Zero.
2493 Embassy. No 2490 Plane.
Challenger. No.
2499 Futuramic Double Eight. Zero. 2497 Futuramic Eight. Zero. 2499 Alamo Dual Eight String Professional Design.
Zero. 2493 Embassy (various from the Embassy above) Alkire The AIkire Eharp (a tén chain lap steel) had been created by Eddie AIkire around 1939 in a research for more harmonic options for the lap steel acoustic guitar. Alkire Eharps were produced by Tranquility and Valco.
Observe for details on Eddie AIkire and his tén line steel electric guitars. Bigsby is generally regarded to become one of the excellent steel flute manufacturers. He'beds also well-known for being one of the 1st contractors of electric powered solidbody guitars, as properly as for the vibrato system observed on Gibson, Gretsch, and many other guitars. His steel electric guitars were performed by Joaquin Murphey, Speedy Western world, and numerous other popular guitar players of the day time. Most of the guitars I've observed have ended up double or triple throat guitars, with the name Bigsby plainly displayed on the front of the instrument, usually along with the title of the original proprietor.
Lowell Kiesel began out producing steel electric guitars and ampIifiers in San Diégo, Ca immediately after Entire world War II. He renamed his business Carvin (a mixture of the brands of his two kids, Carson and Gavin) and proceeded to go on to make a wide variety of guitars, amplifiers, and some other musical gear. Carvin can be and has been the only sizable harmonica machine that sells most of its merchandise through email purchase. Carvin made Hawaiian electric guitars in numerous combinations, but I haven't seen any information on specific model numbers. These are usually relatively uncommon, although not really particularly valuable. If you have got any details on their steel guitars, make sure you.
Dickerson Dickerson steels had been the precursors of the range. Dickerson started manufacturing electric guitars in the 1930s. At the height of the organization's developing career they had been developing 200 guitars a week under 10 various brands, including College, Southern Ca Music Firm, Oahu, Bronson, and Roland Ball (father of Ernie Ball). The patent rights were marketed to Gaston Aspect in 1944, who afterwards marketed the rights to Magna Consumer electronics. Apparently has been an endorser óf the Dickerson series. The cover up of the publication 'The Hawaiian Steel Electric guitar' is certainly an artist's rendition of Sol keeping a National.
Inside the book is definitely the real photo, with Sol keeping a Dickerson. Dóbro/Regal The expression 'Dobro®' can be a authorized brand, but is also frequently used to refer to any resophonic acoustic guitar. Dobros have been produced since the 1920's. A debate of the background of the Dobro Organization can be discovered on their.
Dobro electric powered lap steel guitars were manufactured from 1935 to 1943. Versions offered integrated and electric powered Hawaiian electric guitars. Epiphone Epiphone started making electric powered steel guitars in 1936. The versions offered included:.
Rocco. Millennium.
Coronet. Varichord. Kent Epiphone stopped making steel guitars around 1958. Eric's i9000 Feedback: Epiphone made some great steels but théy didn't good great with time period amps and didn'capital t sell properly (there are usually no production numbers but this will be centered on accessibility in the vintage marketplace). In fact they aren't bad appearing steels if you can change up the trebIe on your amplifier, and some are fairly extravagant. I don't discover several from beyond middle of the-1950. Fender The very first Fender electric guitars had been lap steel electric guitars.
Fender steel electric guitars were very first made in the early 40'beds, usually sold together with a tweed amplifier. Models offered included the right after:.
(Kaufmann and Fénder). Princeton. Six ánd eight string models were offered. Fender also made some pupil steels under the title. They were called for, Vice President and General Manager of Fender fróm 1954 to 1966.
The Fender steel flute line was discontinued in 1981. Fender pedal steels were made starting in 1950't and discontinued in 1981. Versions offered were the using:. Designer Double 10.
Designer Single 10. College student Single 10 Eric't Feedback: These were cataloged as available through 1981 but in fact I observe few from the 1970s. Many of the types I see, and presume to be most several are the 1950s and 1960s models. The serial numbérs I've noticed seem to follow no well known design. The best method to confirm the date the instrument was built will be to appear under the tuning mechanism.
A date of manufacture will usually end up being penciled in undér the tuning pég plate. Framus Frankische Musikindustrie (Framus) began as an acoustic guitar manufacturer after Globe War II in Erlangen, Australia. They relocated to Bubénreuth in 1954, and to Pretzfeld in 1967.
