Magnatone Lyric D-8

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Just picked up an UGLY but workable Lyric. I was just playing a session in a local studio and the engineer told me the steel player with the Bellamy Brothers, who had recorded there, left it in the studio before he passed away several years ago and I could have it if I wanted it. I'm pretty sure this was Dannie Jones' guitar.

It was a real rust bucket but it has some serious TONE. I have torn it down and removed most of the rust -- esp from the tuning machines -- and replaced all the screws. It has s/n 28607. Heavier'n all get out, but it sings like a bird with new strings.

One other thing -- on the back neck pickup, one of the pole pieces (1st string) was out of the pickup and stuck between the top of the housing and the metal pickup cover. I was able to get it back in place and all seems to be well. Are the pole pieces glued in or do they just stay in place by magnetic attraction?

Anybody have any idea of its age? All info is appreciated. Cool little guitar. Is this the model that Joaquin Murphey played for a short while in the 50s?
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

Michael Lee Allen · From: Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois

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Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

Compare it to this Lyric for sale on the forum to see how it might have looked at one time.
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Paul DiMaggio · From: Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada

I agree with Michael, that it has been refinished.The necks are maple or at least maple coloured.The switch is not original,should be a black chicken head and neither is the bridge setup. The bridge has a tailpiece that screws on to the end of the neck and the part the strings go over is screwed onto the tailpiece, unless of course if they changed the setup after '53. Mine is a '52 according to the pots. There is a really nice '53 over in the for sale section of the forum. I agree about the tone, a very underrated guitar.

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Thanks guys

Yes, Brad, that one is a beauty.

Considering the condition, I'm surprised anyone would have ever have refinished it, but the one posted has natural maple (?-light wood) necks and a much darker base that the necks and legs screw into. Were they all the same color scheme?

It sat in a warehouse in south Florida for 15 years or more, from what I can surmise. Maybe someone, at some point in its life, cared enough to refinish and replace the toggle switch.

Tailpiece is different but nut appears to be the same.

Thanks again for the info. Any s/n info to compare with?
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

Michael Lee Allen · From: Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois

Deleted

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Thanks Michael
It's great to have a place to get reliable information on most any topic related to steel guitar.

The bridge on mine is fully round with string-through-body; the one on Josh's guitar in the post is more sculpted -- with a tailpiece mounted under the bridge. Whether it's stock or not, as long as it plays well, I'm good with a free guitar that fell like manna from heaven. It is GREAT fun to play. Smile

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

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