The Steel Guitar Forum

How many brands/names of all metal steel guitars from back in the 30's or 40's?
The only one I know about is the Ricky!

Roy, Gibson only made one metal lap steel, the GIBSON METAL EHG in 1935.

1935 GIBSON METAL EHG
"The Granddaddy of Gibson Electric Steels"















Gibson EHG Bar Pickups (a.k.a. "Charlie Christian Pickups") And Other Information
Gibson's first bar pickups used a pair of large flat magnets, 4 1/2” x 1 1/4” x 3/8”, made of
nickel and steel. By late 1937, Gibson changed to cobalt and steel. The Fret-board is V-end
unbound ebony–29 frets. There is a fret marker after the 29th fret.

Still sounds great and a pleasure to play. Truly a piece of steel guitar history.

C. E.

Roy, there was also a Supro metal body in 1935.

SUPRO ELECTRIC HAWAIIAN: c. 1935



C. E.

Another metal lap steel made by National.

1935 NATIONAL ELECTRIC HAWAIIAN 7 STRING
The Details Of This Casting Have Always Interested Me





C. E.

I have a Dobro Hawaiian that is their version of the National, as shown below. Long scale, and it honks.





This instrument is for sale by me, BTW. Original case and everything.

Harmony "Supertone" or "Golden Jubilee" cast aluminum lap steel from around 1936. My buddy posted this from Washington state to me in Thailand and the box was pretty much destroyed during shipping. Guitar is fine but the pickup is dead - can't see any obvious break in the wiring or soddering. Found this for sale on the forum - very happy indeed, not easy to find these at all.
I am trying to collect one of each cast aluminum guitar from the 30s, so far have the Gibson E150, National hawaiian and this Harmony, still looking for an Aloha.

In addition to those already named, there was one from Vega:



Those are all the ones I know of. Trotmore came along in the early '50s, and the partly-aluminum Aloha steels are probably from that time as well.

It might not really belong in this thread since it is, as Noah said, probably from the 50's but I still want to show it off in the company of his older brothers. Here's my aluminum and plexiglass Aloha, probably made by Magnatone.

Don't forget the Clinesmith... Yes yes yea, I know it's not old, but they are great steels and can be ordered today. A short wait and you'll have one of the finest steels ever made. Tone and sustain to die for!





Todd is one of the finest luthiers of this era and he knows these kinds of instruments inside out.
Hope he don't mind me tooting his horn but I have hardly had a day without playing mine since he finished it last July.
His web site is worth a look and a good drool;
https://www.clinesmithinstruments.com

Sound Projects Company, Lectrolab

Mid 50’s Wright Custom