Folkway Music -- Instrument Sales




Last updated: May 8, 2008 Questions? Please email info@folkwaymusic.com. Looking for more resonators? Check out Folkway's selection of National Reso-Phonic and Yanuziello Guitars!
Main Photo	1966 Fender 400 Eight strings, four pedals. A great starter pedal steel... if 10 strings sounds a bit daunting, 8 might make your ascension to pedal steel heaven a bit easier on the brain. The Fender 400 is known for its 60's country revival tone, and was made famous by Sneaky Pete Kleinow (Flying Burrito Bros.) and Ralph Mooney with Buck Owens. The Telecaster of the pedal steel kingdom, the 400's tone is more cutting and mid-rangey than a Carter, and makes for a great lead instrument. This one is original and in good shape but has had one pot changed and some wiring work done. Due to its size and weight, a $50 handling fee will be added if shipping is required. With original hard shell case On Consignment $999 (US $999) $1030 (US $1030) with credit card More photos: Detail Back detail Bridge detail Case Open Case Closed

Main Photo	1930's Kay Steel I can't tell you too much about this steel other than how cool it looks, that is works well, and that it was built by Kay most likely in the last years of the 1930's. Its pickup has been worked on, and the volume and tone pots and capacitor are new parts. Hey, it's even got a Sprague Orange Drop in it! Serial # 866 stamped in the back of the headstock, 1950's era tuners. Comes with a matching and cool tweed Gumby soft case. $299 (US $299) More photos: Full Front detail Back detail Case Open Case Closed

Main Photo	1934 National Triolian Serial # 3324 W. The first National 14 fret guitars appeared in mid-1934, around the time this Triolian was serial numbered. Slotted headstock, rolled F-holes, bound fingerboard and walnut sunburst finish are all standard design elements of this model up until 1936. Found in the attic (yes, seriously) by a local family, this instrument has managed to avoid the harshness of the years. It has a proper neck angle, level frets and board and has easy action as a result. Completely original, including cone and biscuit, the guitar has the raw, mellow, and thumpy tone these steel-bodied Triolians are renowned for. Aside for some flaked-off finish, the instrument is in excellent condition. Check out the original case, strap, and mail-order instruction sheets post-marked 1943! $3295 (US $3295) More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Case Ephemera Case Open Case Closed

Main Photo	1960's Mason Lap Steel and amp set Mason was a trademark of the Galt Musical Instrument Company which was located 20 minutes down the road from our shop in the town of Galt, Ontario. Thanks to the factory's close proximity to Guelph we're fortunate to get our paws on some pretty interesting pieces of Canadian musical instrument history, and this lap steel and amplifier set is among the coolest we've yet found. Built in the early 1960's we figure, both the amp and the steel's hard shell case are covered in TV-Snow Tolex, and the grill-cloth and case lining are in matching "Four-Corners-National-Monument" Turquoise. The amplifier is a 6V6 (original RCA's) combo with a 12" AlNiCo Canadian made speaker and an original Hammond power transformer (Hammond transformers have always been manufactured right here in Guelph, too). It puts out about 5 watts and works well, having recently been serviced. The steel features white finish, with brightly coloured fingerboard position markers, Lucite fingerboard and control plate, and replacement Kluson three-on-a-strip tuning machines. Sold as a set $999 More photos: Amp Back detail Case Closed

