The Steel Guitar Forum

Just wondering if any of you have any knowledge of this strange beast. Click here and scratch your head!

No idea but what cool, original industrial design!

Funny that you should respond, Andy -- I've been curious if that's the guitar being played by the Cajun steeler on page 173 of your book! (The guitar is a lot easier to see in this version of the photo.)

Cast aluminum certainly was a popular material for lap steel bodies in the 1930s -- in addition to the Rickenbacher "Frying Pans," Dobro, Gibson, National, Supro and Harmony all used aluminum. I recently saw a cast-aluminum "Aloha." Other than the Frying Pan "reissues," have any manufacturers used aluminum more recently?

Russ - These guitars are aluminum:
http://www.industrialguitar.com/guitars.html <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Ron Bednar on 10 May 2004 at 06:36 PM.]</p></FONT>

Russ, you forgot Vega. Back to Lap Steels 101.

And no rimshot for you! <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by HowardR on 10 May 2004 at 07:06 PM.]</p></FONT>

neat. A graceful design. I wonder kow much its going for?

Very possible, Russ. Frankly, I'd been looking at the obscured verion for so long I'd forgotten about the original photo! Good reearch. The photo is available online as a hi-res tiff from the library of congress website for anyone who cares to add it to their collection.

This particular guitar is the best preserved model I've ever seen. I never knew who made them or when, but based on the seller's information, Harmony made this model for Sears Roebuck in 1936.
I've played on a beat up version of this guitar, but was unimpressed. Whether that was due to construction or maintenance (or my playing) I couldn't say.

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

I met an elderly gentleman in South Florida who had one of these, but since the dealer is in Fort Lauderdale I suspect it's the same guitar. According to the dealer's web site, the price is $1495. (Ouch!)

And speaking of aluminum lap steels, they also have a Gibson E150 ... on a "call for price" basis.

Howard, I thought the Vega was a cast zinc guitar(??) I could be wrong though, 'cause I was wrong once in 1947.
Bill

I believe that you're right Bill. I was also told by the seller that the Vega was cast zinc.

I just had to catch Russ on something..

I haven't been able to find out anything more about this particular Harmony, but I did stumble across this website for future reference.

I sold my Harmony just like this one for $150.00 in 1997. I have a copy of the Sears catalog page which advertised it as a "Hawaiian Metal Guitar".In 1936 Sears sold the guitar for $28,25, the case cost $8.15 and companion 3 stage amplifier went for$36.75. The amplifier was called a "Supertone" made by Lyon & Healy for Harmony. The pickup was made by Rickenbaker for Harmony. The pickup on this guitar is most interesting in that it has 3 small coils connected in series fit into a wood block with a small horse-shoe magnet. I sold it because I didn't care for it's sound. The case for this guitar is worth a lot since most cases are gone.
Alvin