What would you rank as the top 3 vintage lap steels?

David DeLoach · Post by **David DeLoach** » 19 Jun 2018 3:23 am

If you could own any 3 vintage lap steels, what would they be?

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 19 Jun 2018 3:52 am

Gibson EH 13 string tobacco sunburst

MSA Superslide 12 string
if not vintage enough I'd say a Rickenbacker panda

Then I'd say a Gibson Console Double neck.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 19 Jun 2018 4:09 am

Rickenbacher Fry Pan
Rickenbacher Pre-war B6

These are the best vintage instruments to me. After that, it's a Fender, probably a '50s Deluxe.

I have owned them all. I still prefer what I play currently to any of them.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 19 Jun 2018 4:44 am

1) Ric Fry Pan
2) Ric Bakelite
3) Gibson Ultratone v1 (the white one)

I have owned and played #2 & #3 for years. #1, at least to me, is the Holy Grail of lap steels, and so far out of my price range as to seem nearly unattainable. I suppose if I unloaded a half-dozen or so of my Gibsons and one of my push-pulls I may be able to afford the down payment on one. Hmm...

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 19 Jun 2018 5:41 am

Rick Fry Pan
8-string Rick Bakelite

C. E. Jackson · Post by **C. E. Jackson** » 19 Jun 2018 7:57 am

1) 1939 GIBSON EH-185 (v.1a) 7 STRING C.C. PU

2) 1940 GIBSON EH-185N (v.2) 6 STRING ES-300 PU NATURAL

3) 1935 GIBSON METAL EHG

Bill Groner · Post by **Bill Groner** » 19 Jun 2018 8:42 am

C. E. Jackson wrote:1) 1939 GIBSON EH-185 (v.1a) 7 STRING C.C. PU

2) 1940 GIBSON EH-185N (v.2) 6 STRING ES-300 PU NATURAL

3) 1935 GIBSON METAL EHG

CE........is strictly a Gibson man!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 19 Jun 2018 9:11 am

Rick Frypan
Fender Deluxe-8 with string-thru pickups
Gibson EH-150

That said, I have a '52 Magnatone Varsity that I enjoy a lot even though its street value is far below the above guitars.

C. E. Jackson · Post by **C. E. Jackson** » 19 Jun 2018 9:40 am

Bill, you are right. I do really like vintage Gibsons. My collection contains slightly
less than 50% Gibsons, with the remainder made up of Rickenbackers, Fenders,
and miscellaneous other names. But Gibsons are my favorite.

C. E.

Mark Roeder · Post by **Mark Roeder** » 19 Jun 2018 11:51 am

Those EH Gibsons with the CC PUs that have the gigantic magnets have a sound all their own, as does the fender trapezoid Pro (sleepwalk) and the early Bigsbys

Andy DePaule · Post by **Andy DePaule** » 19 Jun 2018 4:23 pm

Most of the above and... any old Bigsby.
But most of all;
.1. That oh so cool Bigsby Frypan that was auctioned off a while ago.
.2. A bakelite Ricky 7 or 8 string.
.3. A Ricky Frypan.
Yes I do take donations!

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 19 Jun 2018 6:09 pm

I was going to put Bigsby on my list, but I wasn't sure if they made lap steels. I think I saw one once... or maybe it was in a dream!

Andy DePaule · Post by **Andy DePaule** » 19 Jun 2018 7:00 pm

Doug Beaumier wrote:I was going to put Bigsby on my list, but I wasn't sure if they made lap steels. I think I saw one once... or maybe it was in a dream!

Hi doug,
I'd have to search, but there was some thread here on the forum a while back. It was a frypan with the PA logo on the peghead and the same fretboard he always used. Mike Neer went to see it at the auction house and even played it. Most are guessing it is the first or maybe second Bigsby ever made. I am not an expert on the subject so can't say, but seems plausible to me.
Whatever the case it was so cool. I saved the pictures. I love the case;

Andy DePaule · Post by **Andy DePaule** » 19 Jun 2018 10:58 pm

Found that link to the discussion about the Bigsby Frypan. Seems the people who would know most about Bigsby instruments all seemed to think this was a genuine Bigsby.
Very interesting thread and the link of Mike Neer's video playing and showing the instrument is fun to see.

viewtopic.php?t=297482&highlight=bigsby+frypan

Noah Miller · Post by **Noah Miller** » 20 Jun 2018 5:01 am

Assuming we're going based purely on sound:

1) Gibson BR-3. I don't know if mine is a fluke, but it has a shockingly great sound for a relatively inexpensive model. It has a surprising amount of sustain for such a light instrument, and very high output.

