Oahu Electric Lap Steel Childs Size

Dave A. Burley · Post by **Dave A. Burley** » 5 Apr 2012 6:29 am

I have just purchased a Oahu lap steel that look's to be a child's beginner guitar. This steel look's just like a full size but in almost miniature size. The guitar is 27" long but only about 6" wide and less than 2" thick. It is covered in the typical green pearloid. It has a square neck. The pickup, if that's what it is, is hidden in the guitar with only six very small bumps raising out of the guitar. The strings must be put in the butt end of the guitar from the bottom, come up through the guitar, over a metal bridge and over the top of the six bumps. I don't have the chord and that is another story. Very small opening for the chord looks to be a snap in rather than a plug in. It's like a fuse size. When you snap the chord in it goes against a spring loaded piece that looks just like the fuse receptor in your amplifier. It's really weird to look at because of the very small size yet the professional Oahu look of a lap steel. Anyone have one of these or can give me more info on how to plug this baby it? The odd look is the body which is smaller than a ukelele.
Thanks in advance,
Dave A. Burley

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 5 Apr 2012 6:51 am

You gave a vey detailed description, but I've never seen an Oahu lap steel with this sort of connection you described. Can you post a photo or photos of the instrument? Oahu had many different models by several different manufacturers. Offhand I'd say this was manufactured for Oahu by Magnatone/Estey Electronics in Los Angeles, but it's impossible to tell witihout photos.

Dave A. Burley · Post by **Dave A. Burley** » 5 Apr 2012 7:32 am

Brad...Give me a few days. I don't know how to put a picture on. I have just taken pictures of it to put on my computer but I haven't learned how to transfer those pictures to a post or email.
Dave

Peter den Hartogh · Post by **Peter den Hartogh** » 5 Apr 2012 7:44 am

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=108265

Manfred Nabinger · Post by **Manfred Nabinger** » 5 Apr 2012 9:34 am

My Dickerson Magnatone ist 27 3/4 " long, 7 1/2" wide and 1 3/4" thick and has the common 22 3/8" scale.

Dave A. Burley · Post by **Dave A. Burley** » 5 Apr 2012 11:12 am

Well....Here goes nothing. I followed instructions and hope it work's. Grandson hasn't been by to show me how to do this. Thanks, Dave

Dave A. Burley · Post by **Dave A. Burley** » 5 Apr 2012 11:17 am

Here is a pic of the guitar. Keep in mind that the biggest part of this guitar, the bottom, is only 6 inches wide.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 5 Apr 2012 11:59 am

It looks like a normal Oahu lap steel, probably 1940s, with the old style screw-on output (amphenol connector) that someone has butchered, or maybe it has sunken into the body.

The original connector was probably like the ones shown in the picture below. That jack could be replaced with a standard 1/4" output jack.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 5 Apr 2012 2:22 pm

I'd agree with Doug. It's definitely made by Magnatone/Estey Electronics (depending on when it was made), and that's almost certainly an Amphenol style screw on connector that has sunken into the body of the guitar. Even if it isn't, it would make more sense to have a standard guitar jack installed on it.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 5 Apr 2012 3:24 pm

One time I bought an old lap steel on eBay (one of hundreds of times!) and the screw-on plug was badly damaged. The owner told me that his "guitar cord would not go into the opening" in the guitar because "something is jammed in there". So he took a screwdriver and a hammer and tried to dig the thing out. Then he tried to bang the thing through the hole, into the hole, so he could get his guitar cord (1/4" phone plug) into the hole! Anyway, there was no hole there, there never was a hole. The guy destroyed the plug. You'd think he would have noticed the threads on the outside and realized that something was supposed to screw on there. $:\$

Dave A. Burley · Post by **Dave A. Burley** » 5 Apr 2012 4:55 pm

Thanks for all the responses. I believe that you all are right about the original hookup being a screw on cord. I did take it apart and it can be redone to accept a regular plug in cord quite easily. I spoke with a man that bought all of the Harlin Brothers stock years ago in Indianapolis, In. He told me that this guitar is what they called a youth model that was sold door to door by traveling salesman back in the forties and fifties. They were sold along with a small amp and lessons. The youth would buy the steel and amp and then the salesman would come by and give lessons along with the deal. I believe I had read that someplace before. Thanks, Dave

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 5 Apr 2012 6:14 pm

Oahu sold lap steel & amp sets "door to door" across the country. Sales reps would go from town to town selling lessons, guitars, amps. The company also had a large mail order business, lessons, sheet music, bars, picks, stands, and other accessories. They claimed to be the world's largest music publisher back in the 40s and 50s.

Michael Nemick · Post by **Michael Nemick** » 5 Apr 2012 6:44 pm

FYI a little trivia

"It may be hard to believe, but Hawaiian guitar was popular in the 30's and 40's. There were a number of Hawaiian guitar schools at the time. Oahu Publishing was one of the largest. They published sheet music and sold guitars in addition to giving lessons. At its peak it had over 1200 schools. They finally went out of business in 1985. It's estimated that they had 200,000 students over the years."

