Sol Hoopii / George de Fretes

Armand Hanser · Post by **Armand Hanser** » 31 May 2012 11:46 pm

Hello steelplayers,
I am new on this forum and I come from the Netherlands and have a question for all the players out there. I possess a great Rickenbacker Silver Hawaiian, 1937, reg.number D 749. I have bought this guitar from the granddaughter of George de Fretes. She told me George got this guitar from his friend Sol Hoopii when he was in Californie. You can see that the guitar with suitcase has been used very often., pictures will follow because uploading failed. My question is if anyone ever seen a picture of Sol or George playing a Silver Hawaiian or maybe can tell me more??
I hope hearing from you soon.

Peter den Hartogh · Post by **Peter den Hartogh** » 1 Jun 2012 12:32 am

Hi Armand, Welcome to the SGForum!

I do not have any pics, but maybe Walter Niesing can help you. If you Google his name you can find him on the web.

http://www.google.com/cse?cx=partner-pu ... gsc.page=1

Does the granddaughter of George de Fretes have any pics?
If she had his guitar, she might have other items?

I found a pic of Sol with a metal (silver) body guitar but that guitar is an acoustic National:
http://www.lib.unc.edu/blogs/sfc/index. ... ol-hoopii/

Is this the guitar you're selling? For more than € 3100 Euros?
For Sale here:
http://tinyurl.com/74yxrmh
Picture here:
http://verkopen.marktplaats.nl/photopopup/562913841

JOZEF SMITH · Post by **JOZEF SMITH** » 2 Jun 2012 10:37 am

I don't remember George playing a Rick Silver Hawaiian steel here in California. Sol died in 1953 and George came to California in the late 60's. I used to play with George in those years. Yes, he had various made steel guitars but I never saw a Silver Haw. steel. For your info we buried George next to Sol here in California. Regardless how his grand daughter got the information, that steel is a good and valuable one. Enjoy it.
Malama pono,
Jos Smith.

Armand Hanser · Post by **Armand Hanser** » 3 Jun 2012 3:41 am

Hi Jozef,
First of alle my great respect that you have played with George, that must have been fantastic. George de Fretes is my most favourite steelguitar player of all times. In fact I like his playing even more than Sol Hoopii, but of course that is personal and all about taste. George violining the steel is in my humble opinion the best ever! You are right about your information. But i got it wrong in my story, I apologize. Fact is that the granddaughter told me she got the steelguitar when visiting her grandfather George in Californie, i got it all mixed up. So could it be George got the guitar earlier from Sol? Maybe the family of Sol could tell more.

JOZEF SMITH · Post by **JOZEF SMITH** » 3 Jun 2012 9:34 pm

Aloha Armand,
As far as I know, Tjo never met Sol cause sol passed away way before Tjo came to California. I know all the steel guitars Tjo had. His favorite was the Rickenbacher 6 string fry pan which Peter inherited. E mail me at jsmith1378@aol.com if you had any more questions.
Malama Pono.
Jos.

Tim Mech · Post by **Tim Mech** » 6 Jun 2012 11:48 pm

Hi Armand
To my knowledge, Sol never played a Silver Hawaiian. There is simply no photographic or written/printed evidence that I have come across.
As Jozef stated, the timeline of George being in California AFTER Sol's passing shows that he could not have received this Silver Hawaiian from Sol.
I know that you said you were "confused" over the details of the guitars story but you should not be including Sol's name as a "selling point" on this Rickenbacher.

Armand Hanser · Post by **Armand Hanser** » 6 Jun 2012 11:59 pm

Hi Tim,
You are absolutely right, Jozef gave me enormous info by email and I regret using Sol's name. By the way I am not selling the Rickenbacker SH anymore.

Tim Mech · Post by **Tim Mech** » 7 Jun 2012 4:48 pm

Hi again Armand
Whatever you choose to do with your Rickenbacher Silver Hawaiian is completely up to you, I'm not trying to convince you not to sell it.
All I'm saying is that without the proper provenance along with an instrument, it's sale value should be based on the current retail market for that instrument.
That being said, it is important to find out if an instrument does have an important history. Hopefully you received the info that you desired from Jozef.
Thanks for bringing the Silver Hawaiian to the forum.