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Please note:
These are some of the more notable instruments
that have recently been sold by Folkway Music.
None of these instruments are for sale.
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1937 Vega Lap Steel
Serial # 35285. During the later half of the 1930's, many instrument companies were doing all they could to dive into the fray of the newly created electric guitar market. Vega, a highly regarded Boston manufacturer of banjos, guitars, and mandolins introduced its line of lap steels - of which unfortunately little in known - during this era. Their instruments featured two-point wooden bodies, with large nickel-plated brass plates that housed the pickup and bridge/tailpiece assemblies. Of significant interest is the pickup Vega designed; with its two large horseshoe magnets, double coils, and twelve non-adjustable pole-pieces these were the world's first manufactured "Humbucking" pickups, although that name was not to be coined by Gibson for some 20 years to come! Who knows, perhaps Seth Lover had one of these early Vega steels in is design-shop! The pickup sounds very good, with a strong output and a tele-in-middle-switch-possition kind of tone. It's equipped with volume and tone controls, adjustable arch-top bridge, and original Grover G-98 tuners. The instrument is fairly well worn but is in fine working order, thanks to a new tone capacitor, output jack, and tuner bushings; and there is a non-original (capped) hole in treble side of the metal cover-plate when we suspect a tone control was once installed. The icing on this particular cake is the super-cool original hard shell case that's housed this steel all it's life. With its original Vega nameplate, handle, and ruby red velour interior, it is a gorgeous accent to and otherwise unbelievably cool steel.
SOLD
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1965 Supro Comet Steel
With its case, legs, original cord and warranty card, this Supro is a primo collector's piece. But thanks to that string-though pickup, it sounds so good that you'll until it's all scuffed up and worn-out! Completely original, un-messed-with, and clean.
On consignment
SOLD
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1930 National Triolian Tenor
Serial # 1114. This Triolian could make a tenor-player out of anyone! In as close to perfect condition as you could hope to come across, and perfectly playable thanks to a recent neck reset and set up by the good folks at National Reso-Phonic, you'll have a hard time finding any fault with this guitar. It is completely original, including case, and looks fantastic. Action measures 5 to 6/64ths at the twelfth fret, perfect neck relief, no fret wear. 1-5/32" nut and 23" scale length.
With original case
SOLD
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1957 Fender Champ Steel
Serial # -04949. With its Desert Fawn tan finish, large spaghetti logo decal, ample chrome, and tweed side-pocket hardshell case, this steel screams 1950's Fender. It's a classy package, right down to the case handle! It's completely original too, with an untouched wire harness and bridge cover. It's been used, sure; a lot most likely, but still does so well what it was designed to - old country weeping steel. Add a volume pedal to the rig, and you've got a mighty fine poor-man's pedal steel. There are screw holes on the back from where the original owner had affixed brackets to screw legs into. We don't have the legs, but we will include the brackets should you want to find some legs to put with it.
SOLD
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Circa 1935 Dobro Model 32
Serial # M1239. Dobro introduced its line of metal-bodied guitars in September of 1934. Until then, the company wasn't convinced that the welding technology National was using created strong enough joints for their guitars. It was when John Dopyera discovered edge crimping that the Dobro company began to explore metal as a possible "tone wood". These instruments have been nicknamed "fiddle-edge" Dobros for obvious reasons. In 1935, The Model 32 was catalogued with an unspecified sheet metal body. German Silver, steel, aluminum, and brass examples have been documented; although brass was generally saved for the higher end models with high price tags and body etching. The instrument pictured here is a brass-bodied M-32 from this early era. It features a painted yellow to brown sunburst finish (the brown on this one has all but faded away), 14 fret neck, and slotted headstock. Its stamped cone is original, and thanks - in part - to the heavier brass body, this instrument sounds very good. It is tonally very different than a National metal body due to its inverted cone and spider-bridge, and has voice that is more growly and aggressive than a typical wood-bodied Dobro. Apart from non-original tailpiece and tuning machines this guitar is stock and in fine condition. There is a significant amount of missing paint on the body, and the neck finish is fairly worn; however, the guitar has decent frets and action. Its nut measures 1-11/16", and its neck has a very comfortable V profile.