Versions included:. Deluxe Table Metal 0/7. Pupil Hawaiian Metal 0/4 Gibson Gibson started producing lap steel guitars in 1935. The prewar models offered included:. Postwar versions included:. Ultratone 7.
One hundred year 10. Millennium Deluxe. (aka thé EH-500). Skylark Deluxe.
CGT (furthermore identified ás CGTN, CG-523). CG 520. Your pedal steel electric guitars included:. EIectraharp (, EH-610, EH-820, EH-810). Multiharp Gibson furthermore made steel electric guitars under the pursuing brand names, as properly as some special order models: Kalamazoo:. KHG-12.
KHG-14. KEH-R (Oriole design) Mastertone. Model MEHG Saving King:. Design M Gibson discontinued their steel guitar collection in 1968. Eric's Responses: There is a distribution on Gibson Manufacturing Numbers 1948-1979 which I possess found to become help since you can judge the relative rarity of specific models.
Definitely the truth that they produced 15,000 BR-9 versions is borne out by what I notice on the vintage market. Everybody provides a BR-9.
Like Fender, product sales of Gibson steeIs trailed óff in the late 1960s and several were marketed thereafter. Mainly because far as collectibility, thé Gibson Ultratone ánd Centuries models are usually two of thé fanciest lap steeIs ever produced. The 1958 Ultratone with PAF (Patent Applied For) pickup truck will be a rare bird, with much less than 100 made. If you discover one, become certain the pick-up can be an authentic PAF, since individuals have become known to change them with another. PAFs are usually tugging $500 each on the vintage marketplace. Gretsch With the exclusion of the Electromatic Hawaii design, all Gretsch steel electric guitars were made by Valco. Models offered included:.
Jet Twin Gaming console. Jet Mainliner.
Jet Airliner Gretsch steel guitars were produced from 1940 to 1963. Guyatone Occasionally you'll notice Guyatone guitars in the American marketplace.
These electric guitars were produced in Japan between 1946 and around 1960, and are usually characterized by fairly poor design. If anyone can provide a list of the Guyatone steel series, please let me know. Harmony Balance had been at one time the largest United states musical instrument producer. The business was started in 1892 and purchased in 1916 by Sears, Roebuck of Chi town. By 1923 their yearly overall device production has been 250,000. Equilibrium released the Roy Smeck Hawaiian guitar in 1930.
By 1938 they had been making, using pickups manufactured for them by Rickenbacker. A harmonious relationship guitars may become found under the brand names La Scala, Stella, Sovéreign, Silvertone, and othérs. The Tranquility company went out of business in 1974, partially due to competitors from Japanese producers.
Lap Steel For Sale
Magnatone Dickerson steels had been the precursors óf the Magnatone line. Dickerson started manufacturing guitars in the 1930s.
At the height of their production profession they had been building 200 guitars a 7 days under 10 different brands, including Varsity, Southern California Music Firm, Oahu, Bronson, and Roland Golf ball (dad of Ernie Golf ball). The patent rights were offered to Gaston Element in 1944, who later on marketed the privileges to Magna Consumer electronics. Has been an earlier endorser of the Dickerson collection. The cover up of the guide 'The Hawaii Steel Clarinet' is certainly an artist's performance of Sol keeping a State.
Inside the guide is the actual image, with Sol keeping a Dickerson. The Magnatone title was possessed at different times by Estey Electronics, Magna Consumer electronics, and the Estey Music Instrument Corporation. Provides some good pictures of their numerous good amplifiers.
Thanks a lot to Ashley McKnight, previously of, I possess found that Magnatone shipped the following models during the 1950's and 1960's:. Beam Meany Aloha model. Amerloha. G-70. Gary the gadget guy-65. Starlet. Melodier.
Lyric (double neck of the guitar table steel). Maestro (triple neck table steel).
Quad (four neck table steel) National/Supro/Valco Country wide lap steels were produced from 1935 until 1968, when the corporation became broke. ( provides a great dialogue of acoustic National electric guitars.) Versions provided included:. Professional Hawaiian. Silvo.
Console. Woodbody. Chi town. Waikiki. Electra-Chórd. Trailblazer. Clipper.
TripIe-Neck Hawaiian. Rocket One Ten. Facility 76. System 16 Supro steel electric guitars were made from 1936 to 1969. Models offered included:.
Electric Hawaiian. Hawaii. Avalon Hawaiian. Zero. 70.
