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Topic: Amazing Maori lap steel from New Zealand |
Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 16 Aug 2007 1:44 pm |
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Here's something you don't see every day.
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Hi,
I'm from New Zealand and I came across your website online while I was checking out my options about selling my grandfathers guitar. It's a handmade native NZ wood carved lapsteel guitar with abalone shell inlay. I've been told its it was made around 1950-60's when country and western music and NZ showbands were popular in New Zealand and a number of these lapsteel guitars were being made by some of our Maori musicians. The elaborate carvings are traditional maori carving styles and unique to our New Zealand Maori culture. The back opens out and inside is the electricals which is in need of repair, and need new strings as well. The body however is in excellent condition and overall a very beautifully handcrafted instrument.
I'm aware it's a very unique guitar, and it may be difficult trying to value it so I am just checking really to see if it is of any value as I would be interested in trying to sell it if I can. I have attached some images and your feedback would be much appreciated.
Regards,
(name redacted by request)
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Edited by Brad Bechtel to remove the owner's name per request.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
Last edited by Brad Bechtel on 26 Oct 2009 2:19 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Keith Cordell
From:
San Diego
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Posted 16 Aug 2007 1:46 pm
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| Yegods, that's cool! HOW MUCH!!! |
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Vince Luke
From:
Iowa, USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2007 1:55 pm
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Wow--that's quite a head-turner!
Brad, what did you tell her about what you think the value might be? |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 16 Aug 2007 2:35 pm
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| get thee to a tiki bar! |
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Keith Cordell
From:
San Diego
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Posted 16 Aug 2007 2:37 pm
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| If you saw my tattooing, I have multiple instrument playing tiki figures all over me. I also collect tiki bar art, and tiki mugs from the 50's and 60's. I love that stuff, always have. |
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Richard Shatz
From:
St. Louis
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Posted 16 Aug 2007 2:41 pm
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Spectacular, beautiful workmanship, a real piece of art.
Too many strings for me but still amazing.
It would be fascinating to see this on Ebay.
My guess is $800 minimum. |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 16 Aug 2007 2:45 pm
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| Keith Cordell wrote: |
| If you saw my tattooing, I have multiple instrument playing tiki figures all over me. I also collect tiki bar art, and tiki mugs from the 50's and 60's. I love that stuff, always have. |
wwo that's risky and dangerous! you're either really cool or really tacky. depends on the related decor. Make sure to coordinate your shoes appropriately lol
To be on topic if any of them play steel, post a pic!  |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 16 Aug 2007 3:13 pm
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I told (name redacted) that there was no way I could guess the price of a custom built piece of art like this. Note the electronics will need to be replaced (it uses the old-style Amphenol connector) and there is currently no nut attached.
When I went to New Zealand in 2000, you saw this sort of Maori carving on some Maori houses and in the fabulous Auckland Museum. It's amazing stuff, still being done today, just not on steel guitars.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
Last edited by Brad Bechtel on 26 Oct 2009 2:20 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2007 3:14 pm
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If you saw my tattooing, I have multiple instrument playing tiki figures all over me. I also collect tiki bar art, and tiki mugs from the 50's and 60's. I love that stuff, always have.
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Me, I've always loved Hula Girls ... 
In the immortal words of Jimmy Buffet ...
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... stayed here all season
Nothin' to show but this brand new tattoo
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Anyway ... that steel sure is pretty amazing. |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 16 Aug 2007 3:27 pm
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| but, does she hula Rick? |
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Jason Dumont
From:
Bristol, Connecticut, USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2007 6:06 pm
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| Man that is freakin off the charts awesome in my opinion. I love the circular head stock carving especially. What a treasure! |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 16 Aug 2007 6:37 pm
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Now that is cool . .  |
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Fred Kinbom
From:
Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 17 Aug 2007 8:46 am
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| Awesome!! |
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John Egenes
From:
Port Chalmers, New Zealand
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Posted 20 Aug 2007 7:21 pm
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Beautiful piece, Brad. Where do you live? I'm an expat yank living down in Dunedin.
