1960s Harmony H7 Roy Smeck Lap Steel Guitar

Overview: This latter-era Roy Smeck lap steel looks a lot like the '50s ones (which feature a Gibson P13 pickup) but this version has the thin, DeArmond-made "gold foil" pickup instead. Both are good pickups and while the P13 is a little saucier and fatter, the "gold foil" is actually a bit hotter and more suited to classic lap steel sounds methinks.

Tone: It's bright, clean, and aggressive. It's quite bluesy when driven, too.

Feel: Because it's a "console steel" intended for legs, it's bigger in the lap than a normal lap steel, though handles nicely anyhow. It's not heavy, either.

Interesting features: The "two step" body look is killer and the postwar, modernistic style is fun as well. I like the "lever-style" volume knob -- a carryover from the '50s iteration -- and the painted, clear-plastic bridge/pickup cover.

Repairs included: I added a ground to the bridge, cleaned-up the pots, cleaned-up the instrument, and adjusted the setup so it plays/sounds better/cleaner. It's ready to go and currently has medium-heft flatwound strings suited for open E or similar tunings.

• Weight: 7 lbs 2 oz
• Scale length: 22 3/4"
• Nut string spacing: 1 3/4"
• Bridge string spacing: 2 1/8"
• Pickups: 1x DeArmond "gold foil" single coil
• Body width: 8"
• Body depth: 2"

Condition notes: While there's crazing and hairline finish cracks, it has no real cracks. There are small nicks and dings here and there and discoloration as well, but overall it's in pretty good shape. It's all-original except for a ground I added from the harness to the bridge. It is missing its original legs, however.

It comes with: It's got an original hard case.

Consignor tag: JW