2) Trotmore. Sustains like a bakelite or aluminum Rick, but with sound that's less raw and more on the sweet side.

3) Epiphone Electar Model M with the adjustable under-string pickup. Everyone loves the horseshoe version, but the under-string is a very even-sounding pickup with a beautiful sound all its own. Combined with the sustain from the aluminum plate, it's a great instrument.

C. E. Jackson · Post by **C. E. Jackson** » 20 Jun 2018 10:20 am

Bill Groner wrote:

C. E. Jackson wrote:
1) 1939 GIBSON EH-185 (v.1a) 7 STRING C.C. PU

2) 1940 GIBSON EH-185N (v.2) 6 STRING ES-300 PU NATURAL

3) 1935 GIBSON METAL EHG

CE........is strictly a Gibson man!

Here are some of the non-Gibson and Gibson steels I considered before my 3 choices:

1937 EPIPHONE ELECTAR ANTHONY ROCCO 7-8 STRING

1937 RICKENBACHER ELECTRO SILVER HAWAIIAN (1 knob)

1936 EPIPHONE ELECTAR MODEL M ELECTRIC HAWAIIAN

1935 NATIONAL ELECTRIC HAWAIIAN 7 STRING

1941 GIBSON EH-185N (v.2) 8 STRING ES-300 PU NATURAL

1940 GIBSON EH-185 (v.1a) 10 STRING C.C. PU

1939 GIBSON EH-185 (v.1a) 8 STRING C.C. PU

1950 GIBSON ROYALTONE (v.1) P-90 PU with Adjustable Pole-Pieces

Bill is right. My top choices are with vintage Gibsons, but.........I like many other names also.

C. E.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 20 Jun 2018 10:59 am

Andy DePaule wrote:Found that link to the discussion about the Bigsby Frypan.

Wow! Don't know how or why, but I missed that the first time around. Definitely a top three contender, even if it's not what it's purported to possibly be.

Thanks for (re)posting, Andy!

Mark Roeder · Post by **Mark Roeder** » 20 Jun 2018 11:07 am

I noticed the pick ups are the same as the horseshoe PUs on the triple neck he made for Joaquin Murphey in the late 40s.
Thicker than Rick horseshoe PUs. I bet they were screamers

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 20 Jun 2018 11:14 am

Yes, that Bigsby lap steel is definitely a rare bird! Thanks for posting it, Andy.

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 20 Jun 2018 2:05 pm

1. A Carvin D8.
2. A Carvin D8.
3. A Carvin D8.

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 20 Jun 2018 2:11 pm

I'd never give up the guitar I built with a Rick Aiello pickup, but my top picks for commercial production guitars would be the pre-war Bakelite and Aluminum Rickenbachers. 7 string models would be good unless the necks were wider on 8s, but I don't think so.

And also this Tiesco, just because it looks so Ninja / Astroboy.

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 20 Jun 2018 2:22 pm

1. Rickenbacher Fry Pan (have never tried one)
2. Rickenbacher pre-war bakelite (black & chrome)
3. Vega Console Electric 8-string (I have a 1939 6-string)

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 20 Jun 2018 4:17 pm

I don't have 3 but I would definitely include my e-harp (3rd model) in there.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 20 Jun 2018 7:23 pm

Haven't had a lot of Gibsons except the BR-9s, and the 7 string EH late 30s I sold a few months ago. That one had the CC pickup with the monster magnets.
I'm still stuck on Rickenbachers !
7 string early 30s frypan and a 7 string bakelite ..

Mark Helm · Post by **Mark Helm** » 21 Jun 2018 7:18 am

My faves so far:

Pre-war Rick B6
50s Fender Dual Professional
50s Fender Stringmaster T8 (my current guitar)

The Steel Guitar Forum

What would you rank as the top 3 vintage lap steels?

What would you rank as the top 3 vintage lap steels?

Most of the above and...

I'd have to search, but...

Found that link

Re: Found that link

SO far....