50's Steel - Distorted bakelite-fretboard problem

[Chris Tulloch]

Hi; would like to pick your brains ... I’ve just gained this 50’s East German-made lap-steel. Sounds great, original case etc. However the ?bakelite? / ?perspex? fretboard is very warped. And badly painted!
I’ve done a bit of luthiering - I’ve built a lap-steel & an electric mandola, & have also steamed the fretboard off an old mandolin & replaced it (having sorted out the bent neck). Obviously the fretboard on this lap-steel fretboard needs removing, but I’ve never dealt with anything like this before. Any tips?

BTW the Rellog Gitona pick-up is lovely; loud & strong. Allegedly designed & built by Willy Goller in the GDR shortly after WW2. I have no idea who the maker of the guitar is though?












Many thanks
Chris

[Per Berner]

I believe most Rellogs were built by Musima in Markneukirchen, which was where most DDR music factories were situated.

For a brief period I owned a Rellog lap steel finished in dark grey mother-of-toilet-seat fake pearl. It was awful in every way you could imagine. The toxic covering even made it impossible to use as firewood.

[Chris Tulloch]

I believe most Rellogs were built by Musima in Markneukirchen, which was where most DDR music factories were situated.

For a brief period I owned a Rellog lap steel finished in dark grey mother-of-toilet-seat fake pearl. It was awful in every way you could imagine. The toxic covering even made it impossible to use as firewood.

Haha! Thanks Per! Yes, I’ve seen that particular lap-steel, an old 'for sale' on Reverb. However, this one (apart from the fretboard) seems OK - so far - but I only opened the case an hour or two ago!
Chris