Very Rare Bird

Exploring the beauty and tone of Rickenbacker Lap Steels

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rshatz
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Very Rare Bird

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johnallg
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Re: Very Rare Bird

Post by johnallg »

First I've ever seen one of these. I wonder what the 3-2 rivets hold between the board and the pickup?
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jps
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Re: Very Rare Bird

Post by jps »

Those are position markers extending the "fingerboard" to the third octave.
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winston
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Re: Very Rare Bird

Post by winston »

That's nice. I wish I had spent some time learning to play one when I was younger.
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johnallg
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Re: Very Rare Bird

Post by johnallg »

jps wrote:Those are position markers extending the "fingerboard" to the third octave.
Ahhh, see, I was thinking too technical. :lol:
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jps
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Re: Very Rare Bird

Post by jps »

But, in addition to that, they hold the Flux Capacitor in place. Happy, now? :mrgreen:
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johnallg
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Re: Very Rare Bird

Post by johnallg »

:lol: :lol: :lol: [shaking head]
radioactive
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Re: Very Rare Bird

Post by radioactive »

I remember seeing this same model, only in mint condition, at Island Guitars near Ala Moana mall in Honolulu, back in 1988. At first I thought it was a Silver Hawaiian, but then Jim Danz, the shop owner, told me it was a Model G that was made in the '50s. I seem to recall that the knobs on this particular lapsteel were clear Gibson style speed knobs, different from the "flying saucers", also there was some gold plating in contrast to the nickel, probably the headstock tuner cover, and maybe a few other detail parts. They wanted around $700. for it.
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doctorwho
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Re: Very Rare Bird

Post by doctorwho »

The headstock tuner cover is kinda cool!
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rshatz
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Re: Very Rare Bird

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radioactive wrote:I remember seeing this same model, only in mint condition, at Island Guitars near Ala Moana mall in Honolulu, back in 1988. At first I thought it was a Silver Hawaiian, but then Jim Danz, the shop owner, told me it was a Model G that was made in the '50s. I seem to recall that the knobs on this particular lapsteel were clear Gibson style speed knobs, different from the "flying saucers", also there was some gold plating in contrast to the nickel, probably the headstock tuner cover, and maybe a few other detail parts. They wanted around $700. for it.
I'm pretty sure I bought mine from Island Guitars about 15 years ago.

There's a mediocre photo of it on The Rickenbacker Registration Page. It's such a gorgeous instrument. I really should submit a better photo.

http://www.rickresource.com/main/
radioactive
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Re: Very Rare Bird

Post by radioactive »

It could very well be the same instrument, Richard. I lived on The Big Island from 1986 thru 1992, and used to visit Island Guitars every time I had to fly to Oahu for business, I'm fairly certain that it was there when we moved to the mainland in '92.There were quite a few Bakelites that turned up over on the Hilo side of
Hawaii, I still have one, a pre-war 2 knob.
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