The Steel Guitar Forum

I ran across a Rick Fry Pan for sale locally. I'm going to visit with the picker tomorrow and possibly wrap up the deal. Can anyone tell me a little about it? Value, year, etc. Serial number A118. Pics here on my Google Plus account https://plus.google.com/photos/10930644 ... n5y1hJv_XA

That is an older one, probably a 1934 model. If all is well with the pickup, I would estimate the value in the $2500 vicinity. Could be more or less, depending on the market.

It's a model A-22 Frypan. Serial numbers are pretty worthless in dating these. It's definitely pre-war, most likely mid-30s. Exact year doesn't mean much difference in terms of value for that vintage.

Non original case, replaced tuner buttons (pretty common as they shrink and get brittle over time). One of the pickup adjuster thumb screws is missing, as is another tab screw on that side.

Most of these have an octagonal knob, but I suppose it's possible the slightly later knob it has could be original. The dot markers all look blackish color to me. Normally these are multi-colored.

Some later '30s frypans had black dot markers and that kind of knob, but the examples I know of were all long scale (A-25) and also had (or once had) baked crinkle finishes.

Make sure the tuners work well and that it sounds good. If not, obviously this would be a point of negotiation. The pickup looks right from the picture, but I can't see the bobbin. You can find pics online so you know what to look for. Rick Aiello can rewind/remagnatize if need be.

If all is well, I personally wouldn't go much higher than $2,000, Anything under would be considered a good deal on an A-22. IMO

Thanks Mike, thanks Scott. He said the pickup was checked out at the local music store...and the guy at the shop said it was a little weak. I'll bring an amp and try it out. If anyone else has any input I would appreciate it. Any preference on the 22 scale vs. the 25 scale?

the pickup was checked out at the local music store...and the guy at the shop said it was a little weak.

The guy at the music store "checked out" the pickup... if he checked it with an ohm meter he would have gotten a much lower reading than any pickup he ever saw before. My understanding is than these pickups were only wound to about 2K ohms and the secret of the tone is in the huge magnet. Did the guy at the store play the fry pan through an amp and then conclude that the pickup is weak? OR did he measure the pickup's resistance with an ohm meter and conclude that the pickup is "weak"?
Most standard guitar pickups measure about 7K - 8K ohms. Maybe that's what the guy at the store is used to seeing.

Doug,
No clue what the guy at the store did. I'll ask. But better yet I'll try it with my amp. Good insight, thank you.

Steve

Steve Marinak wrote:Any preference on the 22 scale vs. the 25 scale?

The trick is finding an A-25. They are rare and seldom come up for sale. If one does, expect to add about 1K more (unless you luck into a deal). Many will tell you it's the best sounding lap steel ever made. Think, Dick McIntire, Andy Iona, Billy Hew Len.

I had both and was able to A/B them. I preferred the sound of my short scale A-22, but I think that opinion would be atypical. I just had a really good A-22. That said, anytime I had the means and opportunity to buy an A-25 I'd do it.

I was hoping this would sound like Bobby Ingano and or Dick McIntire....

Normally, this is the part where someone says the sound is in the hands of the player, but I have to say that it was my frypan which proved the exception for me. It did sound like McIntire and Iona, even if I don't play like them. Three note chords especially were very rich and organ-like. An inspiring instrument to play.

After you check it out, let us know how it goes.

Steve Marinak wrote:I was hoping this would sound like Bobby Ingano and or Dick McIntire....

or better yet, Jeff Au Hoy!

John,
Do you mean to say you're kicking Bobby and Dick in the teeth? I love Jeff's playing too but not to the point of downplaying Bobby or Dick or a lot of other
top players.
Wally Pfeifer

Nope, would never do that. After all, Jeff always credits Bobby with being his mentor. And legends like Dick, Jerry et al are legends for good reason. I, on the other hand will most likely remain a hopeful hacker for the rest of my days, but always striving for improvement and inspired by all our legendary players!

OK guys, I pulled the trigger...wish I was the one that found it. Here's a classic story. A flea market guy who scours the local garage sale saw the case in the corner of an old lady's garage, it wasn't even on the table with the other items in the garage sale. She says, "It was my late husband favorite guitar. But I can't open the case to show you..so,..How about $20 bucks?" The guy buys it sight unseen takes it home...he doesn't know what he has. He tells me later there was a long rack of vintage Hawaiian shirts she was selling but he wasn't interested because he's a XXL and they were all Mediums. To add to the romance of this...Frances Langford's Outrigger Club restaurant was located nearby back in the day. I'm having visions of the deceased old player backing up Frances Langford like Dick McIntire did many years ago.

So I meet the guy yesterday at his Fleamarket booth, pic attached. I bring my Vibrolux Reverb and find a place to plug in, quickly getting an audience who are all thrilled at this wondrous sound they have only heard at Disney World's Polynesian Resort. The tone is dead on. The pickup is actually not that weak at all like he thought. I'd say I increased volume on the amp maybe 1 notch more than my Fender. The tone is round, velvety, and rich. One of the little circle gear sprockets on one tuner has a few teeth missing, I bet I can simply unscrew it and replace. No major issues. It does look dirty, not sure I want to polish it up, or let it keep all of it's patina that it has earned. The fret dots are a blue almost lavender color. Case looks to be from one of the bakelite electra style guitars. We settled on a price and it has a new home. I would like to find the old lady, get some of her husband's vintage Hawaiian shirts and discuss his passion for this music.

great find - you know, at least it found a home with someone who will appreciate and play it - make that your gift to the guy.

cause guess what...thats probably what will happen to my frypan decades from now...$20 at a yard sale somewhere

Thanks for sharing the great pics...what a story. Glad it worked out for you. Congrats on snagging that frypan!

Jerome, sometimes I think we don't ever "own" any of this stuff. In the case of old guitars, I believe I'm a custodian. Take care of it, play it the way it was intended to be used. And someday someone else will have that same enjoyment and use out of it. I don't buy these things as investments. If I can play it and enjoy it and someday turn it around for the same price, I've just been able to use it rent free!

So I think the old man would have been happy with me carrying on his legacy, playing Hawaiian songs on it.

So far I'm thrilled with this guitar. The sustain is amazing, truly feels like a tuning fork with each note I strike.

Great story, Steve. Congratulations!

Great story, great find. It's the discovery we all hope to make. Have fun with it!

You will never regret buying that guitar.

Bakelites are great guitars, but there's nothing like a vintage frypan !!
You really lucked out on that one !!
Maybe they are actually antiques, being that old !
Mine is about that same age, a 7 string.

really enjoyed that story. Thanks so much!