With non-original case
On Consignment
SOLD
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1936 National Triolian
Serial # 6492. By the late 1930's the Triolian had acquired a 14 fret neck, rosewood-looking "Mahogany Piano Finish" painted over its steel body, black
Bakelite headstock overlay and matching pickguard, and a radiused fingerboard. From the 1936 National catalog: "The grain pattern was taken
from a select piece of mahogany - and the result is a high-grade piano finish, depicting a fine mahogany grain which is beautiful as well as as
lasting." For this paint finish and an ivoroid bound red-bean fingerboard
you'd pay an additional $12.50 for back in the day - compared to the simpler
Duolian and its $35 price tag.
This instrument is in very fine condition, with wear typical of a seventy
year old instrument. There are dings here and there, and areas around the
edges where the paint finish has been worn through; but there are no bad
scars or areas of excessive wear. The frets and fingerboard are in good
shape, as is the finish on the back of the neck. It is missing its
pickguard, but is otherwise completely original, including cone and tuners.
The neck is very playable, with action well suited to both slide and
fingerstyle. Nut width of 1-3/4". V-shaped profile, and aforementioned
radiused fingerboard. It has terrific tone, and sounds like there is lots
of life left in that old cone.
With original chipboard case
SOLD
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1978 Dobro Duolian
Serial # 8-285-5B. The Dobro tradermark has gone through the hands of numerous companies between the 1930's and today. In 1967, Ed and Rudy Dopyera founded the Original Music Instrument company (OMI), and by 1970 they had reacquired the rights to the Dobro trademark from Semi Moseley who bought the brand in 1966. The Dopyeras built Dobro guitars throughout the 1970's and early 1980's before selling the company in '85. In 1993 Gibson acquired OMI, and the Dobro trademark along with it, and has offered resonator instruments with the familiar logo ever since. The Dopyera-built OMI Dobro pictured here was built in California in 1978. The Duolian, a name usually associated with National guitars, was essentially a re-introduction of the famous 1930's model - but with modern updates. The guitar features a chrome-plated brass body with an etched Style O Hawaiian scene, a 9.5" biscuit-bridge resonator, 14 fret neck with a flat fingerboard, and a slotted peghead. Its chuncky round neck has a 1-3/4" nut and feels pretty good. The guitar has a comfortable hybrid fingerstyle/slide set up, and sounds good under a slide and finger-picked. It's in very fine condition and shows little wear.
With hard shell case
On Consignment
SOLD
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C. 1937 Dobro Model 25
With it's three-segmented f-holes, standard Dobro spider cone and coverplate, and bound top and back, the model 25 is indistinguishable from the late 1930's variant of the Model 27. We'll never know if this guitar is a '37 Model 25 or a '38-'39 Model 27; and it pretty much doesn't really matter... It's a very fine 14 fret round-neck Dobro, in excellent and completely original condition, set up for Hawaiian style playing. The neck angle would not permit this instrument to play Spanish style without a reset so we set it up with a high nut and D tuning. It sounds great with a slide, and it's fun to play.
SOLD
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1965 Gibson Skylark EH-500 Steel
Gibson introduced the EH-500 in 1956, and the model remained largely unchanged until its discontinuation in '68. This 1965 model features a single piece Korina body, with a slant-mounted single coil pickup. It is completely original and in perfect condition. Its chrome parts are still mirror-shiny and its finish pretty much blemish free. Silver logo, black amp knobs and matching black buttons on the Kluson tuners. Original hard shell case.
SOLD
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1968 Framus SL 800/1 Steel
Frankische Musikindustrie (Framus) began building instruments in Germany soon after the end of WWII. They built many of the weirdest and wackiest
instruments you'll find on the vintage instrument market, and some of the most beautiful as well. Take, for example, this SL800/1 Steel guitar, built
circa 1968. This was one of Framus' high end steel (they offered it in two and three neck configurations as well). It features an 8 string neck, an
ingenious three-position-per-string quick-change bridge tuning apparatus, double 6 pole pickups (which combined make an 8 string humbucker, sort of),
and a three-ply plastic fingerboard with engraved position markers and logo. The instrument is in remarkable condition, and it's just gorgeous. It has
its original case and legs, too.
