The Steel Guitar Forum

I must say that for all the MOTS Magnatone pieces I have seen I have never seen a set like these with the phono player. Looks like late 40s vintage. It probably plays 78rpm only. I have no idea of the value but it is cool to see.

Magnatone family MOTS steels and amps hold a soft spot in my heart. I call them my "Jelly Beans." Here are some of mine: https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix2203/4737_DSCN0170_1.jpg https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix2203/4737_Mots__1.jpg https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix2203/...

I don't want to seem patronizing but could it be the string itself? A fresh steel string may be able to produce a better signal and at least by some time until you decide on a pickup fix. I expect the single pole could be remagged but it might get complicated to keep from affecting the pole(s) near ...

The physical size of the pot has more to do with the surface area of the resistive track and how long it will last than the sound. If you are not a "pot fiddler" who constantly is adjusting it it won't matter. I have records that show both 100k and 250k may have been used by Ric at the fac...

I have one. The sound is strong and the pickup is a real early design. It also has a form fit hard case. Pretty deluxe for a Sears item.

Pictures would help. There is little definative proof for early frying pans but my opinion places this one at 1936. Knowing how changes weren't made as model years it could go 1 year ether way though. By '40 most steels moved the jack to the treble side of the body (Bakelite and Model 59 by late '37...

I don't think anyone really has an accurate record. Fender started using serial numbers to record warranty repairs. If anyone has these records they have not yet shown them. Some people have been able to decipher some timelines of some models from tracking serials but I have never seen anything &quo...

The Seldom Scene played the Sellersville Theater in Pa. Friday night and appeared unexpectedly as a quartet. Mando player / singer Lou Reid tested positive for covid and wasn't there. The guys were loose and able to re-arrange things and were as always, just great. They are so personable and self ef...

The latest model B (Bakelite panda) that I have any record of is serial C3714 that I own. I bought it as a set from the original owner with the Model 200(?) amp. The amp had original RCA tubes that had date codes from spring 1942 on them. Could not have been many more made after that because of the ...

Looks like '39-41 range. Serial #? Original case? We don't have definitive serial dating info from Rickenbacher but over the years there were trends and enough have surfaced to be able to make educated guesses on many models. The serial is stamped on the end of the peghead (C29xx range is probably a...

In my opinion, my 2 1935 B6 Rics are a little brighter than my later ones with 2 pots that load the signal a little more. That's ok since I always play through amps that have tone controls.
Remember Fender Stratocasters have the lead pickup wired bypassing the tone pots to add brightness as well.

I don't recall where I got it but here you go.

In the interest of clarifying- serial numbers on early Rics are not yet fully sorted out but there are some things that can be noted about them. The Prefix A then the number was used on frying pans (the first Ric model steel). Some frying pans had B prefix numbers. B is also seen on very early Bakel...

Shrunken "boxcar"



"trap" pickup with center support piece inside bobbin.

Looks like a model 59 from 1938-9.

"Does anyone make a copy of the Trotmore 7 string?"
Boy are you an optimist. There were hardly any original Trotmore guitars and a 7 string no less?
Well Jerry Byrd had a strong enough influence to have inspired a custom builder to make some. That's your best bet. Good luck on your quest.

F serial numbers in that configuration would indicate 1940. That pickup also would be right for 1940. Serial numbers of Gibson steels can be confusing because xxxx-xx was used from 35 thru 38, then DGExxx meaning 1938, EGExxx meaning 1939 and then the configuration changed so that Fxxxx-xx meant 194...

The easiest fix is to remove it, fill the groove with baking soda and wet it with super glue. It will turn into a hard plastic -like material that can be files ans sanded to the size you want. Her is my style 1 Tricone repair... https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix2020-03/4737_Shaping_repair_1.jpg

The Ace was a 1-piece body/neck made of Bakelite. One of my favorite steels.

Looks like a model NS (post war version of model 59). Stamped steel body. There may be newspaper stuffed inside that the factory used to control resonance. Sometimes you can find a date on one of the pages.

Starting out as Dickerson and seen under a dozen or so brands the model and its variants were produced for many years from the late 30s to 50s. There are many versions out there to choose from. They have 1 single coil pickup with a horseshoe style magnet and iron slugs (some later ones have 2 blades...

The guts of mine - showing the horseshoe PU.

If I remember correctly Champion laps have the leads coming out of the top of the flatwork and Tele pickups have the leads entering at the bottom.

In cases where the pot codes don't help, BR9s can be dated by features. Adjustable or non-adjustable P90 polepieces, smooth or crinkle finish and slightly different body contour shape will nail it down. Post a pic if you can.

Nicely done! I could feel the ocean breeze.