D'Angelico 14 string Lap Steel from 1937

Lynn Wheelwright · Post by **Lynn Wheelwright** » 6 Jul 2023 12:43 pm

Never thought this would happen.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 6 Jul 2023 1:10 pm

Wow!!!

Noah Miller · Post by **Noah Miller** » 6 Jul 2023 2:49 pm

Interesting.

I'm curious to see the pickup if it's original. Stylistically, this is totally different from D'Angelico's later electric Spanish guitars, which feature bodies and pickups from other companies.

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 6 Jul 2023 3:11 pm

Its crazy that builders don't use standard fret mark positions. 5 7 9 12.

Lynn Wheelwright · Post by **Lynn Wheelwright** » 6 Jul 2023 3:51 pm

Unfortunately, the original pickup and electronics were missing. I had to best-guess what it would have been based on the routing under the original cover plate as well as the holes in the cover plate. Pickup the latest issue of Fretboard Journal for the entire story as well as pictures.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 6 Jul 2023 4:47 pm

Saw this in FJ. Just astounding.

Allan Revich · Post by **Allan Revich** » 6 Jul 2023 6:11 pm

Too cool!

It looks like it was designed to be played like a double neck, with two different 7 string tunings.

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 7 Jul 2023 7:39 pm

Hi Lynn:

Thanks for sharing this incredible piece of musical instrument history with all of us via the Fretboard Journal. I was just blown away by the excellent photos and the story/details behind this fascinating steel guitar.

I've been an FJ subscriber for many years and this literally made my jaw drop when I flipped the page on the latest edition (FJ 52) and there was The Unicorn. (: Delightful to read and see.

Best wishes,
LC

Tim Toberer · Post by **Tim Toberer** » 8 Jul 2023 5:27 am

That is some real eye candy! Guitars from the late 30's have a very special mojo about them. I was able to check this out a few years ago. original link died. here's another https://thedutchluthier.wordpress.com/2 ... -daquisto/

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 13 Jul 2023 12:26 pm

Anyone have a link to the article about this guitar. Thx

Anthony Blair · Post by **Anthony Blair** » 13 Jul 2023 7:08 pm

Argh... I made an offer on this guitar when it was on Reverb. The seller countered, but it sold on Ebay before I had a chance to respond.

Not sure I would have been able to sort out what it was though- I did a bit of research at the time, but came up empty.

Glad Lynn got it.

Dennis Saydak · Post by **Dennis Saydak** » 14 Jul 2023 7:01 am

Bill Hatcher wrote:Anyone have a link to the article about this guitar. Thx

Bill, I just ordered the downloadable issue #52 (contains a very detailed Unicorn article) for a very reasonable price direct from the FB Journal web site. The article is delivered almost instantly in PDF format.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 14 Jul 2023 5:47 pm

Anthony Blair wrote:Argh... I made an offer on this guitar when it was on Reverb. The seller countered, but it sold on Ebay before I had a chance to respond.

Not sure I would have been able to sort out what it was though- I did a bit of research at the time, but came up empty.

Glad Lynn got it.

how much did it sell for on ebay?

Dennis Saydak · Post by **Dennis Saydak** » 15 Jul 2023 8:39 am

[quote="Bill Hatcher"
how much did it sell for on ebay?[/quote]

$595.00 according to the article.

Anthony Blair · Post by **Anthony Blair** » 16 Jul 2023 11:28 am

Yes, $595 is what I have in my notes. I offered $450 (it was just an unmarked unusual steel with no electronics), and he countered at $500... but it was sold by the time I saw the counter-offer.