On Consignment
SOLD
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1930's Recording King Steel
Ahhh, vintage steels... Such artfully designed instruments, timelessly
beautiful like an Eames chair or a chrome toaster...
Here's a 30's Recording King steel built by Chicago's Regal Company at
around the time of the first electric guitars. Its body is solid figured
maple with Deco lines and paint, capped with a Brazilian rosewood fretboard
with flush brass frets and pearl position markers. The pickup is housed
beneath a baked-paint-finish control plate, the volume and tone pots
controlled by attractive brown bakelite knobs. The tuning machines are
individual stamped Klusons (think 1930's Gibson) with chrome-plate deco
covers. We've had the pickup rewound, and needed to replace the capacitor.
The steel sounds marvelous - rich and fat, with surprising output despite a
very low DC resistance.
Sold with its original soft/hard case
$699
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1936 Gibson EH-100 & EH-150 Set
Historially important, if not completely cool. This is a first year example
of Gibson's EH-100 Steel and EH-150 amp combo. Both from 1936, the steel
and amp both have features indicative of the first year issues. The EH-100
steel is a hollow maple guitar-shaped body, with an early blade pickup doing
the dirty work. One Bakelite knob on the treble side, black finish with a
white-bound top. The EH-150 amp is the first production amplifier bearing
the Gibson script logo. It features the same tweed-with-stripes covering
that was found on many Gibson cases of the era, a 10" speaker, 4 tubes, and
a removable back cover. Shockingly, it works well and sounds cool. It's
only a few watts, so don't expect tons of volume though. With the package
comes the steel's original "red-line" hard case, the amp's original slip
cover, and the slide-bar, picks, and extra fuses that we found in the case.
A wonderful piece of Gibson history.
SOLD
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1970 Sho-Bud Pro 1
Serial # 1677. Built in the early 1970's the Professional (or Pro-1 as it's now known) featured a single 10 string neck, three pedals, and one knee lever. The body is built of solid maple, rope-inlaid, and finished in gloss natural lacquer. Standard Sho-Bud card-suit fingerboard markers. Completely original and in excellent working order. With original hard shell case and machined steel.
On Consignment
SOLD
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1930's Dobro Model 250 Mandolin
No serial #. Available for a few years in the mid 1930's, the Dobro Model
250 Mandolin was the mando-version of the Model 25 guitar. The instrument
features bound top and back, two-tone sunburst top and dark brown back and
sides. Unbound ebonized fingerboard on a Maple neck. Three-segment
f-holes, nickel resonator cover, "Bell Brand" tailpiece, and 4-on-a-plate
open geared tuners. 13-7/8" scale length, 1-1/4" nut. One very small repaired crack on the treble
side, upper bout, otherwise the instrument is in excellent condition. Neck,
and frets are in good shape. Action measures 4 to 6 64th, with room to be
lowered further should you desire. Included is the original case. A very
cool package.
SOLD
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1959 Gibson EH-500 Skylark Steel
Serial # 9 1565. Single piece Korina body, completely original and in great
shape. Very cool '59 serial number ink-stamped on the back of the headstock
a la Les Paul. Gold logo, nickel-plate parts, black UFO knobs and matching
black buttons on the Kluson tuners. Original hard shell case
On Consignment
SOLD
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1937 National 14 Fret Duolian
Serial # B2908. By 1937 the steel bodied Duolian had become a 14 fret neck
instrument, with walnut-grain paint finish, and paddle headstock. The
12-fret model had survived National through the worst of the depression and
was a popular model thanks to its budget price tag. The new 14 fret
instruments found a niche with rural musicians who weren't yet serviced with
electricity in the late 1930's, but wanted the volume and upper fret access
provided by the newly introduced electrics. Many of these guitars were
built, but due to their low cost many of them have not survived very well to
the present. Presented here is one that has, and is today in wonderful
condition and completely intact.
