1937 Supro 60 Lap Steel Guitar

September 18, 2021

1937 Supro 60 Lap Steel Guitar

This National/Valco-made Supro lap steel dates to '37 judging by its serial number, but the amp-in-case it was sold with might date to around '38 or so. If I had to guess, I might wonder if the body were made by Regal for National, but I can't be sure.

At any rate, it's a very simple instrument and has a single pickup with a blade-style pole and lone volume control. It's a warm, sweet-sounding pickup and very low-output. Unfortunately, that means it doesn't sound great through its original amp match, but it does sound excellent through modern amps like the Tone King in the video. It's a very relaxed, Hawaiian-centric tone, for sure.

Not much work was needed on this -- all I did was replace the hard-wired cord that was on it with a more-normal, 1/4" jack instead. The plate for the jack is made from old tortoise celluloid, too, to give it a vintage look. I did have to drill-out the side to fit it as well, but I think it's important that the instrument is practical in addition to being "vintage."

It has the same cool "frosted duco"-looking finish that National/Valco used on their metal-bodied resonator guitars at the time, too.

I think that, due to the low volume one gets from this pickup when in use with its associated amp, the player might want to either... install a second, higher-output pickup... replace the original pickup with something hotter... or use a clean boost before the amp. Through any other amp this steel sounds good.

Repairs included: cleaning, replacement/modded jack setup, restring, mild saddle adjustments.

Body wood: poplar?

Bridge: celluloid insert on metal base

Fretboard: metal fingerboard

Neck wood: same -- poplar?

Pickups: 1x blade-style, low-output single coil

Action height at 12th fret: n/a
String gauges: 46w, 36w, 26w, 17, 13, 10 (currently tuned open E = EBEG#BE)

Neck shape: squareneck but thinner

Scale length: 23"

Nut width: 2 1/16"

Body width: 6 7/8"

Body depth: 1 5/8"