The Steel Guitar Forum

I didn't know Ibanez made steel guitars??!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-IBANEZ-HAWAIIAN-STEEL-GUITAR_W0QQitemZ7346576954QQcategoryZ113476QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Jeff-san, I found 60s Ibanez catalog on internet which shows various steels, but I think some of them (or all of them?) were made by Guyatone. I have a couple of very cool Guyatone steel photos from Yahoo Japan Auction, these two steels are also on the Ibanez catalog as you see. I have seen a photo of Ibanez steel on internet that has a lot of G marks on its fretboard, which also proves that it was actually a Guyatone steel. I might be wrong though. I too still need professional opinions.

Guyatone 1

Guyatone 2

Ibenez Catalog

That Guyatone 1 reminds me of a 1940's automobile dashboard and the knobs are similar to older automotive cigarette lighter knobs!
Fascinating how steel guitars often have an art deco/antique auto flavor!
Malcolm

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If it's got more than three chords it ain't the real thing.

Guyatone 1 has the same kind of knobs that came on my Teisco EG-NW that I got in 1953 and still have.

Blake

Thank you for the information and pictures, Kunihiko!

Here's a picture of a Guyatone D-8 I used to have. Sometimes I wish I still had it because it was a unique steel and had a good sound.

Jeff-san, your D8 Guyatone and D8 Ibanez below (in the middle) look very alike.

Ibanez Catalog


Also this Guyatone is on the Ibanez catalog below.

Guyatone

Ibanez Catalog


I would like to share some weird Japanese steels photos someday soon, especially for Teisco lovers like Mr. Hawkins.

I bought this on Ebay from a guy in New Zeland about 5 years ago. There's a sticker on the back with the name of a music store. The seller said the store hasn't been in business since before WW2. Is this a Teisco?
If so, how old? Did Teisco make steel guitars before WW2?
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/r_shatz/detail?.dir=6ada&.dnm=e01c.jpg&.src=ph