What am I playing?

[malaz]

Hi Everyone,
I bought my lap steel when I was around 16 years old, and I don't know what make it is. Does anyone know what it is?
Sorry for the picture quality - taken with my mobile phone:







Thanks for your help!
Michael Z

[Tony Russell Davis]

There have been several guitars that looked like this (Guyatone comes to mind at once). Possibly, they came out of the same factory and had different brand names put on.
It might help to know the date Michael so; when were you 16?
Regards, Tony.

[thefatcyclist]

Almost certainly from the Guyatone stable, most of the hardware is same as the HG91 and HG92. Looks in very nice condition.

[malaz]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for your quick answers! I was 16 in 1983 - many, many moons ago!
Is that a beginners lap steel, or what level are we looking at here? I do remember it cost me around £120!
Michael Z

[Tony Russell Davis]

I guess we agree that it most probably comes from the same factory as the Guyatone range.

(click this link)

There's a picture of a very similar model, same shape, fretboard, nut and bridge, but with a side mounted jack socket (rather than top mounted) and a metal control panel housing the switches only; the tone and vol. are rear mounted with the shafts through the top and only the knobs showing. I am guessing that the controls, and socket, mounted on a plate (as your is) would be a later, more economical, design. It appears in some Bells catalogues during the 1970's, listed variously as N-48 and B-1560 (these are probably Bells own "stock" numbers). The latest edition I have showing this guitar (1979) lists it as Hawaiian B-1560 at £45.00 and as B1561 (with case and stand) at £80.21. These are all badged "Columbus", but I have no doubt they would be sold with other badges through different franchises.
I'm afraid they were the budget end of the market Tony.
PS; I tried to attach a (suitably reduced to 200kb) picture, scanned from the catalogue but got an error message "Sorry, the board attachment quota has been reached" I will try again later, failing that - another thread perhaps? also I need to refresh my memory as to how to reduce the url to a neat word or two!

[henrybainbridge]

Don't know if this is relevant but coincidently was looking at one of these on the US forum earlier today.
They seem to think its a Musima made in the old GDR...

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... 5d3d1d1bbb

[Arcada]

PS; I tried to attach a (suitably reduced to 200kb) picture, scanned from the catalogue but got an error message "Sorry, the board attachment quota has been reached" I will try again later, failing that - another thread perhaps?

Thanks for the heads-up, I've increased the quota so you should now be able to upload.

also I need to refresh my memory as to how to reduce the url to a neat word or two!

I've fixed that for you

[Tony Russell Davis]

Thanks for all that help here is the picture from the 1976 Bells catalogue.
Henry - that's right on the button. Musima was the factory that made so many of the multi-branded guitars (and mandos too).

[malaz]

Hi guys,
Maybe my lap steel is older than I thought??????

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Old-Vintage-GUYATONE-60s-Lap-Steel-Guitar-with-Twin-pickups-/360665657368

Michael Z

[malaz]

I just saw this pending auction. I can't believe that this lap steel is correctly dated!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-1960s-Black-GUYATONE-Lap-Steel-Guitar-comes-with-Case-Shubb-Tonebar/351007762085?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222006%26algo%3DSIC.FITP%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140107083358%26meid%3D5081619419890365581%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D20140107083358%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D360665657368
I have nothing to do with the vendor. I'm just a little surprised at the carbon-dating result, that's all!
Michael Z