The Steel Guitar Forum

I recently received an email from someone in Australia looking for information on an old Commodore lap steel they owned. It appears to have been made in New Zealand, although I'd hesitate to guess when. Does anybody out there know anything about Commodore lap steels?

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 11 September 2005 at 04:54 PM.]</p></FONT>

I have never heard of it but thought I would give it a bump for you.

What does this look like on stage? Maybe this is how players wearing sunglasses started...

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JCFSGC,RMSGC,HSGA member
Boyett's Glass Bars

Looks vaguely like some India-manufactured stuff I saw a few years ago.

Brad,

I think the headstock says Commode Door!

sorry, I couldn't wait for HowardR

A pretty funny gaudy MOTS axe, I've never seen one before, you gonna buy it?

CF

No, I'm just trying to find out more about it. There are a number of steel brands that I know next to nothing about; labels such as Audiovox, Framus, Guldan, Selmer, Vitar. Mostly they're steels which were never imported into the USA except by the occasional serviceman who bought one while stationed overseas.



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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

I have a great Guldan, all fiddleback wood neck-thru design. Had a weird pickup that had steel all around strings with a donut-shaped coil, mounted on a pot-metal wrinkle-finish pickguard with tone and vol knobs. I removed the pickguard and pup assembly, kept it and put on modern stuff in original holes. , Its a great player, sustain is killer due to neck-thru. Has a bound headstock thats martin-shaped, square-neck.

I never found any info except Guldan made violins in the Chicago area. The guitar appears to be late '30s-early forties, its a clear dark brown finish.

Commodore steel guitars were manufactured between 1945 and 1966 by Bunny Milne, trading as Milton Products and distributed NZ. wide by Western Enterprises.The guitar in question, celluloid covered caste aluminium body, was produced between 1956 and 1963 and was the third design change. Bunny was a sheetmetal worker by trade and used this skill to enhance his guitars. He made his own dies and did his own metal pressings, the string anchor pick up cover plate was caste by a foundry and Bunny did all his pre-plating metal polishing.

The first stel guitars were six string with our native rimu timber body, black polish, chrome on copper fittings, vertical controls and inlaid frets. Later, anodised aluminium fretboards were used on this and subsequent models. The second model, an eight string guitar, again rimu body, black polish and chrome fittings had the controls mounted horizontally and roller operated, the rollers only just protruding above the body surface. It was this model that Bill Wolfgramm used on all his recordings and radio work, using a Commodore 3 valve, 8" Rola speaker amplifier for clarity and tone. Cosmetic differences allowed the same guitar to be sold as "Royal" or "Milton" for specific shop outlets and this policy continued. The 3rd. model is the one being enquired about, the 4th., was clear laquered mahogany, still the anodised fretboard, two pick ups with a mix of either or both and a much more sedate appearance.

The advent of rock'n roll gave Bunny the incentive to design and manufacture a solid body rhythm guitar, he took up factory space, employed staff and commenced production. Severe import restrictions made musical instruments almost a prohibited import, but it was double edged, guitar parts were also difficult. The business expanded to bass guitars, accessories and amplifiers in spite of difficulties. There was continual improvement in body and pick up dsign to a semi-acoustic which was endorsed by the top players and as one put it, " Boy! This thing is alive." This instrument was Bunny's pride and joy but before he could recover his considerable outlay on heated moulds and formers, a change of government lifted all import restrictions and a flood of cheap Japanese imports killed manufacturing in New Zealand. Bunny retired, once again to a basement workshop, made a few more semis and maintained a repair service for the shops.

Brad
That's a cool looking guitar. Are you gonna get one for yourself? Nick

Mac,
Thanks for posting such a detailed history. About five years ago I acquired a Royal lap steel from NZ on Ebay.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/r_shatz/detail?.dir=6ada&.dnm=e01c.jpg&.src=ph

I had always assumed it was made by Teisco and several "experts" were of the same opinion. From your history am I correct in assuming this is an early model?
Thanks,
Richard

Mac,
Thanks as well for the information. I've forwarded your reply to the original person who wrote me and provided the picture.

