Understanding that this may start a lengthy thread about the advent of the electric guitar, I'll pass along this quote from the Experience Music Project in Seattle. (They have an impressive vintage guitar collection, including several historic lap steels. Check it out when you're up our way.) According to their historians, much of the credit should go to the Audiovox Manufacturing Company (of Seattle, no less!):

"The Audiovox guitar might look a lot like the Rickenbacker "Frying Pan," an early model of electric guitar, but only the shape followed Rickenbacker's lead. In 1931 inventor and manufacturer Paul Tutmarc co-invented a successful electric pickup with inventor Arthur Stimson. When they tried to get a patent on the pickup, their application was rejected because the patent office felt that the design too closely resembled that of a telephone receiver. This rejection put Tutmarc's plans to make an electric guitar on a back burner, but Stimson sold the design to Dobro, who in turn built the successful All-Electric guitar based on the Tutmarc-Stimson pickup design in about 1932.

"Rickenbacker built its Frying Pan model to compete with Dobro's All-Electric. Only after Tutmarc saw that Rickenbacker enjoyed commercial success without a patent did he then begin producing his Audiovox line in earnest. Audiovoxes proved to be quality guitars in their time, but they were sold primarily to Tutmarc's students. Few of them exist today."

(Actually, I saw a battered Audiovox in a shop recently. If you're interested, send me an e-mail and I'll let you know where to look.)

[This message was edited by Russ Young on 26 June 2002 at 06:03 PM.]

Here's their response: "Thank you Russ for being so very nice. We are seniors 84 and 78. We know NOTHING about guitars as you surmised.

"Our son bought it at an auction for our grandson who is taking guitar lessons. Ryan has no interest in Hawaiian guitars. Our son said, "How about putting it on eBay?" He did take it to a local music store and they gave him a printout. This is how we made such a terrible mistake.

"Believe us Russ our intent was never or will never be to scam or cheat anyone. It is nice to hear from decent people like yourself and you made our day. Thank you for the time and effort. It is greatly apreciated. "

At the risk of patting myself on the back, it was a good reminder to me of how simple it can be to mistakenly assume that someone is dishonest ... and how simple it is to try to determine if that's really the case.

Now I just hope they'll follow my suggestion and amend their ad!