ISO: Magnatone S-8 Lucite Lap Steel

[Jeff Strouse]

Has anyone seen one of these? I'd like to find one. The only pic I can find of it is below...they must not have made many. I wonder what it sounded like...



It is in the same style as the D-8 Lyric and T-8 Maestro (single pickups).

Thanks!

[Roger Shackelton]

HI JEFF,
The steel guitar players on "Hawaii Calls" played Magnatone Steel Guitars. If you can find those recordings you most likely will be hearing a Magnatone guitar.

Roger

[Bob Stone]

Hi Jeff,

I think I saw one at Ed's Guitars in Miami. But it may have been 10 years ago. I didn't play it. As I recall, Ed had a number of Magnatones.

You might also check with Andy's in Tallahassee, as he handles a lot of lap steels--or used to.

I'd be cautious with both of these dealers...

Have you ever been to Crescent City (FL) Music? It's not far from you. He has an incredible amount of stuff--new and used--packed into that building, and always has some laps. I've seen everything from Dickersons to Fender triples there. You may well find some old Hawaiian LPs there too.

Happy hunting.

All the best,

Bob

[Rick Aiello]

Ed's Guitars in Miami.

I bought my first two steels from Ed ... a Silver Hawaiian and a T-Logo Bakelite.

Sadly ... I believe Ed's is "no longer" ...

I heard he opened a store down in Cutler Ridge ... then closed up both stores.

[George Keoki Lake]

"The steel guitar players on "Hawaii Calls" played Magnatone Steel Guitars".

However, not the single neck style as shown.
All were D-8 models

[Richard Shatz]

I have one just like that. I think it's called the Jeweltone. It is beautiful and sounds surprisingly good. I play mostly 6 and occasionally 7-strings, so I find the string spacing on 8-string laps difficult.
The subject of Magnatones came up recently.
Brad posted a link to a great article from VGM that had a good description of it. Here it is.
http://www.vintageguitar.com/brands/details.asp?ID=132

[Bill Creller]

Around 1950, a guitar teacher I knew was selling some that were blue lucite, and almost see-through appearance. Don't recollect any brand name though.

[Dave Britton]

The Fullerton Museum had a red one (6 string I believe) in their collection at the recent "Instruments of Paradise" exhibit that closed Sept. 9th. Beautiful guitar.

[Jeff Strouse]

Thanks for the tips. This particular lap has the same width fretboard as the D-8 and T-8 models, providing the same string spacing (11/32 nut, 7/16 bridge). Perfect for me.

I have a Troubador S8, however, the neck tapers up to the nut, putting the strings at 5/16 spacing. It's a great sounding guitar, and I like everything about it except for that. So, if I could find one of the Lucite models, it would give me the lightweight portability of a lap, with the same string spacing I have on the multi-neck models.

I've looked at a couple of the current major manufactures of 'good quality' new steels, and most necks taper to only allow a 5/16 spacing at the nut, and the bridge/ tailpiece or string through-assembly is usually set for 6/16 (3/8 ). So, to have all the hardware custom machined, plus a "custom" fretboard (to accommodate the wider neck and string spacing), there will probably be a charge for custom wood cutting for the wider neck, so it could really jack the price up.

So, it's probably much easier for me to find one of these babies. I'm sure it would be more reasonably priced, it's already made right, and ready to go go goooo.........

[Al Terhune]

I've seen two of the red ones and a blue one in the past eight or so years on ebay. They are so nice looking.

[Craig Stenseth]

So, if I could find one of the Lucite models, it would give me the lightweight portability of a lap, with the same string spacing I have on the multi-neck models.

Jeff, wouldn't the Lucite ones be a lot heavier than the wood (or MOTS-covered wood)? Still cool looking, but I would think they are heavy. My MOTS Magnatone must be pine or balsa, it's pretty light.