14 fret hardwood neck with red bean fingerboard, steel body with realistic
wood-grain paint finish that's in great shape. Original hardware, including
three-on-a-plate Kluson tuners, spun cone and biscuit, tailpiece, and black
celluloid pickguard. The frets are original as well, but the nut is a
nicely made bone replacement. Built for Spanish style, the neck is a
comfortable V, with a nut width of 1-3/4". The action is great for
fingerstyle bottle-neck playing, currently measuring 7 to 9 64ths at the 12
fret, and lower-able further. It's a great sounding guitar, with lots of
warmth and volume. And it's so cool.
On Consignment with non-original hard shell case
SOLD
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1930's National Triolian
Serial #1895W. An almost unplayed example of an early-thirties Triolian.
Featuring straight-cut F-holes, dating it to the period before 1933.
Exactly the fantastic tone you expect from the original cone, loud and full
with great balance and rich attack. There is no wear on the frets, and no
playwear on the paint finish. There is some flaking of the paint, and a bit
of wear on the back of the neck, but no dings or scratches, and very little
story to tell. It is all original, including the barely used tuners!
SOLD
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C. 1965 National Dynamic Steel
A great looking red, white, and black National. With rocket-shaped body,
Lucite fretboard and stairstep position markers, black plastic pickup cover
and control panels, and white knobs this is one sexy-looking steel guitar.
It has body inserts for three screw in legs for tripod support, but the legs
are missing. Sold with its original hard case
SOLD
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1963 Fender 400 Pedal Steel
Here is an 8 string console that plays both kinds of music: country and
western. The sultry A6 tuning lends itself to the styles of Sneaky Pete
Kleinow or Santo and Johnny. By the looks of it this sweetheart of the
rodeo has seen many a juke joint in its time. There are several screw holes
in the underside where some pedals have been added and subtracted.
Currently there is a home made knee lever rigged to add more bending gusto.
We untangled the cables and added a little Texas tea to the turnbuckles and
she was weeping like a willow. So break into a box of Lonestar and salute
the glory of this sexy little machine.
With original hard shell case
SOLD
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1936 Dobro No.27
Serial #8664. With its 14 fret V-shaped neck, this instrument is well
suited to the modern guitarist seeking that vintage Dobro tone. Most likely
built by Regal in Chicago, this instrument features a Red-bean wood
fingerboard with ivoroid position markers, slotted headstock with ramped
routs, and no three holes below the fingerboard,. The birch body has two
tone sunburst top, back, neck and headstock, and dark-stained sides. The
neck has just been reset in our shop, the frets dressed, and the instrument
set-up for fingerstyle playing. The action measures 6 to 8 64ths at the
12th fret, with lots of room to be lowered further. Original frets, tuners,
and all hardware except for a new Paul Beard cone and replacement bridge
saddles. The guitar is in excellent condition throughout, but with a small
finish blemish on the lower margin of the back. A fine sounding and very
playable vintage Dobro.
SOLD
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1940 Gibson EH-150
FON F612-6. An instrument like this must make you want to play lap steel
guitar! What an incredibly gorgeous instrument. Sunburst on maple
guitar-shaped body, gumwood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, nickel
hardware, individual Kluson tuners with translucent amber buttons, one black
and one brown Bakelite octagonal knobs, and, of course the famous Charlie
Christian pickup. Complete with its original hard case, this is a
beautifully preserved instrument. The pickup is very hot, with a fat tone
and bigness not usually found in steels.
SOLD
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1960's Del Vecchio
Made famous by Chet Atkins and played today by many of Nashville's finest,
the Del Vecchio Dinamico resonator is a rare bird. Built in Sao Paolo,
Brazil, where the Del Vecchio compay has been building resonator guitars
since the 1930's, the design is loosely based on the original Dobro
instruments introduced a few years earlier. While the guitars bear a
resemblance to those the Dopyera brothers designed, they are in fact very
differently built. With a Brazilian rosewood body, biscuit bridge, chunky
classical-style neck with a flat, thick fingerboard, wicker soundholes, and
very light gauge silk and steel strings the Del Vecchio plays, looks, and
sounds unique. Not big and loud like an American-made resonator, the Del
Vecchio has a slightly mellow tonality, with roundness and warmth to the
notes. Set up as a fingerstyle instrument, it is well suited to jazz,
country, and blues. This guitar has a pair of side repairs worth noting
(pictured below), but is otherwise in remarkably fine condition despite Del
Vecchio's reputation for somewhat rustic construction and fret work. The
scale length is 25.4" and the nut measures in at a shade over 2" (52mm).
