Supro Jet Airliner Reissue

Jon Irsik · Post by **Jon Irsik** » 18 Jan 2017 1:12 pm

I hadn't seen anything posted about these. I've been getting new product emails from NAMM about them, looks like fun:

https://suprousa.com/1466bw-jet-airliner-lapsteel/

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 18 Jan 2017 2:02 pm

Looks pretty cool, but the fact that they install a "hardtail" bridge unit with compensated saddles gives the impression that they haven't a clue.

Lee Holliday · Post by **Lee Holliday** » 18 Jan 2017 2:31 pm

Interesting but the pickup & bridge are wrong, when they use a lollar supro reproduction then I will take more interest.

Hell no save up & get a yanuziello or an Asher, better still get a vintage Valco!!!

Lee

Larry Carlson · Post by **Larry Carlson** » 18 Jan 2017 3:03 pm

I'm with Jack on this one.
I really liked it until I saw the bridge/saddle unit.
I had one on a guitar. It came that way.
It didn't stay long although they do make a cool paperweight.
No thank you.

Nathan Laudenbach · Post by **Nathan Laudenbach** » 18 Jan 2017 4:22 pm

Jack Hanson wrote:Looks pretty cool, but the fact that they install a "hardtail" bridge unit with compensated saddles gives the impression that they haven't a clue.

Maybe the compensated saddles make sense if you are going to change tunings and use different string gauges?

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 18 Jan 2017 4:28 pm

I'm with Jack Too ! It makes it look cool & maybe complicated though !

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 19 Jan 2017 6:11 am

I appreciate the sentiment, but my Jet Airliner has the stringthrough pickup and can't be beat. Any word on pricing?

Noah Miller · Post by **Noah Miller** » 19 Jan 2017 6:28 am

For what it's worth, the 8-string version (the brilliantly named "Console Eight") had an under-string pickup. It was different from this reissue at least in that it had adjustable poles. I have no idea how this reissue pickup is constructed under the hood.

But yes, that bridge is just plain goofy on a steel. At least they didn't give it an adjustable truss rod!

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 19 Jan 2017 6:30 am

The (potential) upside is, if the pricing is right, these reissues are cool enough that more people might get into playing lap steel.

Former Member · Post by **Former Member** » 19 Jan 2017 7:20 am

I just wish that the maker, big or small, would just post something clean.
Straight out of the amp on an flat setting.
I remember being interested in a variety of instruments until the demo came out blasting with distortion or creamed out with reverb, etc.
I always think they're hiding something.
Post like Rick Aiello, prove your invention.
My 1c

Jon Irsik · Post by **Jon Irsik** » 19 Jan 2017 11:56 am

Advertised price is $399, don't know what street will be. I suspect they are targeting the guitarist market with the silver foil pickup and the bridge.

I started out on a 60's Supro and would like to find one with the string-through pickup...if I could get one at a decent price that is. I wish this one had an option for telescoping legs but that can be fixed pretty easily.

I might bite on one of these if I can get it at a discounted price. It's not perfect but based on looks alone I'd prefer it over a Gretsch, Rogue or SX.

David M Brown · Post by **David M Brown** » 20 Jan 2017 4:39 am

Jack Hanson wrote:Looks pretty cool, but the fact that they install a "hardtail" bridge unit with compensated saddles gives the impression that they haven't a clue.

"enhanced with an intonation-friendly, string-through-body hardtail bridge "

Since when is intonation in issue with a steel?

These bridges are cheap and the guitar factories in China are full of them, it is NOT based on the it being the best bridge for a steel.

That said, it looks OK otherwise.

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 20 Jan 2017 4:47 am

Jon Irsik wrote:Advertised price is $399, don't know what street will be.

As with other recent re-issues, for that price you can get a pretty cool vintage instrument that won't be worth half what you paid for it as soon as you take it out of the box.

And it'll have a proper bridge

Bill Leff · Post by **Bill Leff** » 20 Jan 2017 8:49 am

I dug the demo video. Cool tune and sounded great. and there are more demos on Youtube, including a Western Swing inspired one.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 23 Jan 2017 1:45 pm

Robert Randolph playing one ..

https://www.facebook.com/suprousa/video ... 270991897/

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 23 Jan 2017 3:08 pm

Robert Randolph!!!!!

LOusy cell phone audio, but man, can he make anything sing!

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 23 Jan 2017 3:59 pm

Yeah, Robert smokes that thing. It has little to do with the guitar though. The magic is in the player.

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 23 Jan 2017 5:20 pm

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Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 23 Jan 2017 6:18 pm

Michael Lee Allen wrote:Figure street price $300-$330. A vintage Supro Supreme or Comet with the "strings-thru pickup" will cost you between $300-$375, an original Airline or Jet Airliner that this new Supro is based on will cost you between $350-$450 and it will have the "strings-thru pickup" and it won't have that goofy bridge. So the real deal vintage piece won't cost much more than the not-quite-right copy.
MLA

+1 for RR!

...and it will probably still be worth $350-$450 (or possibly even more) if you ever decide to sell it

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 25 Jan 2017 2:30 pm

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Mel Bergman · Post by **Mel Bergman** » 25 Jan 2017 3:04 pm

I saw it at NAMM. It was sitting alone in the corner, looking lonesome amongst all of the amps. And the bridge did look odd on there. But bless them for getting any kind of steel on the market!

Marc Bell · Post by **Marc Bell** » 27 Jan 2017 5:16 pm

Seems an odd time for Epiphone and Supro to be re-issuing lap steels. Prices of the originals and indeed all vintage steels are hitting new lows, suggesting that the demand for these instruments is also at a real low at present.
Great opportunity to be picking up some original steels that will hold their value or even increase if demand starts picking up again at some stage.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 28 Jan 2017 9:04 pm

Since Supro was a Valco product, how is the Supro name ending up on a new instrument ?
I thought Valco was history (?)

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 28 Jan 2017 10:52 pm

Valco went out of business in 1968. Evidently someone or some company purchased the rights to the Supro brand in recent years because there are new reissue Supro amps, guitars, and lap steel on the market.

Paul Arntson · Post by **Paul Arntson** » 29 Jan 2017 11:08 am

Supro name has changed ownership at least twice that I know of. There was a startup in the pacific northwest that never made it to production. I had some discussions with an entrepreneur about setting up his production line for Supro amps, but nothing came of it.

Interesting info on the Supro trademark:
Looks like it ran out in 1988 last.
http://www.trademarkia.com/supro-73719335.html

Another search yields the current owner:
http://www.trademarkia.com/supro-77093976.html