Rickenbacker Electro Lap Steel Dating

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Rickenbacker electro lap steel dating.

Rickenbacker did not keep serial to date records until after the second world war. The 1932 catalog says electro string instruments corp on it and the 1931 catalog refers to rickenbacker electro. To the right and below you will find some images that will hopefully help you to locate the complete serial number on your instrument. Dating rickenbacker lap steels.

Email from brad bechtel on october 25 1999. A cool late 30s instrument this rickenbacker electro silver hawaiian lap steel has a chrome plated stamped sheet metal body with an integral 35 fret finger. They specialized in the construction of electric steel guitars until the 1950s. In 1931 he founded the company electro patent instruments together with the american inventor george beauchamp.

It s equipped with a horseshoe magnet pickup. 23 frets 22 5 8 scale 2 1 4 nut width. Most orders are eligible for free shipping. This item needs some work missing one cav.

Rickenbacker serial numbers have been issued in a number of formats. Soon the name of the company was changed to rickenbacker manufacturing company. I will tell you what is generally known and some distinguishing features that should help. Also according to the smith book rickenbacker didn t start producing lap steels until mid 1932 and only 13 were sold the first year so it is unlikely that the brochure is from 1931.

Newer open back tuners have been installed. Original hardshell case included.