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Author
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Topic: Odd Steel
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Kerry Wood
Member From: Tucson, Arizona, USA
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posted 09 March 2003 07:16 PM
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I have a *very* strong belief on not posting about live auctions, since I think it's unfair to the bidder, but since this one is closed, check this out:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=2513037324 What's the story on these? Is the silver piece the bridge or the pickup? Also, does the neck look bent to anyone else? Obviously as rare as it is, it wasn't valued as much as a Ricky frypan. Kerry |
George Keoki Lake
Member From: Edmonton, AB., Canada
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posted 09 March 2003 09:31 PM
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Kerry...I would really question the 1920 statement....probably something which was built in the mid thirties. Never seen a critter like that one before. |
Russ Young
Member From: Seattle, Washington, USA
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posted 09 March 2003 10:04 PM
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I've used every Google trick I know, and can't find a thing about "Sound Projects Co." of Chicago. (That's not entirely true ... I did find one post to another forum asking if anyone had ever heard of the company.)Since there doesn't appear to be any connection to Valco, I'm wondering if Sound Projects could have any connecton to the Chicago-built "Singing Electric" steels I've seen references to. George is right about the reference to the 1920s -- the prototype (wooden) Rick "Frying Pan" wasn't built until 1931. Ian McClatchie has impressed me with his knowledge of guitars and their builders -- Ian, are you there? |
Ian McLatchie
Member From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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posted 10 March 2003 05:28 AM
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I'm here, Russ, but don't have much to offer about this one. I seem to recall seeing one of these a number of years ago, before I had much knowledge of lap steels, and may actually know someone who has a similar instrument. Aluminum, I'm told is a pretty low-tech material, a good choice for small-scale production, which is I guess why one sees so many oddball steels made of the material. I'm still trying to learn something about the Maui brand, and would appreciate any information people can pass on. I've seen only two Maui instruments, one made of plastic-covered wood, the other (which I owned) of cast aluminum. It was almost certainly from the late thirties (as is this Troubadour, I suspect), and generally resembled the Gibson Electric Hawaiian, but with the addition of a number of design flourishes that were downright bizarre. It was eventually bought by Neil Young.I'll see what I can dig up on Troubadour and Sound Projects. |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 10 March 2003 08:45 AM
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I sold one of these to Billy Robinson 10 years ago, he sold it to Howard White, of Hank Snow fame. Howard still has it I believe. |
John Billings
Member From: Northfield Center, Ohio, USA
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posted 10 March 2003 09:55 PM
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I've seen this pickup before, I think. I don't know how it works, but it looks sort of like a piezo when you take it apart. There's a thin wafer of mica or something in it. It is the bridge, and the pickup. Just like a modern acoustic/electric guitar. Might be some AC involved in it. The guitar i saw was wooden, and it was made in Chicago. And the name Chicago was in the instruments name. It's been 10 years, and I really don't remember the name.
John Billings | |
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