With the exception of the tailpiece hanger and a new ebony saddle fitted by
us, the guitar is completely original.
With newer hard shell case
SOLD
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1960's Kay Lap Steel
White paint finish, Kluson double line tuners, original pickup with a strong and meaty output, volume and tone controls, and original plastic pickup cover. In fine condition. With original chipboard case
On consignment
SOLD
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1937 Dobro Model 27
Serial # 8167. A Chicago-built Regal Dobro. Round neck (well, really it's
a V-neck), 14 frets clear of the body, set up Spanish style. Original
stamped cone, is in good shape, and sounds funky with a voice that's likely
better suited to the blues than to bluegrass. Cool original multi-colored
strap, and some great looking one-owner wear. The tuners are correct Kluson
3 on a plate, but there appear to have been others on the guitar at some
point. The action is nice - it's set up for hybrid slide/fingerstyle
playing. 1 3/4" nut.
Newer hard shell case included
SOLD
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1934-5 National Triolian 14 fret
Serial #798. This Triolian is possibly the earliest known 14 fretter known.
Triolian #1088, built in 1935 was the oldest documented 14-fret slot head
triolian according to Bob Brozman in his 1998 book "The history and Artistry
of National Resonator Instruments" (a great read BTW). Bob knows about
this guitar now, and the next edition of his book will likely make note of
this instrument. The guitar is completely original and features a walnut
sunburst finish, ivoroid-bound Indian rosewood fingerboard, and rolled
f-holes. The neck angle is fine, as are the frets, and the instrument is
easy to play up the neck - with action at the 12th fret of 6/64ths across
all the strings. The nut width is 1 3/4" (narrower than 12 fret Nationals),
and the scale length is 24.6". The guitar sounds great, it's got lots of
plunk and volume, with fat single notes and lots of bluesy overtones.
Newer hard shell case included
SOLD
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1930-33 National Duolian
This exceptional instrument came into our shop a while ago, looking for a
new owner. Since our reputation has been built around the quality and
playability of our instruments, we insisted on the previous owner having the
neck reset, and a new National cone and biscuit installed to replace the
played-out originals. And what a difference! This thing smokes! I have
never seen a National with a better patina of honest one-owner wear. The
neck has very little finish left on, and feels incredible - smooth and fast.
The original frets will want replacing soon, if you are that kind of player,
but for anyone who thinks Son House was God this guitar is perfect as it is.
With the exception of the cone, it is all original. A tip of the hat to the
craftsmen at National Reso-Phonic for providing such a true and responsive
handspun replacement cone. The beautiful neck reset, done in our shop,
firms up the sustain and tone tremendously. We can honestly say this is
among the best original Nationals you will ever get to play.
On consignment, no case
SOLD
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1935 National EH
Rare and beautiful, in its original case, this one is pretty much
self-explanatory. It features a long 25 inch scale, cast aluminum body with
all original black lacquer finish and Grover machines. The single rail
pickup is adjustable with the two little knobs on either side, and cranks
out a hot, rich signal. One of the prettiest lap-steels I've seen, and a
great one for any serious collector of quality vintage guitars. The case is
immaculate, with the green lining and two interior pockets.
