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Author
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Topic: Gibson Skylark lap steel
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Bill Leff
Member From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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posted 02 November 2006 11:25 AM
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Anyone own one of these?
http://invention.smithsonian.org/centerpieces/guitars/noframes/de05.htm I played one with its matching GA-5T style amp. Supposedly from 1960. TUned it up to C#m. Oh my God...single notes were big and fat, right out of a 1940's Hawaiian record. I couldn't believe my ears! Since I didn't know if it was the guitar or the amp, I went home and got my T-Logo to run through the same amp. Sounded like my T-Logo, no big change there. Plugged in the Skylark, and there it was again, that thick, ancient sound. Note that the volume control on the guitar needed to be backed off some. When set to 10, the guitar sounded more modern and "regular". Am I losing it? PS The store wanted $2000 for the guitar and matching amp. Yeah, right....
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Gerald Ross
Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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posted 02 November 2006 11:59 AM
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I'd glady pay $2000 for this Skylark...  A Gibson Skylark... $400 tops. ------------------
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar' 
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association [This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 02 November 2006 at 12:00 PM.]
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Randy Reeves
Member From: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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posted 02 November 2006 01:10 PM
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I had a Gibson Skylark amp in the 60's. it really stunk.
my uncle had one of those Skylark autos.
it pulled his sailboat.Ive seen those lap steels around. didnt know they sounded good. thanks for the post. |
George Keoki Lake
Member From: Edmonton, AB., Canada
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posted 02 November 2006 01:51 PM
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Back in that era I sold those guitars as "student" models ... They were ok, but nothing to get really excited about...that asking price is, (as Patsy Cline used to sing), "CRAZY" ![This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 02 November 2006 at 01:51 PM.] |
Bill Leff
Member From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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posted 02 November 2006 02:21 PM
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Yeah, I know these are student guitars. They even have numbers on the fretboard. Extremely basic and plain looking guitar. Ultralight wood. I know there's not "much love" for these in the steel guitar community which made it all the more puzzling to me when I played it and loved what I was I hearing. I'm not about to run out and find one and wouldn't suggest anyone else do that either...it's just "wierd" that this particular guitar had the mojo. |
Michael Lee Allen
Member From: Fresno CA USA
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posted 02 November 2006 03:02 PM
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If the logo on that guitar is an original that hasn't already been replaced it's a $500.00 item on the "vintage parts market". And everything costs more in Santa Cruz. |
Jim Phelps
Member From: just out of Mexico City
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posted 02 November 2006 05:32 PM
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I had one until I sold it about 4 years ago. Mine was a '57 in excellent condition. They are made of African Limba, more commonly known as Korina and it's not an "ultra-light" wood. It's very similar to mahogany. There just isn't much wood in a Skylark. I was very disappointed with mine. I forgot which fret exactly but it had a dead spot like you wouldn't believe, around the 12th fret or somewhere up there, when tuned to C6. I think the biggest flaw is that the bridge is bolted to a lightweight sheet metal plate covering the pickup and control cavity which extends underneith the bridge. There's nothing solid under the bridge. At the dead spot(s) it just went "ping", and the overall tone was very thin. Not what I expected from a Gibson at all. It couldn't come close to comparing with my old EH-150 with CC pickup.[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 02 November 2006 at 05:36 PM.] |
Dave Giegerich
Member From: Ellicott City, MD USA
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posted 03 November 2006 09:17 AM
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Hi Bill,
I've got one that I paid $40 for years ago (pre e-bay). Not bad but not great. And unfortunately the Gibson logo was broke when I got it.
Dave |
Bill Leff
Member From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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posted 03 November 2006 09:32 AM
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Hey Dave, I'll give you $50 for it!  |
seldomfed
Member From: Colorado
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posted 03 November 2006 03:13 PM
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Hi Bill,
I have a Skylark. I like it a lot. It's a nice steel. I got it a couple years ago and it came with a matching GA-5 amp. The set is mint from th 50's. The amp works great.
The GA-5 was also called a Skylark, and a Les Paul Jr. amp. The new re-makes go for $500! It's a nice old tube amp, but not worth $500 I don't think. The Skylark steels are made of Korina wood I believe.
I rent it to students - they like the 'numbers' !  Chris ------------------
Chris Kennison
Colorado
www.book-em-danno.com |
Ron Whitfield
Member From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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posted 03 November 2006 03:42 PM
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So, what's the rent on something like that? |
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