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Topic: What would you rank as the top 3 vintage lap steels? |
David DeLoach
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 19 Jun 2018 3:23 am |
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| If you could own any 3 vintage lap steels, what would they be? |
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Stefan Robertson
From:
Hertfordshire, UK
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Posted 19 Jun 2018 3:52 am
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Gibson EH 13 string tobacco sunburst
MSA Superslide 12 string
if not vintage enough I'd say a Rickenbacker panda
Then I'd say a Gibson Console Double neck.
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Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com
"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist" |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 19 Jun 2018 4:09 am
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Rickenbacher Fry Pan
Rickenbacher Pre-war B6
These are the best vintage instruments to me. After that, it's a Fender, probably a '50s Deluxe.
I have owned them all. I still prefer what I play currently to any of them.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 19 Jun 2018 4:44 am
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1) Ric Fry Pan
2) Ric Bakelite
3) Gibson Ultratone v1 (the white one)
I have owned and played #2 & #3 for years. #1, at least to me, is the Holy Grail of lap steels, and so far out of my price range as to seem nearly unattainable. I suppose if I unloaded a half-dozen or so of my Gibsons and one of my push-pulls I may be able to afford the down payment on one. Hmm... |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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C. E. Jackson
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 19 Jun 2018 8:42 am
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| C. E. Jackson wrote: |
1) 1939 GIBSON EH-185 (v.1a) 7 STRING C.C. PU
2) 1940 GIBSON EH-185N (v.2) 6 STRING ES-300 PU NATURAL
3) 1935 GIBSON METAL EHG |
CE........is strictly a Gibson man! 
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Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 19 Jun 2018 9:11 am
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Rick Frypan
Fender Deluxe-8 with string-thru pickups
Gibson EH-150
That said, I have a '52 Magnatone Varsity that I enjoy a lot even though its street value is far below the above guitars.
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Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com
Last edited by Andy Volk on 19 Jun 2018 11:12 am; edited 1 time in total |
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C. E. Jackson
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 19 Jun 2018 11:51 am
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Those EH Gibsons with the CC PUs that have the gigantic magnets have a sound all their own, as does the fender trapezoid Pro (sleepwalk) and the early Bigsbys
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www.deluxe34.com lap steel stands, Clinesmith, Gibson Console Grande, Northwesterns, The Best Westerns
https://www.facebook.com/TheBestWesterns |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 19 Jun 2018 4:23 pm Most of the above and...
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Most of the above and... any old Bigsby.
But most of all;
.1. That oh so cool Bigsby Frypan that was auctioned off a while ago.
.2. A bakelite Ricky 7 or 8 string.
.3. A Ricky Frypan.
Yes I do take donations!   
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Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 19 Jun 2018 7:00 pm I'd have to search, but...
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| Doug Beaumier wrote: |
I was going to put Bigsby on my list, but I wasn't sure if they made lap steels. I think I saw one once... or maybe it was in a dream!  |
Hi doug,
I'd have to search, but there was some thread here on the forum a while back. It was a frypan with the PA logo on the peghead and the same fretboard he always used. Mike Neer went to see it at the auction house and even played it. Most are guessing it is the first or maybe second Bigsby ever made. I am not an expert on the subject so can't say, but seems plausible to me.
Whatever the case it was so cool. I saved the pictures. I love the case; 
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project.
Last edited by Andy DePaule on 19 Jun 2018 10:59 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 19 Jun 2018 10:58 pm Found that link
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Found that link to the discussion about the Bigsby Frypan. Seems the people who would know most about Bigsby instruments all seemed to think this was a genuine Bigsby.
Very interesting thread and the link of Mike Neer's video playing and showing the instrument is fun to see.
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=297482&highlight=bigsby+frypan
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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Noah Miller
From:
Rocky Hill, CT
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Posted 20 Jun 2018 5:01 am
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Assuming we're going based purely on sound:
1) Gibson BR-3. I don't know if mine is a fluke, but it has a shockingly great sound for a relatively inexpensive model. It has a surprising amount of sustain for such a light instrument, and very high output.
2) Trotmore. Sustains like a bakelite or aluminum Rick, but with sound that's less raw and more on the sweet side.
