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Topic: New Purchase OAHU Lap steel TODAY ! |
Larry Campbell
From:
Arkansas, USA
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Posted 16 Nov 2010 10:55 am |
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Just bit on this Vintage OAHU off of auction site. I think it is from the late 30's but not sure. Still shopping for a 8 string . Maybe this will work to get started. Anybody got any info on these and the amps. I'm thinking this one is pre-war. Thanks
Larry Campbell
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Peter Lindelauf
From:
Penticton, BC
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Posted 16 Nov 2010 11:37 am
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You're probably in the 50s with that Oahu. I've got a 50s National that is pretty well identical except for the fingerboard.
_________________
...but you are the music / while the music lasts (TS Eliot) |
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Chris Battis
From:
Reno, Nevada, USA
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Larry Campbell
From:
Arkansas, USA
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Posted 16 Nov 2010 12:26 pm
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Thanks Chris and Peter. I just missed it about 16 years. Its a 1955 according to the serial number. Does anyone know how they sound ? I didn't give too much for it. Thanks  |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 16 Nov 2010 12:53 pm
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You need one of these! Butcha can't have mine!
Oahu, "Chicago 51"
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 16 Nov 2010 1:56 pm
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Tom,
You're sure right about those pickups! Whenever I got a studio call, whether for steel or 6-string, I always took my old Rocket along. Just the looks of it made artists and engineers want to hear it. And when they heard it plugged in? I used it a lot! |
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Peter Lindelauf
From:
Penticton, BC
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Posted 16 Nov 2010 2:31 pm
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Thanks for that page, Chris. Had it bookmarked somewhere a while back...My National is a 59 and looks like my Gretsch is a 53. Due to low output on both guitars, didn't really appreciate the Valco tone until I graduated from a 10 watt Fender amp to a 30 watt Roland. Being a newbie with electric guitars and amps, funny now to think of how disappointed I felt by the tone without enough wattage behind it. First time I had it cranked up for a slightly distorted version of Tumblin' Tumbleweed, couldn't stop grinning.
You should enjoy that Oahu, Larry. I find the string spacing a bit close compared to the lap steel I keep in C6 tuning and play the most. Tune my Gretsch and National in open D and open G. The Valcos make for great little guitars.
_________________
...but you are the music / while the music lasts (TS Eliot) |
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Chris Battis
From:
Reno, Nevada, USA
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Posted 16 Nov 2010 3:46 pm Valco/Supro/Oahu, etc.
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Larry--I got a Supro Supreme about a year ago, a lot like yours and just a few years older. I thought the pickup was weak-sounding until I got a set of new magnets from Jason Lollar for about $35. These (and having him rewind one of the coils) made a world of difference and the guitar is now a monster. I use it for blues in Open E and it has a ferocious growl that I really like.
http://www.lollarguitars.com/mm5/merchant.mvc
Chris
Last edited by Chris Battis on 16 Nov 2010 4:28 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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David Eastwood
From:
Minnesota, USA
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Posted 16 Nov 2010 4:59 pm
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That's superb - great, great, tone. I love the other guitars on show as well - especially that Dano Longhorn... |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 16 Nov 2010 5:06 pm
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| That Supro amp in the pic is also built by Valco. Great little amps in my opinion. |
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Bob Stone
From:
Gainesville, FL, USA
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Posted 19 Nov 2010 7:10 am
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Hi,
These Supro/Valcos with the strings-through pickup are hard to beat. They also sound great played "clean."
Best,
Bob |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 19 Nov 2010 7:27 am
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Bill C,
You are correct! Those Valco-made amps have gotten the nickname "Chicago 51" which I believe was part of Valco's address in Chicago. |
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Larry Campbell
From:
Arkansas, USA
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Posted 19 Nov 2010 1:23 pm
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| Thanks for all the replies. Im in steel guitar heaven for now. Just took delivery of GEORGEBOARD STEALTH Lucky # 7, and have the Oahu enroute. There are so many models to choose from a novice like me can get confused. . I am using my Mesa Boogie Bass amplifier for now. It has been suggested I need a reverb unit . I enjoy this forum ! |
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Peter Jacobs
From:
Northern Virginia
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Posted 19 Nov 2010 1:26 pm
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That looks like it's in beautiful shape, Larry -- congrats on getting a terrific steel. I love my Supro with the string-through pickup -- there is nothing else that sounds like that, and it's great for clean and overdriven tones.
_________________
Peter
---------
www.splinterville.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@splinterville6278/videos |
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Peter Lindelauf
From:
Penticton, BC
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Posted 19 Nov 2010 1:47 pm
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The GeorgeBoards Stealth is on my wishlist, too, Larry. What a beauty. Happy playin'.
_________________
...but you are the music / while the music lasts (TS Eliot) |
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