Unusual Hawaiian acoustic lap on ebay

Tim Whitlock · From: Colorado, USA

I've never seen anything like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2385&item=3722812992&rd=1

Does anyone have any information about this type of steel guitar? What are the levers on top for? Looks like a great price for a cool instrument in mint condition. Thanks!

Ron Bednar · From: Rancho Cordova, California, USA

Tim, these things pop up on Ebay all the time. Called a Hawaiian Tremoloa, they were sold from around the late 30's to the 50's but were never popular. Played by strumming chords with the left hand while playing a melody string with the right. They are not related to the steel guitar and they are not from Hawaii. Probably closer to a chorded Zither. They were called that simply because the Hawaiian steel guitar was the closet thing to compare their sound to at the time. Kind of a whinny vibrato, closer to a musical saw and just as irritating. Easy to understand why there isn't a Hawaiian Tremoloa Forum today! They sell for about what they did when they were new, $35 to $50, too much then and now I think. Here's a site about them: http://home.dejazzd.com/williams/QuickIdentifierPages/Tremoloa.htm

[This message was edited by Ron Bednar on 11 May 2004 at 09:38 AM.]

[This message was edited by Ron Bednar on 11 May 2004 at 09:39 AM.]

Tim Whitlock · From: Colorado, USA

Ron - I was expecting to wait some days to get info on this thing. I'm amazed at your prompt reply, considering the subject matter! That's one crazy contraption that looks like it came out of a Tim Burton film. Thanks for the weblink. I found all the info I could ask for, and more, on the subject of the Tremola as well as the zither (for all you zither-slingers). I don't think I will be bidding on this one. Many thanks! - Tim

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