Vintage Rickenbacher Electro B-6 Lap Steel – USA 1930s

Adolph Rickenbacher and George Beauchamp founded a company in 1931 to sell electric Hawaiian guitars. They chose the brand name 'Rickenbacher' (later changing the spelling to 'Rickenbacker'). Early examples bear the brand name 'Electro’.

We think this model is Rickenbacher’s Electro B-6 lap steel, made in USA in the early 1930s. It is of solid bakelite construction, with a whopping big single coil pickup sitting under a horseshoe over the strings near the bridge.

One look at that pickup and you get to wondering where Leo Fender may have found inspiration when designing his first solid body guitars.

Overall length is 29 3/4 in. (75.6 cm.)

9 1/4 in. (23.5 cm.) wide at lower bout

and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim

Scale length is 22 1/2 in. (572 mm.)

Width of nut is 2 1/8 in. (54 mm.)

It has single volume and tone controls, open back tuners and chrome trim on the top. Two strap pins have been added at some point.

This lovely old Electro appears to be in original condition. It has not been modified and everything works as it should. The pots are clean and smooth, tuners are strong and accurate, and the pickup sounds amazing – big, broad and bright, but with a girth and grit quite unique to these old bakelite machines.

It can be played lap style, with a strap, or standing up.

This one holds a special part in Aussie music history, being played on several blockbuster tunes from one of Australia's big bands. It presents in fabulous collectible and playable condition, with a few scuffs and nice ageing, it is sure to deliver lots more music for decades to come.

It comes with what we believe to be its original 1930s case still which is still functional.