SOLD
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1936 Regal / Dobro model 37
This '36 Regal 14-fret model 37 might be the cleanest 30's Dobro we've ever had. The photos do a very poor job of capturing the essence of this instrument, my apologies. The sunburst finish is in great shape, with a warm sheen and a fine crazing throughout. There are no cracks or bruises as the photos might suggest, and this instrument's condition belies its 68 years. This is a V-shaped-round-neck instrument, currently set up Hawaiian by Luthier Joseph Yanuziello with a polished bone tall nut and raised maple saddles. It sounds wonderful played in this style, but can easily be un-converted from Hawaiian back to Spanish with a new nut and lower saddles. The cone is original and sounds warm and rich, with just enough bite to cut through in a jam session; and there are plenty of vintage overtones to warm-up any recording or solo piece. A slick extra is the pick-up system: It's the capsule of a Shure SM-58 professionally mounted inside the soundwell, and wired to a standard 1/4" jack. The plugged in sound is to die for, and best-yet, it's a passive (no battery needed) system. Very cool. Add to the package a brown custom-fitted Calton case and you'll get the whole picture...
SOLD
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1947 Gibson BR-4 Steel
Oh, my name is Joe
And you know I come from Toronronronronronto
Where everybody talks
and nobody nobody seems to care
True words from the one and only Mendelson Joe, previous owner of this
awesome guitar, who proudly inscribed his name on the side of the case. Mr.
Joe was the backbone of the Mainline Triumvirate, a '60's Canadian phenom.
Made for just one year, this post-war model is one of the best looking and
yet affordable of Gibson's lapsteels. All original including those '40's
tuners we should have saved for an expensive guitar. The guitar looks,
plays, and sounds great, the case is a little beat. Own a piece of
history...
On consignment
SOLD
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1936 National Style O
Do you remember the first time a guitar really turned your head around? You
finally understood that chicks wouldn't notice your acne if you had one of
THOSE! Many of us would agree that that guitar was the one on the cover of
Dire Straights' "Brothers in Arms", floating through the sky in all it's
nickel-plated glory. That was a late-Thirties fourteen-fret National Style
0. Did it occur to you that that Eighties hallmark was already 50 years old
then, and nearly 70 now?!
I don't remember the last fourteen-fret Style O that came through our shop,
though we've had many twelve-fretters. This guitar came in from the
original owner with ancient nylon strings! It actually sounded pretty cool,
and the low tension of the nylon strings certainly contributed to the
exceptional condition of the original cone and the straightness of the neck.
The plating on the front shows significant deterioration in the area under
the pickguard, which is no longer extant. The pickguard seems to have
trapped condensation against the nickel. The rest of the guitar is
remarkably clean, with very little blushing or pitting on the back. The
original tuners are in great shape, and the frets have no wear...none! This
one has the ebony fretboard of the better models. If you're a National
player, you'll recognize the big V neck, with the 1 13/16" nut. The action
is reasonable for this kind of guitar, measuring 7 to 8.5/64". We have
ordered a proper pickguard from National Reso-Phonic, but we couldn't wait
to show you this cool machine. The original soft case is a little beat.
With a little effort you could be just like Mark Knopfler, if not quite as
rich!
SOLD
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1930-3 National Style 1 Tricone
A rare gem, a one-owner fresh from an estate sale. What can I say? I was
clearly the first person ever to remove the cover plate, and virgins are
hard to find these days. "Fun!", you say? Try it some time! This guitar
is so clean that many people in the last few days have overlooked it,
thinking it was a new one. In our pictures, we have accentuated the slight
surface wear and natural aging of the nickel plating. The cones are
pristine, with the original cardboard and felt gaskets carefully cleaned and
put back in place. The frets have no wear, as it was always set up
Hawaiian. We gave them a crown and polish job, to make them feel better.
The neck angle is fine for a slide player. If you do much fretting you will
want the neck reset. We rarely offer guitars that need a reset, preferring
to ensure the job is done well here in our own shop. However, this one's
fine for many players, and just too clean to mess with unnecessarily. The
action measures 11/64 right across the 12th fret, the neck relief is
perfect, with no excessive forward bow.
How does it sound? How do you think it sounds?! Turn a Brozman CD up loud,
close your eyes, remember to breathe...! The guitar is all original,
including the nut and saddle, tuners, and best of all the Original Hard
Shell Case. We are offering it at a price that leaves headroom for a neck
reset, should you choose.