Main Photo	1935 Silvatone Serial #678. We've found proof that the artists of the Lasceaux caverns had direct descendants living in Canada in the 1930's, and they created some of the most stunning "art brut" of the millennium. This guitar is made of nickeled brass, with soundholes reminiscent of Mennonite "hex" symbols and the most incredible naïvist rendition of a hula girl/pharaoh and palm trees/papyrus engraved on the back, which makes you wonder whether the ancient Egyptians might have been the first to settle Hawaii. The guitar was built to be playable in both Spanish and lap styles, with a floral motif decorating the treble side of the body. The neck is maple with a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. There has been some discussion in resonator circles of the work of Charles Edward Brasher, who held the 1935 patent for this guitar (#349662). What has not been noted until now is the direct connection to the work of Arthur Hensel. Followers of our website will have noted our fascination with the guitars Hensel built in Toronto in the '30's and '40's. Hensel made guitars and mandolins of many different quality points, but all have a few defining touches that make them easily recognizable. Perhaps best of these birthmarks is his peculiar treatment of the transition from back of neck to headstock. We've seen a number of examples of his wood-bodied resonators, often under the "Reliance" name. This is the first brass-body we've had. It would appear that Hensel built and finished the neck for Charles Brasher, a tool and die maker and musician. It has been suggested that these were only built for members of Brasher's band, starting in 1934 when the patent was applied for (see band photo, courtesy of Mr. Bryan Bradfield). Two models have been identified to date: the Silvatone and the Maui; no one knows how many were made. The resonator is a unique blend of Dobro and National styles featuring a pressed aluminum cone similar in shape to a Dobro but with a biscuit bridge. The body and setup are crudely done, but with an immediacy and flare that make the guitar irresistible. It sounds predictably metallic. This is a very rare guitar, and a wonderful opportunity to own a fantastic piece of Canadian folk-art. With hard shell case $3500 (US $3699) More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Engraving detail 1 Engraving detail 2 Engraving detail 3 Side detail Patent detail Band Photograph

Main Photo	Gold Tone Style 1SM Weissenborn All solid quarter-sawn mahogany, with beautiful ribbon-figured grain and a gloss finish. These guitars are licensed to use the Weissenborn name, and faithfully replicate Herman Weissenborn's original Style 1, with spruce X-bracing and a lively, full, warm sound. This is a real professional-level acoustic Hawaiian guitar. Great quality gold tuners, wood "rope" purfling around the top, mother of pearl position markers. Currently in Stock More photos: Full Front Detail Full Back Detail

Main Photo	1940's Oahu Steel & Amp set With an expanse of mother-of-camouflaged-toilet-seat, this is a too-cool and rare set. Was this edition a response to the attack on Oahu's Pearl Harbor, a sort of "have your pearloid and hide it too," or simply a green Zeitgeist, the spirit of the times? We may never know. We can be sure Oahu had no idea how incredible this thing would sound cranked through a mid-Sixties Fender blackface amp! This is a one-knob wonder, very light with a hot output. The guitar is all-original, the amp grille is probably a replacement, but goes with the theme pretty well. The amp is not currently working, but the guitar is ready for many adventures, from hula-tunes half-time at the 'Bowl! $939 (US $999) More photos: Full Back detail Case Open Case Closed Mother of Pearl (Harbor)

Main Photo	National Reso-Phonic Replicon The only thing more fun than opening the case of a like-new vintage guitar, is opening the case of one that tells a story of long nights, hard livin' and good lovin'. Many of us believe that a National should look like it spent its whole life on the sidewalks of Biloxi, Mississippi. We looked forward to getting this guitar for many months, but we were blown away when it arrived. The craftsmen at National have outdone themselves, and had a lot of fun doing it. Nothing cheesy here. They have taken their most popular brass bodied Style O, and, well... changed it. The twelve-fret maple neck has a vintage sunburst stain, with all the right dents and scratches, but no wear through the finish. There is no fret wear on the ebony board, but the truss-rod cover got lost years ago! The body has the classic palm-tree etching under 75 years worth of honest playwear. For anyone who wants a trustworthy, finely crafted guitar with a warranty, but always wanted the unmistakable coolness of a real 1930's National, this is the one you have dreamed about. And, we all think it actually sounds just a bit better than the shiny new ones. The deluxe case looks new, just waiting for you to put on the miles, the stickers, and the duct tape! Currently In Stock More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	Gold Tone Paul Beard Signature Reso Gold Tone's Newly introduced Paul Beard Signature model resonators are finally in! We had a round-neck deluxe as well, but it sold before we had a chance to photograph it! We'll get more though, we promise. These instruments feature Beard-designed, USA made, spun aluminum cones and spiders; bone nuts, ebony-topped maple saddles; Maple soundwells, and fine craftsmanship. They are far and away the best deal in resonator instruments on the planet, and are consistent with Gold Tone's philosophy of giving you a lot of instrument for not a lot of money. The instrument pictured here is a square neck Dobro-style resonator. The same instrument is available as a round-neck at the same price. More photos: Front Detail Back Detail Headstock Detail Full Front Detail Full Back Detail Tuners Detail


