Another Rescued Lap Steel

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 9 Sep 2007 2:55 pm

I thought forum members might like to see this. I recently bought this broken Valco lap steel for $60. It was an easy fix: some glue, C clamps and a set of tuners.

The repair crack is visible, but I’m not going to complain! The guitar sounds great. It’s a 1957 English Electronics Tonemaster, made by Valco and branded for Norman English, who was a music teacher in Michigan in the 1950’s and 60’s. I was pleasantly surprised by tone! It has a lot of sustain because of the 25” scale length, and it plays like new. I can’t believe that someone had given it up for dead. The output of the pickup is very strong. I have a set of Rick Aiello's Nibro magnets for Valcos that I’m going to install when I get a chance. I want to play it for a while to get used to the sound, and switch the magnets in a couple of weeks. I’m going to use this for teaching, and maybe I’ll play it on some of my gigs if I get comfortable with it. The tuning... C6!

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 9 Sep 2007 3:04 pm

Nice score and repair job, Doug!
Tonemasters are excelent steels, and go cheap.

I had a great dbl. 8 that I sadly had to part with, and have always missed.
The tone and playability were super.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 9 Sep 2007 3:12 pm

Thanks Ron, it seems odd that there were two different lap steels named Tonemaster (Oahu & English Electronics). That confused me for a while!

John Dahms · Post by **John Dahms** » 9 Sep 2007 4:50 pm

Nice to see someone bring one back from the dead. I also like your choice of amp, my favorite of all (and I have them all), a blackface Vibrolux Reverb.

Danny James · Post by **Danny James** » 9 Sep 2007 5:17 pm

For a minute there Doug, I thought you were asking $60.00 for it and I had my check book out and ----

Sincerely I'm glad you got a deal your are happy with. I would be too.

Best wishes with your new find.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 9 Sep 2007 5:21 pm

I love that amp. It's been with me a long time! I still use it for guitar gigs.

Danny, thanks... sorry to confuse things with that $ amount.

Steve Wilson · Post by **Steve Wilson** » 9 Sep 2007 5:55 pm

Hi Doug-
I have one of the Norm English Tonemasters, too. I think mine is from the 60's, and has the attachments on the body for legs, which I also have. Mine also has the stringtone changer to allow three different tunings by moving a lever. I took it off though cause it seemed to rob sustain. The 2007 edition of the Vintage Guitar Price Guide shows the ones like yours going for $300-$350, and ones like mine for $450 to $800. I believe the original tuners were safety-top Klusons. Since the strings mount on the top, I have considered drilling holes though the body and mounting ferrels to make it a string through design. Nice score!

Jason Dumont · Post by **Jason Dumont** » 9 Sep 2007 6:19 pm

NICE JOB Doug! Good for you!
A friend of mine has a steel like that. It sounds fantastic. That's a deal and a half!

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 9 Sep 2007 7:00 pm

The tuners are cheap strip tuners that I had in my junk box. They are stamped JAPAN on the back, and I took them off of an old lap steel a couple of years ago, but I don't remember which one. I also have a nice set of tuners with ivory buttons that came off a 1950 Serenader lap steel. Those would fit on this Tonemaster, and if I get attached to this lap steel I'll put those tuners on it.

Darrell Urbien · Post by **Darrell Urbien** » 9 Sep 2007 8:37 pm

Serenader as in the steels Bud Tutmarc made in Seattle? Do you still have any other parts of that?

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 9 Sep 2007 8:43 pm

Yes, that's the one. No, I don't have any other parts from it.

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 9 Sep 2007 9:03 pm

Cool guitar Doug, and nice repair. Looks like a keeper to me.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 9 Sep 2007 9:49 pm

Thanks Andy, you're right, it's a keeper. I really enjoy playing a basic 6-string lap steel. It's good therapy!