The Steel Guitar Forum

if i bought a magnatone lapsteel to sel what would anyone give for it by the way these were bigsby inspired and i hear they sound great

It would depend on the model of the Magnatone lap steel and its condition. Some of the later lap steels are very nice utility players, while many others (most of the ones I see on eBay and craigslist) are cheap student models. Do a search on this forum for previous discussions of Magnatone (including Michael Lee Allen's comprehensive catalog photos) so you'll know what you're talking about.

If you have photos of the instrument you're thinking of selling, please post them.

i do not own it but plan on buying it all it said online was it was a pearl magnatone lapsteel

So are you planning on buying it and reselling it, or are you asking because you're considering buying one for yourself and keeping it?

In general I would think a "pearl Magnatone lapsteel" would be the cheaper entry level or student model. "Pearloid" was the type of plastic used to cover the wooden body (and the pickup).

I did not know that any Magnatone lap steels were Bigsby-inspired. Where did you learn this and it pertained to which model(s)?

The last time this issue came up, Mike Neer had some interesting input towards this 'fact', and I once had the Mag model is question, albeit an 8 str., which may be like the one Daniel is referring to.
Being a Mag/Bigsby freak, I have long sought the final facts on this issue, and for me the matter has yet to be settled. Many mag steel and Mark III guitar sellers state the Bigsby claim but none have ponied up the proof for me. I have a Mark V and it as well as the Mark IV (sans Bigsby trem) is deffinitely the one and only time PA ever designed a guitar for another company. Whether or not he did anything with their steels is something I'd like to have finalized.

Magnatone ads for the G65 and G70 stated that the steels were "inspired by Paul Bigsby's designs". Michael Lee Allen posted some scans of those somewhere on this forum.

Anyway, this Daniel McKee is a trip. He's looking for either a Bigsby T-8 for less than $5000, a Sho-Bud D-10 for $950, or a Magnatone.

Mike Neer wrote:Magnatone ads for the G65 and G70 stated that the steels were "inspired by Paul Bigsby's designs". Michael Lee Allen posted some scans of those somewhere on this forum.

Anyway, this Daniel McKee is a trip. He's looking for either a Bigsby T-8 for less than $5000, a Sho-Bud D-10 for $950, or a Magnatone.

Thanx for reviving that, Mike. I can't help but wonder what the 'inspiration' in this context actually means. To me that is more of an alluding to, using the Bigsby name from past associations.

Can't blame him, but getting a Clinesmith for under 5G's is tuff enuf. Better stick with the Maggie! I am.

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not sure how they are bigsby inspired i heard they were in different guitar price guides i think paul bigsby may have helped design them

daniel, just out of curiosity and i'm sure others are wondering, too...how old are you and what is your background in music and steel guitar?

no reason really but i prefer not say my age but as for as my background i know a lot about country music thats how i started to like steel guitars and i know someone who plays steel guitar and i read about them every day

I have a 1950's MOT Magnatone and I love it's Magna Tone.

Here's a video of me playing my Magnatone at the 2008 Sevilla Spain Ukulele Festival. I'm playing to Band In A Box backup tracks. The amp? A battery powered Vox DA-5. Both the tracks and the steel are going through the amp at the same time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5di3D1ct8cY

i watched the video your magnatone sounded great

i am looking for a magnatone lyric d8 anyone got one

The rumor that I have heard is that Bigsby had some connection to the oval shaped chrome covered pickups that Magnatone used on some of their steels and the guitars. Anyone know about that? For these models of Magnatones on Ebay often the sellers will allude to it in their ad copy.

I had heard that Bigsby was commissioned to re,design the Steels and standard guitars for Magnatone.
I once saw a Magnatone electric mandolin that had some definent Bigsby traits.
If you look at Michaels brochure pics, you can see the similarities with there fret boards.
If my memory serves me correctly they have electroplated fret markers and symbols, like a post 54 Bigsby fret Board.
I personally feel, that Bigsby did have a connection with them.
I did here from a knowledgeable source that the pick ups are Paul Barth designs that were later(60's) sourced out to a Japanese manufacturer.
What ever the case maybe, the mid to late 50's (Bigsby?)model T8 and D8's sound great, I would love to own one.
Lee

http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDe ... em=2003576

Here's one I inquired about last month, when it was listed for $1200---he's now dropped the price. The dealer told me one of the telescoping legs is stuck and that part of the case is "compromised". (just FYI, no affiliation here.)

The second after I posted this I saw the post above. I think it is the same guitar model as I have. I thought mine was perhaps later than 1951 though...

I have this Magnatone D-8 in my collection, and never knew much about it. The serial # is 49801. The pickups, knobs and metal plate look much like the ones referred to in Michael Lee Allen's excellent archives as Bigsby inspired. It also has the metal etched fretboard. All is know is it sounds great. Any idea here as to the year, or if indeed this was one of the PB designed or inspired steels/pickups.

Although I do have the case (but no legs), there is a partial mailing label on the back of the guitar showing it was sent to or owned by Pvt. Rodney A Daniels and a return address in Bountiful, Utah. The rest of the label has been torn off.

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Michael-
That is the era (1957-1958)I always thought my guitar was probably from. I have seen some earlier D8's with a totally different design. Your collection of brochures, etc. never fails to amaze me!

This discussion has inspired me to do a little more research as to the Paul Bigsby/Magnatone connection. I found this undated article by Deke Dickerson in the online edition of Guitar Player magazine. Although the article was about the Mark IV guitar, I found his comments regarding Bigsby's contribution interesting.

Around 1956, the company introduced the single-cutaway Mark III and Mark III Deluxe, and the double-cutaway Mark IV and Mark V. The Mark IV featured a trapeze tailpiece, and the top-of-the-line Mark V sported a Bigsby vibrato. Much ado has been made of late by eBay sellers advertising these Magnatone Mark IV and Mark V guitars as “Bigsby” instruments, clearly capitalizing on the furor surrounding Paul Bigsby’s custom electric guitars and their resale value. A more accurate account can be found in the 1956 Magnatone catalog, which simply states: “For the pattern and design of these models, Magnatone is indebted to America’s leading guitar authority, Paul Bigsby.”

What's the chance Mr. Allen also will have this 1956 Magnatone catalog he refers to? By the vague language in the steel guitar description Michael posted..."Paul Bigsby design approved by leading guitar teachers" I am inclined to think perhaps Magnatone was doing a little spin doctoring. If he truly did design it I think they would say "Designed by Paul Bigsby." The way it was written could mean they just copied his design.

I was also wondering if by chance this guy Dickerson was part of the Dickerson family that sold out to Magnatone? Then I found this website...
www.dekedickerson.com/bands-davedeke.php

You learn something everyday..but of course I forget it by the next day!