Rickenbacker Model B-10 Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1941)
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Item # 12502
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Rickenbacker Model B-10 Model Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1941), made in Los Angeles, California, serial # 10, polished black finish, molded Bakelite body, cast metal neck, original tweed hard shell case.
This is an extremely rare pre-war 10-string Rickenbacker Bakelite steel guitar, a massively imposing variation the most successful instrument in its class prior to WWII. This B-10 ten-string version was built in miniscule numbers at best compared to the standard B-6 and B-7; this one bears serial # 10 stamped on the top edge of the headstock. While most features are similar to the standard models, the very wide neck is made off cast metal instead of Bakelite to handle the extra strain and the pickup is of course much wider than the 6-string version.
This is one of the few B-10 examples we have seen, with first-generation features; there are some noticeable variations to this only custom-made model. The famous 1 1/2" horseshoe magnet pickup is built with the same specs as the 6-string version, but with correspondingly wider magnets and coil. The chrome plated covers on the control cavities are flat, not arched and the typical 1940-41 mixed black and white plastic knobs are mounted on the treble side. The strings load through the body, passing over a carved wooden bridge and nut on their way to the A-shaped open-frame headstock. The 10 tuners are openback, plastic button units with fluted bases and the old metal "Rickenbacher Electro" nameplate adorns the headstock.
In general pre-war Rickenbacker Bakelite instruments are often considered the finest-sounding lap steels ever made. This 10-string version's metal neck gives it a slightly different degree of "ring" and it is a spectacular sounding piece. All the Rickenbacker Bakelite instruments were the professional standard of their day; especially the pre-war models have consistently proved themselves with top players from So Hoopii to David Lindley, Jerry Byrd to Larkin Poe. This 10 string guitar came to us in a pseudo-doubleneck re-entrant tuning, with 5 strings tuned to C6 on the lower half and 5 in E7 on the upper. The nut and bridge appear originally set up this way so we have left in place but of course manty other options are possible. This may be the coolest pre-war B-model Rickenbacker of all, and certainly the most impressive visually as well as musically.
Overall length is 29 3/4 in. (75.6 cm.), 9 1/2 in. (24.1 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 1/4 in. (57 mm.).
This is a VERY clean original instrument, appearing not too much used since new. There is only light wear overall, mostly rubs to the edges of the crinkle-painted metal neck. Everything on the instrument appears original except for one larger screw holding the treble side control plat fast, which looks like a replacement. This is simply a spectacular looking and sounding instrument, eccentric perhaps but a great sounding steel with nearly infinite tuning possibilities. It lives in the original blue-lined "Rickenbacker Electro" tweed HSC, with some wear but solid. Overall Excellent + Condition.
This is an extremely rare pre-war 10-string Rickenbacker Bakelite steel guitar, a massively imposing variation the most successful instrument in its class prior to WWII. This B-10 ten-string version was built in miniscule numbers at best compared to the standard B-6 and B-7; this one bears serial # 10 stamped on the top edge of the headstock. While most features are similar to the standard models, the very wide neck is made off cast metal instead of Bakelite to handle the extra strain and the pickup is of course much wider than the 6-string version.
This is one of the few B-10 examples we have seen, with first-generation features; there are some noticeable variations to this only custom-made model. The famous 1 1/2" horseshoe magnet pickup is built with the same specs as the 6-string version, but with correspondingly wider magnets and coil. The chrome plated covers on the control cavities are flat, not arched and the typical 1940-41 mixed black and white plastic knobs are mounted on the treble side. The strings load through the body, passing over a carved wooden bridge and nut on their way to the A-shaped open-frame headstock. The 10 tuners are openback, plastic button units with fluted bases and the old metal "Rickenbacher Electro" nameplate adorns the headstock.
In general pre-war Rickenbacker Bakelite instruments are often considered the finest-sounding lap steels ever made. This 10-string version's metal neck gives it a slightly different degree of "ring" and it is a spectacular sounding piece. All the Rickenbacker Bakelite instruments were the professional standard of their day; especially the pre-war models have consistently proved themselves with top players from So Hoopii to David Lindley, Jerry Byrd to Larkin Poe. This 10 string guitar came to us in a pseudo-doubleneck re-entrant tuning, with 5 strings tuned to C6 on the lower half and 5 in E7 on the upper. The nut and bridge appear originally set up this way so we have left in place but of course manty other options are possible. This may be the coolest pre-war B-model Rickenbacker of all, and certainly the most impressive visually as well as musically.
Overall length is 29 3/4 in. (75.6 cm.), 9 1/2 in. (24.1 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 1/4 in. (57 mm.).
This is a VERY clean original instrument, appearing not too much used since new. There is only light wear overall, mostly rubs to the edges of the crinkle-painted metal neck. Everything on the instrument appears original except for one larger screw holding the treble side control plat fast, which looks like a replacement. This is simply a spectacular looking and sounding instrument, eccentric perhaps but a great sounding steel with nearly infinite tuning possibilities. It lives in the original blue-lined "Rickenbacker Electro" tweed HSC, with some wear but solid. Overall Excellent + Condition.