The Steel Guitar Forum

Is anyone able to identify the Rickenbacker? The photo is not good, but maybe someone can identify it for me.

SW-8...

Fantastic. Now I need to determine a price. It is in perfect shape with original case. I am guessing it is from the late 50's vintage

I have one from mid-60s but it doesn't have the head cover. It's red. I think I paid about $400 for it. Great sounding instrument.

Late 50s or even into the 60s.(?) The frypan pictured in the catalog has a black fretboard, and not cast-in frets, which is toward the last of the frypans sold.

Thanks to all!

i have the 6 string, 1st version (1953-4) which didnt have the big chrome control plate like yours - i paid $400 for mine in exc cond - wonderful RICK sound.

Catalog page is circa 1955-56. The A-22 shown is the so-called "reissue Frypan".
The OP's guitar is an eight string, count the tuner buttons and strings.
b0b, if your red one is a six string it's part of the later 100 series and it never had a headstock cover...









Above is Rickenbacker's last steel guitar catalog that they used throughout the 1960's.

Right. Mine wasn't made with a head cover. It's appearently a Model 100. The great tone is due to routing the strings through the body at the bridge end, and of course the horseshoe magnet pickup.

I also have a 780 Console pedal steel, as pictured above. It doesn't sound as good as the lap steel, IMHO.

I always assumed those 50's + pickups were faux horseshoe. They do sound good and Ricky.

Is this Lovey Lui?

I have the real/full photo and have always wanted to confirm her identity. It's from a photo shoot that included other prominent Hawaiian steelers promoting Rickenbacker steels.

Jerome Hawkes wrote:I always assumed those 50's + pickups were faux horseshoe. They do sound good and Ricky.

Not faux at all. My first lap steel was the same model. I shipped it via Greyhound round about 1972 and they broke the horseshoe piece. The pickup was useless without it. No output. It's a magnet all right, not just a hand rest.