{"product_id":"rickenbacher-model-b-bakelite-lap-steel-1938","title":"Rickenbacher Model B Electro 1938 Bakelite Lap Steel Excellent","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNo sales tax for US customers outside California.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Rickenbacher Model B — spelled with \"ch\" instead of \"ck\"  in the early years — is the instrument that made Adolph Rickenbacher's company viable as an electric guitar manufacturer. Introduced in the mid-1930s, it was among the first commercially successful solid-body electric instruments in the world, predating Gibson's leap into electrics and entirely predating Fender. The Electro String Instrument Corporation had already proven the horseshoe pickup concept on their aluminum 'Frying Pan' lap steel; the Model B brought that technology into a more refined, production-ready form. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.9rem;\"\u003eThe Rickenbacher horseshoe pickup — one of the most distinctive transducers in electric instrument history — produces a voice that is glassy, bell-like, and harmonically rich. The horseshoe magnet wraps around the strings from above, sensing string movement across the full magnetic field rather than from beneath, which gives these instruments a clarity and sustain that conventional single-coils of the era simply do not replicate. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.9rem;\"\u003eThe 1938 date places this guitar in the pre-war sweet spot of the design, before wartime material restrictions altered manufacturing. These instruments are genuinely significant in the history of electric guitar development, and collector demand for clean, all-original examples has remained strong for decades.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.9rem;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.9rem;\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThere are no issues to report on this instrument. It is all-original and fully intact. Weight is 8 lbs 9 oz. Scale length is 22.5\". Nut width is 2-1\/4\". Lower bout is 9-3\/8\", waist 5-1\/2\", upper bout 7-1\/8\", body depth 1-11\/16\", overall length 29-1\/2\". Includes original Rickenbacher hardshell case. No other accessories or documentation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall condition is excellent throughout. The black Bakelite body, fingerboard, nut, and saddle all present excellently with no repairs. The original finish is intact and in excellent condition. The chrome pickguard, pickup cover, and cavity cover are all original and in excellent condition. Tuners are original and in excellent condition, with no modifications to the headstock. Electronics are fully original — wiring, solder joints, potentiometers, output jack — all untouched. The original Rickenbacher case is in excellent condition with the expected musky old-case smell.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSPECIFICATIONS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"product-spec-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eColor: black\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eWeight: 8lbs 9oz\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eOverall Length: 29-1\/2\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eNut Width: 2-1\/4\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eScale Length: 22.5\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eTuners Original?: yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eChanges To Headstock For Tuners?: none\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eTuner Condition: excellent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eTuner Markings: none\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eTuner Screws Original?: yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eNut Material: bakelite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eNut Repairs: none\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eFretboard Material: bakelite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eFretboard Condition: excellent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eFretboard Repairs: none\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eBody Material: bakelite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eBody Condition: excellent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eBody Repairs: none\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eBody Finish Original?: yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eBody Finish Condition: excellent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eLower Bout: 9-3\/8\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eWaist: 5-1\/2\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eUpper Bout: 7-1\/8\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eBody Depth\/Thickness: 1-11\/16\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eBridge Original?: yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eBridge Condition: excellent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eSaddle Material: bakelite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eSaddles Original?: yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003ePickguard Color: chrome\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003ePickguard Original?: yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003ePickguard Condition: excellent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003ePickguard Screws Original?: yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eSolders Original?: yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eWiring Original?: yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eControl Cavity Cover Original?: yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eControl Cavity Condition: excellent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003ePotentiometer Count: 2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003ePotentiometer Manufacturer Code: see pics\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003ePotentiometer Date Code: see pics\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003ePotentiometers Original?: yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003ePotentiometer Condition: excellent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eOutput Jack Original?: yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eKnob Color: black\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eKnob Count: 2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eKnobs Original?: yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eKnob Condition: excellent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eCase Brand: Rickenbacher\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eCase Original?: yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eCase Condition: excellent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eCase Smells?: musky old case smell\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eDocumentation: none\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eAccessories Included: none\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003ePickup Brand: horseshoe single coil\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003ePickup Count: 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003ePickup Original?: yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003ePickup Condition: excellent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003ePickup Screws Original?: yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003ePickup Cover Color: chrome\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003ePickup Cavity Condition: excellent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eControl Cavity Cover Material: chrome\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExcerpts from real online end-user reviews:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"As with all the early Bakelite Rickenbackers, this is a predictably great-sounding steel.\" - RetroFret\u003cbr\u003e\"These old Rickenbacher lap steels are iconic in the old-fashioned Hawaiian and country scenes. They're supremely deco in their futuristic take on period style.\" - Jake Wildwood Blog\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.maharsvintageguitars.com\/pages\/sell-vintage-guitars\"\u003eWe buy, sell, and take trades.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBe sure to check out the other cool guitar related stuff on our site!\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca title=\"Vintage and used Fender electric guitars at Mahar's Vintage Guitars\" href=\"https:\/\/www.maharsvintageguitars.com\/collections\/vintage-fender-guitars\"\u003eFender Electric Guitars\u003c\/a\u003e — \u003ca title=\"Vintage and used Gibson electric guitars at Mahar's Vintage Guitars\" href=\"https:\/\/www.maharsvintageguitars.com\/collections\/gibson-guitars\"\u003eGibson Electric Guitars\u003c\/a\u003e — \u003ca title=\"Vintage and used guitar amplifiers at Mahar's Vintage Guitars\" href=\"https:\/\/www.maharsvintageguitars.com\/collections\/amps\"\u003eVintage \u0026amp; Used Amplifiers\u003c\/a\u003e — \u003ca title=\"Vintage and used effects pedals at Mahar's Vintage Guitars\" href=\"https:\/\/www.maharsvintageguitars.com\/collections\/effect-pedals\"\u003eVintage \u0026amp; Used Effects Pedals\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eShipping Policy\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBy completing your purchase you are agreeing to this shipping policy. Shipments require signature on delivery, no exceptions. Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely. If there is damage, retain all packing materials intact, photograph them immediately, and send the photos to \u003ca href=\"mailto:sales@maharsvintageguitars.com\"\u003esales@maharsvintageguitars.com\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eStringed Instruments\u003c\/b\u003e: Multiple shipping speeds are available for orders on our website — Ground, 2 Day, 3 Day, and Next Day Air Saver. For Reverb orders: customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air. Otherwise, ground shipping will be used.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rickenbacker","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56538033651878,"sku":"G-2291","price":1599.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0455\/7527\/4662\/files\/rickenbacher-model-b-electro-1938-bakelite-lap-steel-excellent-2344871.jpg?v=1780376415","url":"https:\/\/www.maharsvintageguitars.com\/products\/rickenbacher-model-b-bakelite-lap-steel-1938","provider":"Mahar's Vintage Guitars","version":"1.0","type":"link"}