Description
This is a Magnatone model G-70 lap steel/slide guitar made in Ingelwood California circa 1958. It was designed by Paul Bigsby for Magnatone. It features a solid body construction with a natural finish, one single coil, Paul Bigsby designed pickup, a fixed, metal bridge, a metal nut and an original hard shell case. This lap steel is very clean and in good playing shape. There are not many Paul Bigsby designed instruments out there; grab this one fast before it’s gone.Desc
CONDITION:
This lap steel is very clean and in very good condition. There are a few scratches but almost no wear aside from 60+ years worth of playing it.
TUNERS:
The Kluson Deluxe tuners, closed-back, 2×3 inline machine-heads with white, plastic buttons are in good working condition. They are smooth and hold the tuning and intonation well.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
NECK:
The whole guitar appears to be made from one piece of wood and it has a metal nut, a 24.5″ scale, the metal fretboard has star, rectangle, and diamond position markers and 25 fret markings. They are not actual frets as it is a slide guitar and the pitch is made by the steel’s (or slide’s) contact with the string and not the fret’s contact with the string rendering frets unnecessary. The headstock has a Magnatone water-slide logo. Description from VintageSilvertones.com
PICKUPS:
The one single coil, Paul Bigsby designed pickup sounds very clean, smooth and full. This lap-steel has two black, plastic (bakelite) knobs, one for tone and one for volume. All of the electronics work properly. Description from VintageSilvertones.com
The Dimensions are:
Overall length: 32″Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Body width: 8″
Body thickness: 1 5/8″Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Scale: 24.5″
Width of the nut: 2.3″
String height at 12th fret: 0.35″ approx.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Here’s the original description from the 1958 Magnatone catalog:
Magnatone Steel GuitarsDescription from VintageSilvertones.com
An outstanding instrument at a low price, the Model G-70 contains features not found on other string instruments at twice the price. It has a 241/2 inch string suspension which is the accurate length for perfect intonation. Players going from this instrument to professional models have no re-learning to do. Paul Bigsby design approved by leading guitar teachers.
- Features: Specialty designed metal etched fret board accurate to the third decimal point. Adjustable pick-up with new powerful Alnico VI magnet. Heavy chrome plated or stainless steel metal parts.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
36″ long * 8″ wide * Weight, packed with case 8 lbs.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
G-70-W–Sable Finish only…$59.50.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