SOLD
More photos:
Front detail Back detail Headstock detail
Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail
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Main Photo
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1937-38 Dobro Model 27 Square-neck
A magnificently well preserved square-neck Model 27 from one of the most
desireable periods of Dobro production. This Regal-made Dobro square neck
is in excellent and 100% original condition. The Model 27 was made popular
thanks to players such as Jerry Douglas and Josh Graves; and Mike
Auldridge's main instruments in the '70s and '80s were the very similar
Regal-Dobro Model 37. It's widely felt that the instruments built by Regal
in Chicago (which do not have the three small holes below the fingerboard's
end) are superior in tone to those built in California by Dobro (which do
have the holes). This instrument features all-orginal hardware; including
its stamped cone which is in perfect condition. Solid headstock with
beautiful Kluson three-on-a-strip tuners; bound top AND back (rare), and
grained and sunburst finish over a Birch body. It sounds as good as you'd
expect it to; a vintage instrument as original and clean as this one has to
sound right!
Older hard shell case included.
SOLD
More photos:
Front Detail Back Detail Headstock Detail
Full Front Detail Full Back Detail Tuners Detail
Neck Back Detail
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Main Photo
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1936 Dobro Model 27 Roundneck
With its 14 fret round neck, this instrument is well suited to the modern
guitarist seeking that vintage Dobro tone. Most likely built by Regal, this
interesting instrument has some features which make its pedigree difficult
to determine - it is unclear weather it was built in California or in
Chicago. It's 100% original though, with the possible exception of the
period tuners. Red-bean wood fingerboard, slotted headstock with ramped
routs, serial #8167, interesting stamped tailpiece, no three holes below the
fingerboard, and stamped cone. The birch body has a two tone sunburst top,
and walnut-finish back and sides. Lots of fret on this one, as it was
played with a riser-nut for most of its life. It plays fine, and sounds
exactly as you'd want it too!
SOLD
More photos:
Front detail Back detail Headstock detail
Full Front detail Full Back detail
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Main Photo
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1960 Fender Champ Lap Steel
A great little steel, with the same pickup and pots as a 1960 Strat, just
different cover. It has original black knobs, same as a Tele. Look at that
case and tell me it's not cool! The instrument plays fine, and is all
original with no repairs. On consignment.
SOLD
More photos:
Full Front detail Case detail
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Main Photo
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1936 Dobro Model #46
Rare, rare, rare. You almost never see these "Luma-Lite" aluminum bodied
Dobros with the paint still on. This one is impeccable. And it sounds great!
It has a painted-on maple-burl graining, with colour-matched pearloid
headstock and perfect-condition pickguard. Since paint generally has a hard
time sticking to aluminum, normally these rare creatures look pretty scabby;
but not this beauty! The aluminum body is nice and light, easy to wear on a
strap. It has a "round neck", really more of a huge V, playable as either a
Spanish or Hawaiian guitar. Original stamped cone; the bone nut is 1 3/4".
Made by Regal, with maple neck, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with ivoroid
binding, original tuners and frets, in good shape. It has a surprisingly
loud voice, with great round mids, tasty trebles and better than average
lows for this type of Dobro. This guitar was brought to us by the nephew of
the original owner. With the original cardboard case, bill of sale dated
October 20th 1938 ($55, $10 down and $45 to be paid in $5 monthly
payments!), lessons contract, and a pile of old Hawaiian tablature! An
awesomely cool time capsule.
SOLD
More photos:
Front Detail Back Detail Headstock Detail
Full Front Detail Full Back Detail Tuners Detail
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Main Photo
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1936 Dobro Model 27 Roundneck
With its 14 fret round neck, this instrument is well suited to the modern
guitarist seeking that vintage Dobro tone. Most likely built by Regal, this
interesting instrument has some features which make its pedigree difficult
to determine - it is unclear weather it was built in California or in
Chicago. It's 100% original though, with the possible exception of the
period tuners. Red-bean wood fingerboard, slotted headstock with ramped
routs, serial #8167, interesting stamped tailpiece, no three holes below the
fingerboard, and stamped cone. The birch body has a two tone sunburst top,
and walnut-finish back and sides. Lots of fret on this one, as it was
played with a riser-nut for most of its life. It plays fine, and sounds
exactly as you'd want it too!
