The Steel Guitar Forum

Hey, y'all. I just bought a Rickenbacker lap steel off of eBay, and in another thread you all were kind enough to give me some more info on it than what I had, but I'd still like to learn more. Sounds like it's a Rickenbacker Model 59. Six strings. The auction said that it was made in 1937. Can anyone suggest a website (or, if nothing else, a book) where I could find some more info on this guitar?

Thanks a million,

Colin

Check out "Brad's page of Steel" by Brad. there is a sublisting "Old Steel guitars" and there is a Richenbacker listing. So go back to the beginning of this website "Bob Lee's"!

Most of the information listed on my web site is from Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars and is reprinted courtesy Miller-Freeman Publishers.
There are a couple of good books specifically on Rickenbacker guitars - check with J.K. Lutherie or your local music store.

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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

Rickenbacker has alot of history with pictures on their site.

Call Elderly Instruments in Lansing MI 517-372-7890 and ask for the book titled Rickenbacker by Roger McGuinn copyright 1997 Centerstream Publishing.

If you don't find it in hear, you are not apt to. This is the complete history of the Rickenbacker Company and has a zillion photos and much on steel guitar including your model guitar.

Well worth the price of $25.00 I think.

God be with you,

carl

Have you checked Rickenbacker's web site? I briefly looked at it.

Colin: I believe the book Carl refers to is The Complete History of Rickenbacker Guitars
(1987), by Richard R. Smith (Roger McGuin wrote the foreward). It will tell you everything you want to know.

Thanks, folks. Nothing on the Rickenbacker web site about this particular model (good reading, generally, though), so I'll try the Complete History of Rickenbacker Guitars by Smith.

This forum is a tremendous resource! Thanks again,

Colin

Make sure you look under catalogs, (1930's), at the Rickenbacker site, there are pics and info about models 59 and NS, which is a similar model also. Be forwarned the dates they have on their catalogs are very inaccurate