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 5 Apr 2012 6:53 pm

Amazing that they continued until 1985, long after the Hawaiian 'craze' had passed.

p.s. Where are these 200,000 steel players!?

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 5 Apr 2012 7:08 pm

Jim Cohen wrote:...Where are these 200,000 steel players!?

They switched over keyboard and drums, and they're playing "new country".

Michael Nemick · Post by **Michael Nemick** » 5 Apr 2012 7:35 pm

Jim Cohen wrote:Amazing that they continued until 1985, long after the Hawaiian 'craze' had passed.

p.s. Where are these 200,000 steel players!?

I think there biggest venture was in the acoustics. Here is why "Often people would sign up for lessons in which a guitar was supplied. At the end of the series of lessons they would get to keep the guitar. Many guitars were inexpensively constructed with laminated woods and simulated wood grain finishes, although yours might be made from solid wood."

Now imagine this. A salesman comes to the door. Litle "Jimmy" answers. Mom goes to the front door (she is actually home raising the kids, cooking and cleaning, imagine that. What a novel idea) Anyways here comes the pitch, "hey little Jimmy how would you like to play guitar" "oh boy can I mom, can I" the deal is done. A month later the guitar is under the bed and now 70-80 years later it finds it's way to flea bay. So they may have had 200,000 students but how many players. End of story. For now. Oahu's and Bronson's are my hobby. I currently have 4 Oahu acoustics a 71K with a Baggs M-1 passive pick up, a 65M, a 51K, a 52k one Bronson acoustic student model and a Diana lap steel. All are from the 1930's. These thing are like Pringles.

Dave A. Burley · Post by **Dave A. Burley** » 5 Apr 2012 8:41 pm

Sure would like to find a Bronson, Jim. I also recently found a great Oahu Iolana double neck from about 1954 I believe. Great looking lap steel with a very unusual look. I finally tuned it up a little today but didn't tune it to scale because I am afraid of the bakelite tuners turning to dust. I'm not really sure that they are bakelite...They actually feel a little bit like rubber as they seem to give a bit when I turn them. Anyone know anything about the Oahu Iolana? Thanks, Dave

Michael Nemick · Post by **Michael Nemick** » 5 Apr 2012 9:06 pm

There was a Bronson Honolulu Master on flea bay. The prices for these are not in my neighborhood. http://www.ebay.com/itm/190648289178?ss ... 1423.l2649

Here is the Oahu counterpart. The Oahu Deluxe http://www.ebay.com/itm/190648289178?ss ... 1423.l2649

These were the higher end instruments purchased by "players" and there are many that are not in the best ot shape. Actually it seems like anything above the student or parlor guitar, was well used. The deluxe in it's day was $2 less than a Martin 00-45. I can only dream I would find one maybe in a garage or estate sale. Yeah,sure.

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 6 Apr 2012 7:54 am

Deleted

Michael Nemick · Post by **Michael Nemick** » 6 Apr 2012 8:26 am

Michael, I will definitely do that. You were the one who helped me identify my 52K I have no idea why but I have become obsessed with these guitars and their history. Thank you.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 6 Apr 2012 8:35 am

Jim Cohen wrote:Amazing that they continued until 1985, long after the Hawaiian 'craze' had passed.

p.s. Where are these 200,000 steel players!?

I think Daniel Lanois was one of them. He's done pretty well.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 6 Apr 2012 9:01 am

The Oahu Publishing Co. was in business until 1985, selling sheet music and accessories... but I think they stopped making steel guitars by 1969. I've never seen or heard of any Oahu or Supro steel guitars made after 1968, and none are listed in the vintage guitar price guides or other literature. That would coincide with the closing of Valco Co. in Chicago, the builders of Oahu, Supro, Harmony, Silvertone, and many others. Valco went bankrupt in 1968. Sadly, Gibson and Rickenbacker also quit making steel guitars in the mid to late 60s. Probably due to the growing popularity (and complexity) of pedal steel guitars, and the huge popularity of rock music by that time... electric guitars were hot, and steel guitar sales dropped way off.

Michael Nemick · Post by **Michael Nemick** » 6 Apr 2012 9:10 am

Mike Neer wrote:
Jim Cohen wrote:Amazing that they continued until 1985, long after the Hawaiian 'craze' had passed.

p.s. Where are these 200,000 steel players!?
I think Daniel Lanois was one of them. He's done pretty well.

I would say he has.

It appears that I have hit the mother load a treasure trove of information from all of you. I am still trying to get through Michael's post.

Thank you all. I only have one question. The Diana Deluxe show up in several catalogs. Does anyone know the years that this was made? I know they are circa 1930's but was wondering if there was anything more specific. Thank You again.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 6 Apr 2012 9:17 am

Where are these 200,000 steel players!?

This 10-year-old learned his Oahu lessons well! His name is Lloyd Green.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 6 Apr 2012 9:18 am

Doug Beaumier wrote:
Where are these 200,000 steel players!?
This 10-year-old learned his Oahu lessons well! His name is Lloyd Green.

I think I've heard of him--he's pretty good, right?

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