As they said on the kiwifolk forum, don't sell it....
john |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 21 Aug 2007 8:03 am
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John,
I live in San Bruno, near San Francisco International Airport, in California. The photos and quote are from a woman in New Zealand who wrote to me about the instrument.
Sorry if that wasn't clear from the initial posting. I have been to New Zealand once, in 2000, North Island only, and it was an amazing place.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Terry Wood
From:
Lebanon, MO
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Posted 21 Aug 2007 1:31 pm
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As an art historian and art teacher I think this is really cool!
How old is this and where is at?
Terry Wood |
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Terry Wood
From:
Lebanon, MO
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Posted 21 Aug 2007 1:34 pm
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This is a real collector's piece and worth a chunk.
Wish I could own it?
Terry Wood |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 26 Aug 2007 8:21 am
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Here's the latest update from the owner.
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As people who have expressed a keen interest in my grandfather's lap steel guitar I thought to update you with my progress so far. Due the amount of interest and buzz the instrument has generated I have recently been approached by a couple of serious guitar collectors and our national NZ museum. The museum's interest is based on it's historical relevance to our NZ music scene of the 50 - 60's, they believe the instrument to be one of very few left and would be keen to acquire it for the national collection if it all checks out. Because all the responses are based solely on the images that I sent out it's still early days and the guitar has yet to be properly detailed and evaluated so I will now be seeking some expert advice about the guitar and start establishing a proper valuation for it. Based on the genuine interest from these serious buyers I may not end up posting it on eBay after all. However for those of you who are still really interested and would like to be kept informed please let me know and I'll be able to stay in touch to keep you updated.
Otherwise, thank you all for your awesome comments about the guitar they have been really encouraging and both me and my family are happy to know our grandfather's guitar is being appreciated by all the right people!
Regards,
(name redacted upon request)
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_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
Last edited by Brad Bechtel on 26 Oct 2009 2:20 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Mac McKenzie
From:
Auckland, New Zealand * R.I.P.
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Posted 28 Aug 2007 3:01 am
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| Have just picked up on this carved guitar. If Noelle would like, I could advertise it in the NZ Hawaiian Steel Guitar Assn. quarterly Gazette and see what happens - it would be worth a try. |
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James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
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Posted 28 Aug 2007 7:12 am
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| I lived in NZ for a year. I love this style of carving. It's unique and belonged to your grandfather. I wouldn't sell it. |
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Matthew Boris
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 28 Aug 2007 7:19 am
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| [IndianaJones] It belongs in a museum!!! [/IndianaJones] |
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Jason Dumont
From:
Bristol, Connecticut, USA
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Posted 28 Aug 2007 11:57 am
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This really is such a beautiful piece. I think it would be something really special for the family to have it in a museum. A real tribute to their grandfather. It would be awesome if it was restored to the point of being playable and then displayed.
That tiki on there gives it some crazy mojo! |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 21 Dec 2007 2:20 pm
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I received the following update today.
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Greetings All,
As people who have expressed an interest in the guitar and are still inquiring about it I am pleased to let everyone know that the very talented musician, singer and songwriter Ben Harper is now the new owner for it.
Although I had received interest from Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of NZ to acquire the guitar for the national collection I had hoped that it would be played again which is why I ultimately came to my final decision.
Ben had expressed a genuine interest in restoring and playing the guitar again and having a strong connection to New Zealand he has a lot of respect and understanding of our Maori culture. He already has the respected U.S. steel guitar luthier Bill Asher working on it's restoration so I know that it is in great hands and will be well looked after. As a great admirer of Ben's songs and music for many years now I am very happy with my decision and both my family and I are ecstatic to know that it will be played again by such an awesome muso!
Thank you all for your interest and positive comments about the guitar, as a practising Maori artist/sculptor I have already received requests from some people for similar custom made Maori wood carved guitars that I am considering recreating so hopefully we'll be seeing a few more of these guitar's out there in the future!
Meri Kirihimete me te Tau Hou! Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Cheers,
(name redacted upon request)
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_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
Last edited by Brad Bechtel on 26 Oct 2009 2:21 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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