Rickenbacker A-22 "Frying Pan" Model Lap Steel Electric Guitar and Amplifier Set, c. 1935, made in Los Angeles, California, gold enameled top, silver-gold lacquered back finish, cast aluminum body, tweed hard shell case.
The Rickenbacher A-22 Electro Hawaiian Guitar, nicknamed the "Frying Pan", is simply one of the most historically important 20th century guitars extant. This is the first commercially successful electrified string instrument as well as the first solid-body guitar. This instrument was the initial use of the celebrated pre-war 1 1/2" horseshoe magnet pickup, the first electro-magnetic instrument pickup to be perfected and still one of the greatest-sounding units ever.
While the very first few Electros have no onboard controls, this example has a single volume pot with an octagonal Bakelite knob. The fingerboard is integral with the neck and has raised ridges for frets and green, red, blue, and black inlaid dot markers. The entire instrument is fabricated in one piece of cast aluminum with the strings through body, with separate chromed metal nut and saddle.
The slotted headstock has 1920's style quality open gear strip tuners with grained ivoroid buttons, as seen on many 1920's Martin and Gibson guitars. A gold metal name plate mounted there reads "Richenbacher Electro, Los Angeles" with "RE" between mirrored lightning bolts. The serial number is 011 04, making this one of the first few hundred electric guitars ever built.
Although the A-22 was marketed and usually used as a Hawaiian guitar, the neck is round, and with a different set-up this instrument could also have been played Spanish style -- something designer George Beauchamp alludes to in the patent application. This example is completely original, perfectly playable, and sounds fantastic.
The original amplifier is included; this is the first style of amplifying unit offered by Rickenbacker and is historically significant by itself. The amp is functional but would need an overhaul to be reliably useful�we have elected to leave it untouched, as generally its value lies in its originality. The guitar itself is still a very fine musical instrument and one of the best-sounding steels ever produced.
Overall length is 28 7/8 in. (73.3 cm.), 7 in. (17.8 cm.) wide, and 1 9/16 in. (4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 22 1/4 in. (565 mm.). Width of nut is 2 in. (51 mm.).
All original with some wear and corrosion to the gold finish, particularly on the top and edges. No modifications or repairs to either the guitar or amplifier. Excellent Condition.
