Gretsch Electromatic Lap steel anybody seen this one?

Marco Deijmann · Post by **Marco Deijmann** » 27 Jan 2011 2:06 am

Hi Steel friends,

This Gretsch lapsteel I found in Belgium, I like it.
But I don't know how its sounds and plays. The guy ask's for 400 euro's...

Anybody knows this steel?!

Tnx,
Marco

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Clair Dunn · Post by **Clair Dunn** » 27 Jan 2011 3:20 am

A Gretsch Eletromatic is pictured on the cover of Hal Leonard's publication: Lap Steel Guitar by Johnnie Helms.

It's a much later model than the one you show and not MOTS-covered. Gretsch is on the pickup and Gretsch Electromatic at the top of the tuners. Bridge cover is a plain rectangle, though the knob plate is similar to yours. (book date is 2009)

No help, I know, but threw this in just for the record. Will be interested to see what turns up here.

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 27 Jan 2011 7:41 am

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Peter Lindelauf · Post by **Peter Lindelauf** » 27 Jan 2011 11:05 am

The price may be a bit high, Marco. Also looks like the tuners have been replaced, which I would do, too, if they were in poor condition. I have a similar model (1953)with a plastic pickup cover/Valco string-through pickup. That appears to be a different pickup. Got mine for about $300 US in almost mint condition. You can expect the pickup output to be quite a bit lower than a 'modern' lap steel's. Can't quite read the serial number in your photo but this page may help you date the guitar. Check under 1940-1961.

http://home.provide.net/~cfh/national.html#serial

Stephen Baker · Post by **Stephen Baker** » 27 Jan 2011 11:40 am

The price may be a little high for the US market but things like steels are always more expensive on this side of the pond. If we buy a $300 guitar in the US by the time you add the shipping and local import taxes you are looking at another $150 - $200 on top plus they have more of a rarity value over here, they just don’t turn up in garage sales in the Manchester area.
Hey Clair, do you have this book? What tunings does it use?

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 27 Jan 2011 3:32 pm

Considering the condition (if it is as sweet as it seems), good resale value, probable nice vintage tone, the scarcity in the region, and the ability to remove the hardware to access the bridge for palming effects, I'd say the equivilant to $550 US is an OK price, even for a 6 str.

Clair Dunn · Post by **Clair Dunn** » 28 Jan 2011 2:37 am

Hi Stephen--

Open G
Open D
Open A
Open E

Has tunes and licks for these tunings in notation and tab. The songs are real (not made up) Down in the Valley, Midnight Special, etc. Looks to be a decent beginner book.

There's also a CD with it. It's not for me, as I'm strictly C6 -- if you can figure out how to send me postage, I'll send it to you if you want!

Clair