The Steel Guitar Forum

Jeff Spencer wrote:Thank you sir! The Gibson is a real players steel, just look at the scars which I really like. It has history! Here are some back shots. I truly don't know how you even keep track of your collection!!
Here are a few more from my small herd. I'm negotiating now for a Silver Hawiian and a B6 (mint)
I truly love them all and they all get giged!!

Jeff, thanks for the photos, including the back of the EH-185. All are very nice steels that you should be proud
to own. Hope you get the Silver Hawaiian.

Here is my Dickerson, Jeff.

DICKERSON 6 STRING (MOTS): 1937, with twist-lock cable connection.


Have not found a twist-lock cable yet. Please let me know if you see one for sale.

Jeff Spencer wrote:

Jeff, a great little Gibson. I personally have not seen many of that model.


Do you know Michael Hogan, and have you looked at his collection of vintage guitars?

C. E. Jackson

I Do not know him personally but I do know of him.

Cheers
Jeff

C.E., what connection does the Dickerson have? I have some old cords, maybe i have one.

Glenn Wilde wrote:C.E., what connection does the Dickerson have? I have some old cords, maybe i have one.

Glenn, here are photos from a past post:

C. E. Jackson wrote:WTB - Twist-lock cord for 1937 Dickerson Lap Steel

2 images on forum posts show the type cord and connection:

Special to me this lap started with a 3 inch round maple neck with curly maple wings.

That’s very cool, Johnie!
My most valuable lap steel is my Clinesmith Billy Robinson.

C. E. Jackson wrote:

Glenn Wilde wrote:C.E., what connection does the Dickerson have? I have some old cords, maybe i have one.

Glenn, here are photos from a past post:

C. E. Jackson wrote:WTB - Twist-lock cord for 1937 Dickerson Lap Steel

2 images on forum posts show the type cord and connection:

Oh, wow. Sorry, i've never even seen that one.

K Maul wrote:That’s very cool, Johnie!
My most valuable lap steel is my Clinesmith Billy Robinson.

That is beautiful.

Johnie King wrote:

this is insane

C. E. Jackson wrote:

Jeff Spencer wrote:Thank you sir! The Gibson is a real players steel, just look at the scars which I really like. It has history! Here are some back shots. I truly don't know how you even keep track of your collection!!
Here are a few more from my small herd. I'm negotiating now for a Silver Hawiian and a B6 (mint)
I truly love them all and they all get giged!!

Jeff, thanks for the photos, including the back of the EH-185. All are very nice steels that you should be proud
to own. Hope you get the Silver Hawaiian.

Here is my Dickerson, Jeff.

DICKERSON 6 STRING (MOTS): 1937, with twist-lock cable connection.


Have not found a twist-lock cable yet. Please let me know if you see one for sale.

Jeff Spencer wrote:

Jeff, a great little Gibson. I personally have not seen many of that model.


Do you know Michael Hogan, and have you looked at his collection of vintage guitars?

C. E. Jackson

no clue they made double frying pans wtf

Johnie King wrote:Special to me this lap started with a 3 inch round maple neck with curly maple wings.

Johnnie, I really like that steel and can see why it is special to you. I like the
string anchorage, location of tone and volume controls, location for cable plug,
and selection of colors. Great looking steel. Thanks for posting photos. A very
unique design. Enjoy.

C. E. Jackson

K Maul wrote:That’s very cool, Johnie!
My most valuable lap steel is my Clinesmith Billy Robinson.

Todd Clinesmith makes great looking and sounding steels. Thanks for posting.

C. E. Jackson

Well here is my most "valuable" to me. This one isn't worth the most but it was my first so thats why its special. I just love this National console!

Fredrick Herb wrote:Well here is my most "valuable" to me. This one isn't worth the most but it was my first so thats why its special. I just love this National console!

Fredrick, that is a very attractive steel. I really like the fret-board design, the tuners design, cover plates
and colors. As your first steel I certainly understand the value to you. I remember looking at one in
Norris Family Music Store once and was really impressed. Sorry now I didn't buy it. Thanks for posting. Enjoy.

C. E. Jackson

Reagan, only one in existence to best of folks knowledge. Professional joining. It could have been Shot And done to a special order. Either way it's a wonderful guitar to play.

Jeff Spencer wrote:Reagan, only one in existence to best of folks knowledge. Professional joining. It could have been Shot And done to a special order. Either way it's a wonderful guitar to play.

Jeff, I like your double-neck frypans. IT MAY BE VERY VALUABLE! I have found
that it pays to research doubtful steels, as you have done, and that it paid off
for me as described below.


GIBSON EH-185N (v.2) 8 STRING ES-300 pu NATURAL: c. 1941
Gibson Only Shipped 2 of These Beautiful Natural Finish Steels



I really liked the looks of this steel, and only learned after my purchase that it was extremely rare.
In his book, Duchossoir shows a photo of this instrument and states, "An exceedingly rare eight-
string EH-185N custom-built in 1941 with a natural finish and a gold-painted Hyblum metal plate."
Since I did not know that only 2 were made, before Duchossoir's book, it was by luck that I liked and
purchased this rare steel.



1940 GIBSON EH-185N (v.2) 6 STRING ES-300 pu
Gibson Only Shipped 7 of These Beautiful Natural Finish Steels







The Hyblum plate had been originally cut for the C.C. pickup in earlier EH-185 steels. The plate was re-cut for
this modified steel, and a chrome plate with ES-300 pickup was installed before shipment from the
factory. I purchased it from the son of the original owner, who purchased it new.

