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Topic: What is this old Slide Guitar |
Duane Noom
From:
Whitehall, Michigan, USA
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Posted 20 Aug 2015 2:47 pm |
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I've been playing pedal steel for the past 38+ years. A friend of mine gave me a Slide Guitar to play around with. I love it! I tuned it to an open G and away I went. This is an old guitar that's seen better days. Can anybody tell me what it is and if it's worth fixing up.
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Steel Drinking Coffee Player |
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Ben Elder
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 20 Aug 2015 3:46 pm Mongrel player
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Kay-made (30s/40s), replacement modern humbucking pickup, cast aluminum bridge of questionable originality more often seen on low-end Oahu acoustic steels.
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"Gopher, Everett?" |
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Duane Noom
From:
Whitehall, Michigan, USA
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Posted 20 Aug 2015 4:59 pm
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Thanks Ben
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Steel Drinking Coffee Player |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 21 Aug 2015 3:39 am
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Kay used several head logos; this one might have fit:
 but I didn't find any with your scrollwork on the head. I think it might be even older.
It's definitely a keeper with the pickups and decoration; just add a riser nut and play; I think it will sound good. |
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John Dahms
From:
Perkasie, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 21 Aug 2015 5:42 am
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Just an additional note. While many (most) Hawaiian steel style guitars had shorter scales (22.5") to facilitate slanting the bar, these particular models had a 25" scale like a standard guitar. In your case this may help in your transition into playing this style of guitar.
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Time flies like an eagle
Fruit flies like a banana. |
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Aaron Jennings
From:
Montana, USA
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Posted 21 Aug 2015 5:55 am
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The stenciling on this guitar shows up on many other early Kay-built instruments. Some people think that these instruments (with the gold Indian-Head stencils) may have been promoting the 1934 Worlds Fair in Chicago (where Kay instruments were built).
Here's my Kay Kraft guitar with similar decoration:
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Noah Miller
From:
Rocky Hill, CT
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Posted 21 Aug 2015 6:47 am
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| It's an Oahu 263K Diana. |
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David Matzenik
From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
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Posted 21 Aug 2015 1:22 pm
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I believe Oahu wised up, and reworked the dubious design, using the body shape in the Tonemaster.
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Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother. |
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Noah Miller
From:
Rocky Hill, CT
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Posted 21 Aug 2015 2:29 pm
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| David Matzenik wrote: |
| I believe Oahu wised up, and reworked the dubious design, using the body shape in the Tonemaster. |
The Diana was the deluxe version of the Tonemaster, both in this configuration and in subsequent versions after WWII. The two models always shared the same body. |
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Brian Evans
From:
Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted 22 Aug 2015 1:58 am another one
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I think it's a cool looking guitar!
https://reverb.com/item/883385-oahu-tonemaster-1930-s
Bridge appears identical to this one's bridge, just make up a wooden pickup cover and you would never know it had a modern replacement and it would look original!
Brian |
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Chris Templeton
From:
The Green Mountain State
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Posted 22 Aug 2015 5:34 pm
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I had one of those without the gold designs. It was one of my first laps and I thought it had a great sound.
A few years ago, I sold it on Ebay. I don't remember exactly what I got for it, but if remember correctly, it was in the $3-400 range. With the gold paint, a little more, but without the original wooden pickup cover, less.
There was also some kind of switch on the back and don't remember what that did. I never used that.
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Excel 3/4 Pedal With An 8 String Hawaiian Neck, Sierra Tapper (10 string with a raised fretboard to fret with fingers), Single neck Fessenden 3/5
"The Tapper" : https://christophertempleton.bandcamp.com/album/the-tapper
Soundcloud Playlist: https://soundcloud.com/bluespruce8: |
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Ed Gordon
From:
SillyCone Valley, CA
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Posted 27 Aug 2015 11:08 am
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Hi,
I have 2 lap steels, with the same body design & bridge. One clearly labeled "Oahu", with the gold pin stripe painting. Different design on the painting.
The switch that somebody mentioned was a volume switch, apparently. Mine did not work, so I rewired it, so it would play.
edg |
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Brian Evans
From:
Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted 28 Aug 2015 3:07 am
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An ad elsewhere said the switch was a coil tap on the pickup.
Brian |
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