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Epiphone Electar Lap Steel Guitar w/ Meissner adjustable pole pickup - Circa '39
Estimated price for orientation: 962 $
Category: Lap and Steel Guitars
Class:
Description
1939 Epiphone Electar Lap Steel Guitar w/ Meissner adjustable pole pickup.Excellent condition. One of my favorite lap steels. One of the few models I keep in my personal collection. Meissner's pickups have an edge over most Rickenbachers from the same era. Bigger stronger magnets. Higher output. Great overall signal translation. B.F. Meissner was a pioneer electronic engineer in the audio amplification field. He patented an electric piano in the early '30's. And developed electric instruments of many types. From harmonicas to tympani. He made horseshoe pickups that have been found on a few models of Epiphone, Vega & Oahu lap steel guitars from 1936. Then Rickenbacher's lawyer threatened a lawsuit and we no longer saw these pickups being used. I've been interested in vintage lap steels for about 51 years now & have been fortunate to be able to familiarize myself with all known models of vintage pups. My favorite vintage lap steels have been wooden bodied models with their associated harmonics. Vintage OHSC. Please inquire for specifics. This particular instrument is beautifully executed. A painted and etched aluminum top plate extends (& reinforces) up the neck to the nut. One hell of a pickguard. This guitar shows little wear. I've seen new demo guitars that were in worse condition. This is classic museum quality.A review from another vintage gear aficionado:An interesting early lap steel from Epiphone. The black-painted wooden body is oblong with stepped edges; Art Deco ornamentation is etched into a metal top overlay; the whole effect is very "1930's skyscraper at night". This Meissner pickup is an evolution of prior developments. The coil is wrapped in black tape and features adjustable polepieces. Octagonal control knobs. The bound rosewood fingerboard has multicolored dot inlay and inlayed fret lines. The nut and tailpiece/bridge combination are milled aluminum. The tuners are individual open back Grover Sta-tites with metal buttons. The headstock metal plate reads "Epiphone Electar" and there is a plate on the back referencing the licensed patents of Meissner Inventions, a firm that in the 1930's claimed patent protection on the concept of electric musical instruments. There are also felt-covered pads on the back of the instrument. Overall length is 30.25 in. (76.8 cm.), 7.25 in. (18.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1.75 in. (4.4 cm.) deep. Scale length is 22.5 in. (572 mm.).About me: I try to acquire, play, and sell only the finest most sought after instruments. I vastly prefer mint or near mint works of gear. I’ve been a collector for over 52 years. Over 1000 vintage guitars have passed through my hands.*Please see our other listings and store for many other Vintage Lap Steel Guitars and Amplifiers. We currently have Alamos, Audio Vox, Bronsons, Dickersons, Dobros, English, Epiphones, Fenders, Gibsons, Harmonys, Kays, Maestros, Magnatones, McKinney, Nationals, Oahus, Rickenbachers, Sho Bud, Silvertones, Supertones, Supros, Vegas, and White Lap Steels.* *We also accept Cashier's Checks, Personal checks (have to clear) and Bank Transfers. Please contact for information.*
Description
1939 Epiphone Electar Lap Steel Guitar w/ Meissner adjustable pole pickup.Excellent condition. One of my favorite lap steels. One of the few models I keep in my personal collection. Meissner's pickups have an edge over most Rickenbachers from the same era. Bigger stronger magnets. Higher output. Great overall signal translation. B.F. Meissner was a pioneer electronic engineer in the audio amplification field. He patented an electric piano in the early '30's. And developed electric instruments of many types. From harmonicas to tympani. He made horseshoe pickups that have been found on a few models of Epiphone, Vega & Oahu lap steel guitars from 1936. Then Rickenbacher's lawyer threatened a lawsuit and we no longer saw these pickups being used. I've been interested in vintage lap steels for about 51 years now & have been fortunate to be able to familiarize myself with all known models of vintage pups. My favorite vintage lap steels have been wooden bodied models with their associated harmonics. Vintage OHSC. Please inquire for specifics. This particular instrument is beautifully executed. A painted and etched aluminum top plate extends (& reinforces) up the neck to the nut. One hell of a pickguard. This guitar shows little wear. I've seen new demo guitars that were in worse condition. This is classic museum quality.A review from another vintage gear aficionado:An interesting early lap steel from Epiphone. The black-painted wooden body is oblong with stepped edges; Art Deco ornamentation is etched into a metal top overlay; the whole effect is very "1930's skyscraper at night". This Meissner pickup is an evolution of prior developments. The coil is wrapped in black tape and features adjustable polepieces. Octagonal control knobs. The bound rosewood fingerboard has multicolored dot inlay and inlayed fret lines. The nut and tailpiece/bridge combination are milled aluminum. The tuners are individual open back Grover Sta-tites with metal buttons. The headstock metal plate reads "Epiphone Electar" and there is a plate on the back referencing the licensed patents of Meissner Inventions, a firm that in the 1930's claimed patent protection on the concept of electric musical instruments. There are also felt-covered pads on the back of the instrument. Overall length is 30.25 in. (76.8 cm.), 7.25 in. (18.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1.75 in. (4.4 cm.) deep. Scale length is 22.5 in. (572 mm.).About me: I try to acquire, play, and sell only the finest most sought after instruments. I vastly prefer mint or near mint works of gear. I’ve been a collector for over 52 years. Over 1000 vintage guitars have passed through my hands.*Please see our other listings and store for many other Vintage Lap Steel Guitars and Amplifiers. We currently have Alamos, Audio Vox, Bronsons, Dickersons, Dobros, English, Epiphones, Fenders, Gibsons, Harmonys, Kays, Maestros, Magnatones, McKinney, Nationals, Oahus, Rickenbachers, Sho Bud, Silvertones, Supertones, Supros, Vegas, and White Lap Steels.* *We also accept Cashier's Checks, Personal checks (have to clear) and Bank Transfers. Please contact for information.*