Can anyone ID this old homebrew lap steel?

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

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Dennis Conklin
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Joined: 30 Jun 2019 8:26 pm
Location: Ohio, USA

Can anyone ID this old homebrew lap steel?

Post by Dennis Conklin »

So, I'm a newbie, but a sweet little old lady in our uke group has loaned me her late father's lap steel. She said he "made it himself". I know he was using it during WWII, but no idea how much earlier it might be. My local luthier says it's probably a Ric that he made a new wood body for. I figured someone here might know what it actually is.
The tuning machines were replaced by me as the originals were worn out.

Thanks for any info you might have.
Dennis


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David Knutson
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Joined: 25 Mar 2004 1:01 am
Location: Cowichan Valley, Canada

Post by David Knutson »

Certainly looks like some Ric parts there, but whatever it is, I like it! How's it sound?
David K
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Bill Sinclair
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Joined: 23 Apr 2014 7:39 am
Location: Waynesboro, PA, USA

Post by Bill Sinclair »

Those "carousel" volume knobs were used by Epiphone. Some of their earlier lap steels had horseshoe pickups as well. The side view of the pickup coil doesn't look like any Rickenbacker I've seen but I'm no expert. Could be a rewind anyway. I don't recognize any of the other hardware. It's likely that the chromed horseshoe magnets came from another guitar like a Rickenbacker or Epiphone but the rest of it could be homemade. I'm sure that Noah Miller will weigh in with some useful info.
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Bill Groner
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Location: QUAKERTOWN, PA

Post by Bill Groner »

And a lefty!
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
Dennis Conklin
Posts: 13
Joined: 30 Jun 2019 8:26 pm
Location: Ohio, USA

Post by Dennis Conklin »

Bill Groner wrote:And a lefty!
Well, strung that way now!
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