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Richard,
Yes, you have one of the originals, about 1945-46. How do you find it as compared to the many you have over your way? We have a NZ.Hawaiian Guitar Assn. member in New York got his on e-bay from Dunedin (NZ) for $US400 and is thrilled with it.

If anyone sees another one of these for sale I'd love to have one, even broken. It'd make a lovely addition to my art collection!

When I was in NZ I came across the Commodore guitars and was quite impressed. They are very attractive and have a good sound.

Hey, BTW...has anyone welcomed Mac MacKenzie to the FORUM ? He's a great guy and is president of the NZHSGA...plays nice steel ! Welcome Mac !!! <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 01 October 2005 at 12:02 PM.]</p></FONT>

Mac,
This thread has rekindled my interest in my Royal, which I am ashamed to say I hadn't even plugged into an amp until today, because of a very severe buzz coming from the exit hole of the pickup/bridge cover. The cover is held in place by four large machine screws on the back of the guitar. After removing it I found that the bridge is actually a bar that is screwed into the cover not into the guitar body. The strings mount in the base of the cover making it a tail piece as well.
The pickup has six large machine screw pole pieces, which are adjustable individually through the back.

After making the adjustment to the bridge to eliminate the buzz I plugged it into a 48 Fender Deluxe. The Royal sounds just great, very fat and full with great harmonics. I would liken it to a P90 and that was with the old oxidized strings that were on the guitar when I got it more than 5 years ago.

I thought to keep it as a wall-hanger and curiosity, but now I think it at least deserves a new set of strings to bring out its full potential. When I do that, I'll take some photos of the inside for anyone interested.

There is a decal on the back that says:
Sydney Eady
376 Queen St.
Aukland, New Zealand
Opp. Town Hall
Thought that might be of interest to a New Zealander.

Richard,
Nice to know that you like your Royal. There were hardly any steel guitars around just after the war, mainly home made, but Bunny's guitars were quality from the very first. We have a member plays one like yours at our club days. It had an accident and broke the neck at the machine head end and he has an ugly looking steel plate bolted on to hold it together and it still works.

Keith.
There are still some around but mainly collectors items and are very expensive, $NZ800 - $NZ1,000.

b0b.
I am amazed at the speed and efficiency of the Forum. It even reminded me of my password. How does it work?

George Keoki.
Thanks for telling me to buy a computer. I owe you a letter.

WHAAAAAT! The Commodores had a steel? Guess that was what was laying down the funk groove on Brick House!

Nice steel. Sorry for the sidetrack...well...not really!

Thanks for the info Mac. I did a google on these great little steels before with no results.
I have the #2 8 string you talk about. It has almost a ricky bakelite tone with lots of sustain. String spacing is a little wide a touch over 7/16", scale is 22.5".
I wish Rick Alexander could test drive this puppy and put it through its paces and give you a better report on it then I can.
Hey Brad I will try to email you a picture later and maybe you can post it for me.
Thanks Richard

Mac,
Is this store still in existence?
https://publish.insightbb.com/wsb-cgi-b ... ID=1434703

Richard,

No, Sydney Eady is no longer.Your query prompted me to ring Lewis Eady ( which was the original store, brother Sydney branched out from there ) and John Eady Snr. was quite intrigued as to how I came to be ringing him. " Commodore guitars? We had one in here about 3 years ago but have not seen any since."

Is this a Commodore?
http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDetails.aspx?Item=819708

Richard, that's a beautiful guitar. Who is the seller?
BILL

Kummer's Vintage.

<h6>Edited by Brad Bechtel to correct the URL.</h6><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 25 November 2005 at 01:32 PM.]</p></FONT>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><HR><SMALL>Commode Door!

sorry, I couldn't wait for HowardR</SMALL><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Chuck, please accept a belated rimshot