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Topic: Lap Steels on eBay |
Dwayne Martineau
From:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 6 May 2004 9:15 am |
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There seeem to be a lot of single-neck lap steels on eBay right now (or is it always like this?).
A quick "lap steel" search yields loads of 1930s-50s guitars from Gibson, Silvertone, Fender, National (New Yorker & Double- , an Oahu Tonemaster, some killer Rickenbachers, etc...
I have a 1953 3-neck National, and I'm looking for a little 6 or 8-string steel to lug around.
Some of these look like pretty good deals, but I still don't know enough about all these models to gauge what they're worth.
Which of those eBay steels look like good/fair/bad deals to you guys?
I'm in no rush to buy, I just want to educate myself a little before I do.
[This message was edited by Dwayne Martineau on 06 May 2004 at 10:17 AM.] |
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Loni Specter
From:
West Hills, CA, USA
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Posted 6 May 2004 11:52 am
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The best way to research the market is to look up the 'completed auctions' on Ebay in the same catagory as the 'active' auctions. Do this for a few weeks and see what things sold, or didn't sell for.
Hope that helps |
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Dwayne Martineau
From:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 6 May 2004 12:17 pm
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Yeah, good tip. I'm an eBay rookie (I live sans Credit Card).
I also just found out that MOTS stands for "Mother of Toilet Seat". Now I feel dumb. |
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Ian McLatchie
From:
Sechelt, British Columbia
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Posted 6 May 2004 12:38 pm
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| Dwayne: If you want to post links to specific auctions, I and others will be glad to give you some perspective on the instruments and their market value. How much do you want to spend? |
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 6 May 2004 2:14 pm
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| Shhhhhh ... not so loud -- Steinar will hear us talking and buy them all! [This message was edited by Russ Young on 06 May 2004 at 03:14 PM.] |
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Dwayne Martineau
From:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 6 May 2004 3:10 pm
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I don't think you could go wrong with any of those you listed, assuming that they are in good working order and the prices don't get crazy.
If you want something cheap to knock around with, the Dickerson MOT might be your best bet. You don't have to worry about dings. I have an "Amerloha" MOT cheapie and it's a hot little steel. The thing wails! |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 6 May 2004 4:01 pm
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| Quote: |
| Shhhhhh ... not so loud -- Steinar will hear us talking and buy them all! |
Hæ? Buy what? Where? Huh?
No? Oh well, I'll go back to sleep then...
Steinar
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www.gregertsen.com
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Loni Specter
From:
West Hills, CA, USA
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Posted 6 May 2004 4:21 pm
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| The Goldtones and the Oahu tonemaster are long scale 25"I think. |
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Michael Johnstone
From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
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Posted 6 May 2004 5:18 pm
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| Don't forget - unless it's something nobody else wants,when you buy something off an e-bay auction,you paid more than anyone else was willing to pay. |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 6 May 2004 7:02 pm
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That doesn't necessarily mean that you will overpay. Know the value of what you are bidding on and walk away if it gets higher than market value, or what you are comfortable paying.
I can cite some very nice purchases of very desirable items. Desirable items at a very reasonable price, even paying more than anyone was willing to pay. Sometimes there's little interest and sometimes the item can be a sleeper.
Pick and choose your battles on ebay wisely. You can do well. |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 6 May 2004 7:09 pm
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Yes indeed. I wouldn't call a '48 National Dynamic in near perfect condition for $280, like I won a few weeks ago, bad at all....
Steinar
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www.gregertsen.com
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Mike Ihde
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 6 May 2004 10:37 pm
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Bill Leavitt's Dickerson, which he passed on to me, is exactly like the one pictured.
I'd never sell it. It has a real sweet tone.
A student found it at a yard sale for $7 and gave it to Bill. That guitar inspired Bill to create the "Leavitt Tuning".
For those that don't know, it's C#, E, G, Bb, C and D from low to high. |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 7 May 2004 12:30 am
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I have two like the dickerson pictured... it looks like from circa. 1948 to 1952 approx AND the case is the ORIGINAL one.
Great tone...The pre-war Dickersons were a diferent shape to the Magnatone/Lielani style.
Basil Henriques
(Go here for some pics of my steels) www.waikiki-islanders.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk
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| Steel players do it without fretting |
http://www.waikiki-islanders.com
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Tim Whitlock
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 7 May 2004 5:20 am
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| Speaking of Magnatones, they are pretty decent and are still relatively affordable. Used to be you could find them with matching amps at yard sales for $100 or less (sigh). |
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John Pelz
From:
Kettering, Ohio, USA
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Posted 7 May 2004 6:51 am
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| Oops, looks like we woke up Steinar! |
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