'46 Kiesel Lap Steel

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

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Kevin Wright
Posts: 2
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 12:01 am
Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
State/Province: Tennessee
Country: United States

'46 Kiesel Lap Steel

Post by Kevin Wright »

Greets, all - man, it's been awhile. Hope everything is good in Steel Guitar land!

I just picked up a 1946 Kiesel lap steel on eBay. As much as I know about Carvin gear, I know practically nothing about steels, and there is very little information to be had on Kiesels anywhere (in fact, I guess I have the most complete data on the Carvin Museum). Anyway, the guitar is great - fantastic condition, and the case is in pretty good shape, as well. What I'm wondering is if anyone can identify the tuners:

Image

I know Carvin used Kluson tuners in the 50s and 60s, but I'm not sure about the 40s. They don't have any sort of nomenclature on them. I talked to my friends @ Carvin, and they aren't really sure what were used back then.

I ordered some strings today, and I'm anxious to play it and see how it sounds. Mostly, it's just a collectors piece for me, but it's still pretty cool.

FYI, there are more photos over on the Carvin Museum on my Collections page, http://www.carvinmuseum.com/collections ... aster.html. There's also tons of information on Carvin sttel and pedal steel guitars. I have every Carvin catalog from 1954-forward posted, and there's some great info there on vintage steels and other gear.

Thanks for any info!
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Ron Whitfield
Posts: 6895
Joined: 15 Nov 2002 1:01 am
Location: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
State/Province: -
Country: United States

I've no info on the tuners, but...

Post by Ron Whitfield »

I had an 8 string version just like your's, Kevin. Got it off Ebay for under $300, never having played one, but being a vintage Carvin freak and that it was advertised as being of bakelite, I went for it and was fairly disappointed when it turned out to not be of the type of bakelite we commonly think of, if bakelite at all. It was merely a softer and more modern plastic, but sounded pretty good anyway. No where near as good as my late 50s maple body dbl. 6 Carvin. That's a fine sounding steel!

Mr. Kiesel is still around and occassionally shows up at the Halekulani Hotel's House w/o A Key to enjoy the steel music. He obviously loves steel guitar and someone should do a big article on his life before he's gone. Lot's of important history in that man's head, and nobody has tapped into it.

You'll probably enjoy your new toy, so have fun!
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