Non-Pedal experts needed

Larry Beck · From: Pierre, SD

Ask the experts time.

What have I got here? The copper colored guitar has just less than 23" scale and no name anywhere. It was probably a closet special sice it is cherry and has original picks, cord and bar.

The Gibson has a music store tag that says 1952 Royaltone - case #6 and has the Gibson care manual and a stevens bar. It has what looks like a P90 pickup and sounds great.

I wonder what they are, any history about the models and are they worth something or should I dump them on Ebay?

Copper colored lap steel

Tag and Gibson care

Gibson 1952 Royaltone

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Carter S12 and a wall full of 6 strings - http://members.home.net/lbeck22/

[This message was edited by Larry Beck on 25 June 2001 at 07:40 PM.]

Ian McLatchie · From: Sechelt, British Columbia

Larry: The copper guitar is a Harmony; I believe the model name may have been H1 or H2. They're reasonably common, and certainly not terribly valuable, but a nice collectible.

The Royaltone was nominally in production for a decade, 1950-1960, although none were produced during much of that time. They're comparatively rare, and ones in this condition with tag and pamphlet are much more so. I wouldn't be in a hurry to get rid of this one, if I were you. A fine guitar, and in this shape it will doubtless be worth a whole lot more in a few years.

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

I agree with Ian. It is a Harmony. Those things sold real cheap when new back in the early fifties as I recall when I was in the retail music biz. Nothing much to write home about. A student I have has one
and it looks like a chunk of painted wood (which it is), and doesn't offer much in the way of tone. (I'm not familiar with the other guitar shown).
It might be a Gibson product as the fret board, pickup cover and control knobs appear to be of the type used by Gibson.

[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 06 July 2001 at 10:19 PM.]

Gary Anwyl · From: Palo Alto, CA

I own a Gibson Royaltone so I keep an eye out for them. There have been three or four on eBay in the last year. They usually sell in the $350 to $400 range, but none of them are as pristine as yours is. I surprised they aren't considered more valuable. With the flamed maple cap and speed knobs they are reminiscent of a Gibson Les Paul of the same era.

There was also a Harmony like yours that recently sold on eBay for $75! http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1437836099

[This message was edited by Gary Anwyl on 25 June 2001 at 11:47 PM.]

Larry Beck · From: Pierre, SD

Thanks Gentlemen. The experts come through again!
The flamed maple top on the Royaltone is really pretty and since it sounds sooo good, I think I'll keep it. As for the Art Deco Harmony, I think it would sound better with distortion. Lots of distortion.

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