When I first learned this steel was for sale, I traveled to a town near Chicago to inspect it. The original owner's
son allowed me to remove the Hyblum plate and look inside. I found that the Hyblum plate had initially been cut
for the U-Magnet PU (a/k/a Charlie Christian PU). I declined to purchase the steel, thinking that it was modified
after leaving the factory. After returning home I did additional research and found that the modification including
the chrome plate and ES-300 PU was factory installed. I quickly called the original owner's son, and purchased
the steel. Another vintage collector called me almost immediately willing to purchase from me after the son told
him that he had sold to me (he had also done his research).

Gibson records indicate that 4 of the 6 string EH-185N models were shipped and records suggest 3
additional were shipped later. Records do not indicate whether or not all had recut Hyblum plates with
ES-300 PUs and with chrome plates. I almost missed this unique steel.



GIBSON 1939 EH-185 (v.1a) 8 STRING C.C. PICKUP
Gibson only shipped 10 EH-185 8 String Steels.



This instrument was ordered directly from Gibson by original owner, George "Hula" Hines, a professional
musician, with knob locations as shown. These facts were verified to me by his son, Larry Hines. This model
has a U-magnet pickup, a.k.a. "Charlie Christian Pickup", and metal insert painted glossy black.

I would have missed this unique steel with customized knob locations (maybe 1 of a kind) if I had not tracked down
the original owner's son and received confirmation that it was ordered from the factory with different knob locations
from original design.

Purchase of these 3 steels taught me to do research when it is possible that the factory has made special
changes before shipment.

Additional information on these 3 steels can be found in "GIBSON ELECTRIC STEEL GUITARS: 1935-1967"
By A. R. Duchossoir.

If any of you have had similar experiences, please feel free to share your experiences.

C. E. Jackson

C. E.
Thanks for the reply. Wow, that is quite the story on the 185!! . You must record that in print and keep with the guitar. I've always maintained that we are only custodians of these fine instruments.
My friend had purchased this steel from Zane King. When he placed up for sale unbeknown to us we were both converting it. I decided to purchase and when I went online again I discovered that it had sold!! 😔 but to my mate in the club😁
I always said to him I wanted first offer as when I did get to play it realising it was a great players steel!
Sadly he passed away and I purchased it from his brother. Sad way to end up with the guitar but I'm just the current custodian!
https://youtu.be/WTSElbQ9WkA

Here is the one that is most valuable to me. My dad got this used many moons ago along with an old rickenbacher tube amp. I've had a difficult time finding any information on this lap steel and especially the amp that came with it. I have only found 1 picture which was from a 50's Rickenbacker catalogue but it did not have 2 controls only 1. Any information would be appreciated if ya'll know anything about them.
Thanks, really have enjoyed this post and the forum as well.

Jeff Spencer wrote:C. E.
Thanks for the reply. Wow, that is quite the story on the 185!! . You must record that in print and keep with the guitar. I've always maintained that we are only custodians of these fine instruments.
My friend had purchased this steel from Zane King. When he placed up for sale unbeknown to us we were both converting it. I decided to purchase and when I went online again I discovered that it had sold!! 😔 but to my mate in the club😁
I always said to him I wanted first offer as when I did get to play it realising it was a great players steel!
Sadly he passed away and I purchased it from his brother. Sad way to end up with the guitar but I'm just the current custodian!
https://youtu.be/WTSElbQ9WkA

Jeff, thanks for the history regarding your ownership. I certainly am trying to keep records on my various guitars for
future family reference when I am gone. I agree that we are only current custodians of our steels and need to make
future preparations regarding how our collections are to be handled.

The Shot Jackson Demo video is excellent. Thanks for posting.


C. E. Jackson

Steven Cummings wrote:

Here is the one that is most valuable to me. My dad got this used many moons ago along with an old rickenbacher tube amp. I've had a difficult time finding any information on this lap steel and especially the amp that came with it. I have only found 1 picture which was from a 50's Rickenbacker catalogue but it did not have 2 controls only 1. Any information would be appreciated if ya'll know anything about them.
Thanks, really have enjoyed this post and the forum as well.

A similar photo, but not exactly like yours, is in The History of Rickenbacker Guitars,
by Richard R. Smith, Copyright 1987, published by CENTERSTREAM publishing.

I understand why this steel is your most valuable since your dad purchased it many years ago.

Thank you for the kind comment regarding the post.


C. E. Jackson

Here is my "most valuable"...a buddy of mine and I have swapped this steel back and forth several times, but it has a special sound to me and I keep buying it back ! Its the one on my avitar as I played it at the Phoenix show several years ago on the main stage, as opposed to the "non-pedal" room. Its kinda rough but I love it !

Larry Lenhart wrote:Here is my "most valuable"...a buddy of mine and I have swapped this steel back and forth several times, but it has a special sound to me and I keep buying it back ! Its the one on my avitar as I played it at the Phoenix show several years ago on the main stage, as opposed to the "non-pedal" room. Its kinda rough but I love it !

Larry, the Fender Stringmasters have great tone, and are very popular steels. Thanks for posting,
and enjoy playing this steel. Also the value of these is holding up well.

The first Fender I purchased was a STRINGMASTER TRIPLE 8 (walnut).

Later, I purchased a FENDER STRINGMASTER QUAD 8 (walnut).

My favorite Console is my GIBSON CONSOLE GRANDE (v.3a) 7-8 STRING P-90 pu: 1948.
It is exactly like Don Helms' 1948 CONSOLE GRANDE "Ol' Red." On one of my visits with Don
we played our CONSOLE GRANDES together as shown in this photo.




C. E. Jackson

C. E. Jackson wrote:On one of my visits with Don
we played our Console Grandes together as shown in this photo.

Great photograph, C. E. Thanks for sharing.