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Topic: Help identify my Alkire E-Harp |
Jan Jonsson
From:
Gothenburg, Sweden
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Posted 15 Nov 2005 2:21 pm |
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Hi,
During my recent visit in Austin, TX, I came across an Alkire E-Harp at one of the guitar stores. While trying it out in the store I was blown away by how good it sounded through a Fender tube amp. So, consequently, I just had to buy it.
Since I hadn't seen or heard of this lapsteel guitar before, I immediately searched the 'net, including this forum's old posts, for some information. But I couldn't find any pictures or information about the single-pickup model I have, only about a version with two single-coil pickups. Then, a few days after the purchase, while browsing the boxes in a used-record store, I found this vinyl LP by Lucky Oceans with a very similar guitar on the cover.
So, my question to all you experts on this great forum is: what can be said about this E-Harp of mine (date, manufacturer, etc)? As I said, it sounds wonderful, but I'd like to know a little about its history. Here are some pictures of the guitar and that cool vinyl LP:
Grateful for any help in this matter.
-- Jan
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Sho-Bud Pro II Custom 8+6, Fulawka D-10 8+8, Fender Deluxe 8, Marrs/Fluger Cat-Can, Fender CS Nocaster
Edited by Brad Bechtel to reduce size of image.[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 15 November 2005 at 06:44 PM.] [This message was edited by Jan Jonsson on 15 November 2005 at 10:13 PM.] |
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Al Terhune
From:
Newcastle, WA
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Posted 15 Nov 2005 5:31 pm
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I've never seen a perloid Alkire like that. I've got an Alkire, and it's like yours but is wood and has different knobs. There's no doubt that my Alkire has a mellow tone compared with my other laps. Seeing how you found that album, it appears to be destiny you found the guitar in Austin! Very nice. It looks like it's in incredible shape -- museum-quality.
Al |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 15 Nov 2005 6:46 pm
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I believe that one's made by Valco of Chicago. Is there a serial number on a metal plate at the top of the back of the neck? If so, you can use this serial number scheme to figure out the year in which it was made.
Cool looking guitar either way!
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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
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Jan Jonsson
From:
Gothenburg, Sweden
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Posted 15 Nov 2005 10:22 pm
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Thanks for the information. The serial number on the back indicates that it is a late '40s guitar. And, yes, it is in a very, very nice condition. Not a scratch or dent anywhere. And it seems to come with the original hardcase.
According to the store that sold it the previous owner was a collector who also had some other guitars for sale in the same store, among others, a National New Yorker in good shape. I tried both guitars side by side and could not hear any major difference in sound so I suspect that the pickups on them were quite the same. These guitars has a fatter sound than what you get from a typical single-coil-equipped lapsteel.
-- Jan |
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