The Steel Guitar Forum

Hey, y'all. I've been watching this board for a couple weeks, and I appreciate all the great info.

I just won an eBay auction last night for my first lap steel, a 1937 Rickenbacker. I was a little surprised to be the high bidder--at $250. Now I'm wondering if I made a good buy, and I would greatly appreciate any comments from you folks as to why this guitar is not as valued as other Ricks from the same era.
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=291376639

Thanks a bunch,

Colin

It does not look like a "high-end" Rick. But ohh well, it's a Rick and it's getting older and with the help of inflation over the next 50 years... you know...
A few years ago you wouldn't have gotten $250.oo for any bakelite Rick...

Heck, somethimes you get really surprised with "cheaper" guitars. I have a Gibson BR9, which is considered a "cheapo" and it sounds killer!
... J-D.

... J-D.

Colin,

I bid on that Rick also. It looks like a good buy. I expected it to go higher also. I just don't need it and besides, I am saving for a new amp.

Jim

It appears as if the guitar pictured in that link is a Model 59, but it looks like it's been repainted or touched up in some way. It's hard to tell from the blurry photo. These guitars have a stamped sheet metal body rather than the more desirable Bakelite body. That fact plus the apparent condition of the guitar probably the difference in price.
It should have a pretty nice sound. The pickup does appear to be the wider prewar model pickup.
Let us know how it sounds when you get it.

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Brad's Page of Steel:
www.well.com/~wellvis/steel.html
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

I have one much like it. It has an interesting resonance that my Bakelite Rick doesn't have. I've used it often on sessions. It sounds great thru a Fender tweed Deluxe amp. The hollow steel body is filled with newspaper. Mine has the old pickups, which Dave Lindley says are the best.

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Pete
www.petegrant.com

Thanks for your responses, guys. With a little time to think it over (and with your comments), I feel pretty good about the purchase. I don't foresee playing out with this guitar anywhere in the near future, so looks are not too important--if the sound is good, I'm happy.

I'll certainly let you know how it sounds when I get it (and you can bet the "new guy" questions will start flowing heavy!).

Peace,

Colin

Colin: Assuming that the guitar is in good working condition, there's no question $250 is a reasonable buy. It appears this instrument has been repainted, although it's not inconceivable that this is the original paint, as Model 59s do show up with all sorts of custom finishes; you'll be able to tell easily enough. If Bakelites are the Tricone of lap steels, Model 59s are the Duolians: rude sounding guitars, great for blues. You did well with this one.

¡Felicidades Colin!

I have to agree with JD. It may not be the most desirable Rick, but if it sounds and plays well... well that's what's really important (at least to me).

My National New Yorker's 53-year old tuner buttons finally crumbled in my hands the 'collector' side of my mind starts up with trying to locate original tuners, but the 'practical' side won out... I want to PLAY the damn thing, not hold it as an investment.

Good luck. Check out the Leavitt tuning!

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Mischa
'steelin' in cresskill'
sobelcmt@earthlink.net

you're lucky...that's a steel you can play and beat without worrying about it....that's what it's for..you'd be lucky to replace it for that in the future...'specially with that pick-up and neck thru strings...play that sucker!!

I have an 8 string chrome version of that guitar and I think it sounds lovely.Also,when I had to replace a volume pot,I found that the body was stuffed w/newspaper like someone said-which by the way,is a good way to date the guitar.I pulled a bit of newspaper out of mine dated April 4,1951.

Stuffing newspapers in the ricks was common practice back then even for the fry-pan. Supposedly, it was to tone down the resonant mechanical sound that the all metal guitars sometimes exhibited. Some even stuffed them with sand. I assume they were being compared to the bakelites and they were trying to get that sound.

God bless you all,

carl<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by C Dixon on 02 April 2000 at 03:42 PM.]</p></FONT>