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Topic: Need help identifying a lap steel |
Gib Thurman
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2014 7:15 pm |
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I friend of mine gave me a lap steel that belonged to his grandfather. There is not markings on the guitar to give me an idea of who built the guitar and I have not seen one like it till now. I'm sure there is someone who could tell me what the name of manufacture is and possibly what it maybe worth (don't want to sell it but just want an idea)
Thanks Gib
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John Dahms
From:
Perkasie, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2014 7:30 pm
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Looks like a mid 50's Gibson Century.
_________________
Time flies like an eagle
Fruit flies like a banana. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2014 7:33 pm
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| It appears to be a Gibson Century that has possibly been refinished. If it is a Gibson, there's a good chance that the serial number is stamped on the rear of the headstock. Gibson made several versions of this and similar shaped guitars for several years following WWII. Google up "Gibson Century lap steel" and you'll see many photos of similar instruments. |
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Gib Thurman
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2014 8:45 pm
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| Hey many thanks brothers, no for a second question. Do you know somewhere or someone I can get a tone nob for it at? There is one missing. |
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Rick Stratton
From:
Tujunga, California, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2014 9:34 pm
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Looks like a gold speed knob, readily available.
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Jackson Pro-IV D-10, Fender Dual-Pro 8, Epiphone Zephyr-6 |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 5 Dec 2014 10:28 am 1950s(?) Gibson Century
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Gib, do you still have this guitar? If so:
1) Is the plastic fret-board back-tinted light blue with white frets, or is it back-tinted an off-white, grayish, silvery tint with dark gray or black frets?
2) Does it have a standard Gibson bridge, or a stop tailpiece?
3) Is there any evidence of a repaired hole about 1/8" in diameter in the top of the headstock, approximately centered between the tuners for the 1st and 6th strings?
4) What type of pickup is on the instrument? Does the pickup have an ornamental plastic cover? (Not the detachable blue and gray Plexiglas hand-rest that covers both the pickup and bridge.)
5) Is the case rectangular or trapezoidal?
I'm gonna go out on a limb here on the basis of only that one photo, and say that it appears to be a 1951-55 Gibson Century that has been repainted. It's original tuners have been replaced, and its original fret-board has been replaced with the fret-board from the next generation Gibson Century, the pink ones that were made from 1955-66.
Alternatively, if it has a stop tailpiece and evidence of a hole in the headstock (originally for the detachable Plexiglas headstock cover), it could be a repainted 55-66 model with the hand-rest and gold speed knobs from the 51-55 version (the blue ones) installed.
It could also be a Frankensteel, assembled from parts, some obviously genuine Gibson.
Answers to the above questions, and a photo of the guitar with the hand-rest removed revealing its pickup and bridge, should help in identifying the instrument. |
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