Baton. Irene. College. Console 16 Valco made steel guitars for numerous other businesses, like and. Models offered under the Valco title incorporated the Hawaii Metal and Deluxe Pro (related to the National New Yorker). In 1988, Don Adolescent and McGregor Gaines shaped in San Luis Obispo, Ca. They have got carried on the State tradition of fine acoustic and electro-acoustic guitars, but have got not produced electric lap steel guitars.
Eric's i9000 Feedback: You can discover these under the normal Valco brand name names best upward until the business proceeded to go under in 1968. Valco produced some Silvertone steeIs for Séars but my study in aged Sears Catalogues displays that steels were last shown in the 1964 record. Ditto Flight for Montgomery Wárds. Supros and NationaIs were made correct to the end, but the Oahu title seems to have got been fallen in the late 1950s.
There are no creation numbers for Valco produced steels, but the opinion is that several thousands were produced. If you owned a string of music stores and desired to place the shop name on the lap steel rather of a brand name, that has been feasible with a least order (someone has informed me 200 products but I cán't substantiate thát). I possess noticed some of these at displays. They often look liked cataloged models but with 'Bóbby Marlowe' or somé such name instead of 'Tonemaster' ór 'Gretsch'. Norman English Norman English lap steels are generally produced by Valco of Chi town, who also made National, Supro and various other brands.
See the listings for those electric guitars. Rickenbacker Check out out for a collection of older catalogues from the 1930s to the 1980s. There are usually many great lap steels symbolized within. Rickenbacker 's original lap steel guitar, the 'Frying Pan', is usually one of the most valuable lap steel electric guitars. The Design A new-22 (22-1/2' level) and A-25 (25' range) were introduced in 1934, and stopped in 1958. The Model B series was made of Bakelite and experienced many variants, including up to ten guitar strings.
It has been produced from 1935 to 1971. Additional models provided included:. (Frying Skillet, 22 inches scale). (25 inch scale version) lmage © 2001 Rickenbacker International Corporation. Model T. Academy.
Model G. Model TW. Model CW. (Jerry Byrd model, related to the CW) Image © 2001 Rickenbacker World Corporation. Model J-6.
Design 100 (there had been two Model 100 electric guitars made. One was a bed sheet metal entire body with stainless finish, also known as the the some other has been the reduced end of the óf the 1950s and 1960s). Model 102. were obtainable in several mixtures of 6, 7, and 8 chain necks. Pedal steel guitars were provided from 1961 to 1971, but had been not as profitable as the non-pedal guitars.
Eric'h Comments: Gruhn'beds book states the final Rick steels were produced in 1971, but I appeared at one last 12 months that experienced a certain 1975 creation time and acquired a toaster pickup and not the horseshoe. There are no great production numbers on Rickénbacker steels except fór the 1st couple of decades of the bakelite design of thé mid-1930s. Rickenbacker's steels changed in the 1950s with the pickups being reconfigured to provide a even more trebly audio (such as Fender). New models were presented with Fender-typé styling and up dealing with drop-in tunérs. The Rickenbacher Silver Hawaiian can be extremely great, becoming a metallic body that can be completely chromium plated.
The Design G will be the same with platinum trim. Teisco del Rey Details on the Teisco series of steel guitars good manners the posts in mag by Michael jordan Wright. Although the Western firm Teisco produced its tag in the Us with the regular guitars marketed under the brand names Teisco, Kingston, Globe Teisco, Kent, KimberIy and Heit DeIuxe, they furthermore made a series of lap steel guitars. I've noticed Kent and Téisco lap steels béfore, but generally in extremely rough condition. I would state Teisco model lap steels are usually one of thé rarer lap steeI versions, at minimum in the Us all.
Fender'beds methods of using serial numbers on steel guitars varied constantly; there is no pattern and there have got even been recently recurring numbers utilized. The design is usually a 'Custom' - they were reportedly provided from 1949-1958, although the mass of them had been sold between 1950-1953, when the Stringmaster has been introduced. Usually the best method to get a rough day on these will be by the presence (or absence thereof ) of china or decals on the entire body. As this is usually apparenly a refinish all bets are away. You can verify for container times, but as Fender purchased huge orders of containers in the 50's i9000 and 60'h it's only a 'as late as' date checker and just if it can become confirmed by someone who knows how to verify for untouched solder bones (i actually.y. To make sure the containers were not changed). However Fender's information of steel production, serial numbers, and many parts specs have ended up lost.
We've got searches done for dating information and components specs for the cabIe-pull pedal steeI series to no get as properly. As it'h a hacked triple neck of the guitar it offers zero collectable worth anyway, so I'd recommend calling it an early 50'h and savoring enjoying it!