3) Epiphone Electar Model M with the adjustable under-string pickup. Everyone loves the horseshoe version, but the under-string is a very even-sounding pickup with a beautiful sound all its own. Combined with the sustain from the aluminum plate, it's a great instrument. |
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C. E. Jackson
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Posted 20 Jun 2018 10:20 am
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Bill Groner wrote:
| Quote: |
C. E. Jackson wrote:
1) 1939 GIBSON EH-185 (v.1a) 7 STRING C.C. PU
2) 1940 GIBSON EH-185N (v.2) 6 STRING ES-300 PU NATURAL
3) 1935 GIBSON METAL EHG
CE........is strictly a Gibson man! |
Here are some of the non-Gibson and Gibson steels I considered before my 3 choices:
1937 EPIPHONE ELECTAR ANTHONY ROCCO 7-8 STRING
1937 RICKENBACHER ELECTRO SILVER HAWAIIAN (1 knob)
1936 EPIPHONE ELECTAR MODEL M ELECTRIC HAWAIIAN
1935 NATIONAL ELECTRIC HAWAIIAN 7 STRING
1941 GIBSON EH-185N (v.2) 8 STRING ES-300 PU NATURAL
1940 GIBSON EH-185 (v.1a) 10 STRING C.C. PU
1939 GIBSON EH-185 (v.1a) 8 STRING C.C. PU
1950 GIBSON ROYALTONE (v.1) P-90 PU with Adjustable Pole-Pieces
Bill is right. My top choices are with vintage Gibsons, but.........I like many other names also.
C. E.
_________________
My Vintage Steel Guitars
My YouTube Steel Guitar Playlists
My YouTube Steel Guitar Songs
A6 tuning for steels |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 20 Jun 2018 10:59 am Re: Found that link
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| Andy DePaule wrote: |
| Found that link to the discussion about the Bigsby Frypan. |
Wow! Don't know how or why, but I missed that the first time around. Definitely a top three contender, even if it's not what it's purported to possibly be.
Thanks for (re)posting, Andy! |
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 20 Jun 2018 11:07 am
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I noticed the pick ups are the same as the horseshoe PUs on the triple neck he made for Joaquin Murphey in the late 40s.
Thicker than Rick horseshoe PUs. I bet they were screamers
_________________
www.deluxe34.com lap steel stands, Clinesmith, Gibson Console Grande, Northwesterns, The Best Westerns
https://www.facebook.com/TheBestWesterns |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 20 Jun 2018 2:05 pm
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1. A Carvin D8.
2. A Carvin D8.
3. A Carvin D8.
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Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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David Matzenik
From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
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Posted 20 Jun 2018 2:11 pm
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I'd never give up the guitar I built with a Rick Aiello pickup, but my top picks for commercial production guitars would be the pre-war Bakelite and Aluminum Rickenbachers. 7 string models would be good unless the necks were wider on 8s, but I don't think so.
And also this Tiesco, just because it looks so Ninja / Astroboy.
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Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother. |
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Fred Kinbom
From:
Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 20 Jun 2018 4:17 pm
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| I don't have 3 but I would definitely include my e-harp (3rd model) in there. |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 20 Jun 2018 7:23 pm
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Haven't had a lot of Gibsons except the BR-9s, and the 7 string EH late 30s I sold a few months ago. That one had the CC pickup with the monster magnets.
I'm still stuck on Rickenbachers !
7 string early 30s frypan and a 7 string bakelite .. |
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Mark Helm
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 21 Jun 2018 7:18 am SO far....
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My faves so far:
Pre-war Rick B6
50s Fender Dual Professional
50s Fender Stringmaster T8 (my current guitar)
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Remington Steelmaster S8 w/ custom Steeltronics pickup. Vox MV-50 amplifier + an 1940's Oahu cab w/ 8" American Vintage speaker. J. Mascis Fender Squire Jazzmaster, Hofner Club bass, Ibanez AVN4-VMS Artwood Vintage Series Concert Size Acoustic Guitar. 1920s/30s Supertone Hawaiian-themed parlor guitar. Silvertone parlor guitar. |
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