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Topic: Audiovox Lap Steel |
Julian Goldwhite
From:
Alhambra, CA, USA
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Darrell Urbien
From:
Echo Park, California
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Posted 16 Oct 2009 5:10 pm |
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I've got a 7 string, but I'm not enough of a player to give a meaningful review. I'm still unsure how to treat the 7th string, so right now it's strung only with 6. Actually, if you'd like to try it drop me a line and we could get together sometime.
One of the reasons I joined this site was to help with my research on early steel pioneers, especially those connected to Echo Park resident Chris Knutsen. Audiovox's Paul Tutmarc owned Knutsens, and you can see a little of Knutsen's aesthetic sense in the shape of his steels). There are other connections between the two men that will eventually (!) be posted in my article on Gregg Miner's Knutsen Archives site.
It's safe to say any claims to being the first electric guitar made are arguable at best. Tutmarc was certainly ONE of the first.
As far as that particular instrument auction, it's way overpriced but it's also in fairly good condition for its age. You'll need to do something about that connector, of course. Most I've seen in that style have been 7 strings. Not sure about the originality of the case - PNW historian and Audiovox collector Peter Blecha told me it's the right shape, but neither of us have ever seen a tweed one. |
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Tom Gray
From:
Decatur, GA
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Posted 17 Oct 2009 12:57 pm
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My six-string Audiovox has a tweed case identical to the one on eBay except that it's lined with blue plush.
The guitar is playable, but really it's more of historical interest. The tuners have some give to them. The pickup is uneven across the strings, with no adjustment mechanism (a feature National-Dobro added to their similar pickup). Of course both problems could be easily surmounted to make it more of a player, but since it's in great stock condition I'd rather leave it as is.
I'm curious to see if the seller gets any bites at that price.
_________________
www.tomgraymusic.com |
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Darrell Urbien
From:
Echo Park, California
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Posted 17 Oct 2009 3:12 pm
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Sorry, I misspoke. I should've said "tweed like the one in the auction." Peter's actual message to me when I questioned him about the auction earlier this month:
There were variations on Audiovox cases that changed over the years. Black linen exteriors first, then black leatherette, then two types of dark tweed. But I've never seen a light tweed like that one. The interior looks right but that tweed is dubious.
My own guitar came in an old Gibson case, so at least that part of my post was correct - up until Tom's post I had never seen a tweed one!  |
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