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Topic: So Where Do You Find These Vintage Laps? |
Judson Bertoch
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 8 Sep 2008 6:08 am |
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more curious than anything. Since I've learned that this was the 2nd most popular instrument at one time I figure that there must still be more than a few around...
City or country?
Estate sales/yard sale?
Friends/neighbors attic?
Pawn shop?
I'm guessing that Ebay referencing has made it more difficult to find a treasure at a reasonable price, especially at auctions and pawn shops. |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 8 Sep 2008 6:23 am
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Ebay for Ebay money.
Thrift stores.
Yard/Estate sales.
Music stores/vintage dealers for more money than Ebay!
Keep looking. |
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Rich Hlaves
From:
Wildomar, California, USA
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Posted 8 Sep 2008 8:04 am
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Right here on the SGF classifieds is a good place to shop. I've seen some really good deals come up and most instruments look to be well cared for and are well described.
You gotta pull the trigger fast however, I've missed a couple I would have liked to own by just a few minutes.
Most of my guitars have come from eBay searching "lap steel", "Fender steel", "steel guitar" and the like. I did find a Fender Champ listed as a "steal guitar" a little over a year ago. If you search for miss-spellings you can sometimes get a real bargain.
Oops, there goes one of my secrets!
Unless you are somewhat handy and have good soldering skills, ebay purchases can be not the deal they seem to be. Many lap steels are sold by sellers who know absolutely nothing about the instrument. My tin can Ric was such a purchase and was sold "as found, untested". I lucked out and it works perfectly with just a simple cleaning of the tone pot.
My Dickerson took some fiddleing to get it correct and playable.
Best of luck in you search,
Rich |
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Richard Sevigny
From:
Salmon Arm, BC, Canada
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Posted 8 Sep 2008 8:37 am
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Judson...
I'm just repeating what Rich and Bill have to say...
...all of the above. Some also come up in the For Sale section of the Forum. Just make sure you have cash handy.
My first two steels where "fixer uppers".. I wanted to get my feet wet without putting out too much cash. Now I'm GAS'ed, up to 5 steels. 
_________________
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If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.
-Albert Einstein |
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Randy Reeves
From:
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 8 Sep 2008 9:39 am
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| eBay is where I got my first two. my last was at a small guitar store. right place at the right time. a 1936 Rickenbacher walked in hours in front of me. hang tag ink was still wet. what a deal. |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 8 Sep 2008 10:36 am
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As noted in the poll last month, pertaining much to your question, the various steel conventions are a great place to score.
However, and sadly, not the only one in Hawaii, which has never had a steel for sale. |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 8 Sep 2008 11:00 am Surprises abound..................
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A good friend from Dallas, TX., found my first Ric 7-string Bakelite for me in a junk box at the rear of a dillapidated, junky, skid-row type music shop that caters to the younger 'wild crowd'. They had not idea what they were showing me. ($350.00 w/hardshell case)
My first Bakelite 6-string was found at a guitar repair shop (12th Fret) where the owner had never come back to retrieve it. $150.00.
They'll be found in all kinds of strange places. |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 8 Sep 2008 6:25 pm
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The conventions at Winchester and Joliet usually have several there for sale. I sold a Gibson BR-9 in Joliet for $125, and an Excell D-8 Winchester for $500.
Some folks want to sell without the ebay route and it's hassles etc. (like me)  |
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Jim Konrad
From:
The Great Black Swamp USA
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Posted 8 Sep 2008 9:17 pm
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I picked up an Oahu tonemaster at an antique store, Fender deluxe 6 out of the local news paper classified ads, and just bought a National at a local vintage guitar dealer. I have seen and missed out on some great deals on craigs list!
A.B.L.= Always be looking
Cash is king!! But $25 is enough to put a deposit on damn near anything!!! |
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Jim Konrad
From:
The Great Black Swamp USA
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