c.1940 Unmarked Lap Steel
My new toy! Been on the search for a decent lap steel for a while now as my poor Tele keeps getting subjected to the role by way of an old 30s nut extender (all the "lap steel" on Destroyers of Venus was played that way). While this is unmarked, the electronics and pickup housing look a lot like some old Nationals. I've seen similar lap steels (same body shape, electronics, different finishes and less-quality fretboards) to this marketed under all sorts of names, however, so I'm really at a loss as far as the true maker goes.
What I do know about it is that it sounds awesome, feels nice and light in the lap, is a one-piece body and neck... and superficially has the same "look" as an old Oahu or other lap steel with the "mini Weissenborn" shape. I like.
It's all-original save perhaps a (later?) jack and the new repro Kluson tuners I put in places of the lame Chinese-export ones that were on it when I got it. Oh, and a new bone nut, too! Strings are D'Aquisto flatwounds and give me a thick, warm, and delicious sound.
What I do know about it is that it sounds awesome, feels nice and light in the lap, is a one-piece body and neck... and superficially has the same "look" as an old Oahu or other lap steel with the "mini Weissenborn" shape. I like.
It's all-original save perhaps a (later?) jack and the new repro Kluson tuners I put in places of the lame Chinese-export ones that were on it when I got it. Oh, and a new bone nut, too! Strings are D'Aquisto flatwounds and give me a thick, warm, and delicious sound.
Date? My guess is late 1930s to mid 1940s.
Check out the decals a certain Miss/Missus added at one point.
Fretboard is rosewood with (real) nickel-silver frets and celluloid dots. One dot is a replacement and is (real) MOP.
Cool brown knobs with painted "faux-flame" sunburst finish. Celluloid binding. Body is more than likely birch. Knobs are volume and tone... from underwater warm to relatively crisp. Your mileage will vary quite a bit depending on strings with a lap steel.
Here you can see the two "bars" of the pickup.
...and the relatively-neglected photo when people shoot lap steels: the side so you can see how thin these guys actually are.
Comments
What tuning is it in?
A
Aaron: It looks very similar to Oahus, which were Kay-made I think, but the body shape is slightly tapered at the "neck join" compared to a more hourglass shape with the Oahus. I'm not sure who made these -- they look like other Kay builds -- but the pickup configuration is slightly different, etc. It's hard with the early guys.