Description
This is a Magnatone model G-65-6W 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 walnut body/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 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. The top surface has some pitting from playing wear. There are a few scratches and nicks from 60+ years worth of playing it. Also, a previous owner added a wooden hand-rest.
TUNERS:
The Kluson Deluxe tuners, closed-back, 2×3 inline machine-heads with metal/chrome 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. There is no logo on the headstock and no sign there ever was one. 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: 33″Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Body width: 8″
Body thickness: 1 3/4″Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Scale: 24.5″
Width of the nut: 2.25″
String height at 12th fret: 0.25″ approx.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Here’s the original description from the 1958 Magnatone catalog:
Magnatone Steel GuitarsDescription from VintageSilvertones.com
Modern designed professional model in gleaming blonde or solid walnut hardwood, hand rubbed finish chrome tuning pegs, round stell string suspension, adjustable bridge, new powerful Alnico VI pick-up–adjustable, accurate metal etched fret board, 24 1/2″ long suspension, cut-away groove for player’s hand, imported German flat wound strings–Wide open bridge design allows player to play full range of the guitar with ease.
- 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
38″ long * 8 1/2″ wide * Weight, packed with case 13 lbs.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
G-65-W6-6 string Blonde or Walnut–$99.50.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