SOLD
More photos:
Front detail Back detail Headstock detail
Full Front detail Full Back detail
|
|
|
Main Photo
|
1960 Fender Champ Lap Steel
A great little steel, with the same pickup and pots as a 1960 Strat, just
different cover. It has original black knobs, same as a Tele. Look at that
case and tell me it's not cool! The instrument plays fine, and is all
original with no repairs. On consignment.
SOLD
More photos:
Full Front detail Case detail
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Main Photo
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1930-33 National Duolian
This exceptional instrument came into our shop a while ago, looking for a
new owner. Since our reputation has been built around the quality and
playability of our instruments, we insisted on the previous owner having the
neck reset, and a new National cone and biscuit installed to replace the
played-out originals. And what a difference! This thing smokes! I have
never seen a National with a better patina of honest one-owner wear. The
neck has very little finish left on, and feels incredible - smooth and fast.
The original frets will want replacing soon, if you are that kind of player,
but for anyone who thinks Son House was God this guitar is perfect as it is.
With the exception of the cone, it is all original. A tip of the hat to the
craftsmen at National Reso-Phonic for providing such a true and responsive
handspun replacement cone. The beautiful neck reset, done in our shop,
firms up the sustain and tone tremendously. We can honestly say this is
among the best original Nationals you will ever get to play.
On consignment, no case
SOLD
More photos:
Front detail Back detail Headstock detail
Full Front detail Full Back detail
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Main Photo
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1936 Dobro Model #46
Rare, rare, rare. You almost never see these "Luma-Lite" aluminum bodied
Dobros with the paint still on. This one is impeccable. And it sounds great!
It has a painted-on maple-burl graining, with colour-matched pearloid
headstock and perfect-condition pickguard. Since paint generally has a hard
time sticking to aluminum, normally these rare creatures look pretty scabby;
but not this beauty! The aluminum body is nice and light, easy to wear on a
strap. It has a "round neck", really more of a huge V, playable as either a
Spanish or Hawaiian guitar. Original stamped cone; the bone nut is 1 3/4".
Made by Regal, with maple neck, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with ivoroid
binding, original tuners and frets, in good shape. It has a surprisingly
loud voice, with great round mids, tasty trebles and better than average
lows for this type of Dobro. This guitar was brought to us by the nephew of
the original owner. With the original cardboard case, bill of sale dated
October 20th 1938 ($55, $10 down and $45 to be paid in $5 monthly
payments!), lessons contract, and a pile of old Hawaiian tablature! An
awesomely cool time capsule.
SOLD
More photos:
Front Detail Back Detail Headstock Detail
Full Front Detail Full Back Detail Tuners Detail
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|
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Main Photo
|
1935 National Trojan
Loud and Fat! Now this is a Guitar! These woodbodies are currently very
undervalued, so make no mistake: this is a lot of vintage guitar for not a
lot of money. The tone is even right across, with hugely powerful basses
and round fat trebles, all tempered with the warmth of wood. The guitar
plays well. It has suffered a less-than-perfect neck reset at another shop,
and the heel has been cracked, but it is solid now and the action is great.
The first five frets have been replaced. Otherwise, the guitar is all
original, and has one of the nicest vintage cones I have seen. Note that
this is not a Dobro, but a woodbodied National with a National-styled cone
for blues playing. No case.
SOLD
More photos:
Front detail Back detail Headstock detail
Full Front detail Full Back detail Back of Neck detail
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Main Photo
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1936 National Duolian
14 frets, round neck. This National Duolian has been very professionally
re-chromed, and re-finished. The work is flawless, and was done to the
highest of standards by a luthier that I'd like to congratulate. The parts
are all original - right down to the screws. The resonator and biscuit are
also original. The Logo and numbers impressed into the headstock were not
altered or removed during the refinish. It plays SO WELL, and sounds
fantastic.
SOLD
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| Back to Instruments for Sale |
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