Main Photo	1955 Fender Stringmaster Triple Serial # -01587. Introduced in 1953, the Fender Stringmaster quickly became the go-to steel for many of Nashville's finest players. The more necks the better, it would seem, and the Stringmaster was available in 2, 3, or 4 neck versions. Most were two necks, and very few with 4 necks were made - thanks to the extra long reach that furthest neck would require. It's felt that the triple neck version is the most versatile version of the model, and as such, the most desirable. Offered here is an all-original triple 8-string Stringmaster, complete with push-button switching, original legs, and tweed hard shell case. Each 24.5" scale neck is fitted with a pair of single-coil pickups mounted about two inches apart, with a blend control pot located under the palm rest. Volume and tone controls are mounted on the control-plate of the closest neck. Completely original and in good working order, all solder joints are original, and electronic components works well. The finish at the base of the steel has chipped away, likely due to water damage, and the case shows a bit of damage in the same area. A few extra 1/8" screw holes have been drilled in the metal tuning machine housing as well - but the original tuners are unaffected and work well. Original blond finish has moderate wear, Fender logo is in good shape. The case's top felt lining is separated, and can easily be glued back in place. On Consignment SOLD More photos: Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Case Open Case Closed

Main Photo	1937 (circa) Dobro Model 27 No serial number. The model history of Dobro guitars in the 1930's is made entirely confounding by the use of serial numbers of various and occasionally overlapping sequences, model names that related to the retail price of the instruments rather than to the model's specifications, two manufacturing facilities located some 1700 miles apart, and the tendency of Regal (in Chicago) to randomly use what ever coverplates, tailpieces, and tuners were immediately available in the assembly of any given Dobro. After all, they were building mostly very inexpensive guitars at the height of the Great Depression - they weren't too concerned about what we would think some seventy years later! All that being said, we can say with little to no certainty that this Dobro was built in 1937 - it is equally probably that it dates anywhere from '35 to '39, and it is quite possibly not a model 27, but rather a Model 19, 25, or 32! The best we can do is tell you all about it, so here goes: This one is a Dobro-branded and Regal-built 14-fret round-necked guitar. It has a sunburst-finished birch body with and bound top and back, triple segmented F-holes, poinsettia coverplate, stamped cone, and no soundwell. It has an ebonized maple fingerboard with pearl dots at the 5th, 7th, 9th, and 12th frets, a new (old looking) bone nut, slotted headstock, and seriously gorgeous Kluson tuners with amber buttons. This guitar is in excellent and playable condition (with action of 5 to 7 64ths) but does have many fine scratches to the finish and wear on the back of the neck. It was set up Hawaiian style its entire life so the frets are pretty much new, and it has somehow escaped the need for a neck reset. The scale length is 25", the nut measures 1-13/16" wide, and the neck has a chunky soft V profile. Its tone is mellow and warm, with that Dobro honk in the mids that you'd expect, and a touch of vintage cone rattle if you hit the guitar just the right way. It's a cool guitar. No case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1933 National Style O Serial # S4678. From under a bed right here in Guelph, this guitar was found while itemizing the estate of the seller's great aunt. Nobody in the family knew of its existence, let alone that any one of their relatives was musically inclined! And so here it is; after a neck reset and a refret by us, in all its nearly unplayed glory! Aside from the frets, the guitar is completely original, with an un-scathed cone and biscuit. It now plays perfectly, and sounds, well... 70 years old, and incredible! Of note are the rolled f-holes - a particularly early example of a Style 0 with this feature. Nickel-plated brass body, 12 fret maple neck with ivoroid-bound ebonized maple fingerboard. Refretted with a radiused fingerboard for more comfortable playing, A shade wider than 1-3/4" nut, original three-on-a-plate tuners. The action is currently set at 6 to 8 64ths at the 12th fret. This instrument is in remarkable condition in every respect. You will be hard pressed to find another Style O in similar condition. Original hard shell case included. SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Case Open Case Closed

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Contact Folkway Music --
Mail: 163 Suffolk Street West, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1H 2J7 Directions to Guelph/Folkway Music
Telephone: (877)763-5524 toll-free
e-mail: info@folkwaymusic.com

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