Rickenbacker Electro A-22 "Frypan" Model Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1934), made in California, gold enamel finish, cast aluminum, black original hard shell case.
The early A-22 Electro Hawaiian Guitar, or "Frying Pan", is one of the most historically important electric guitars in existence; this is the first commercially successful electrified string instrument as well as the first solid body guitar.
This is the original use of the celebrated pre-war 1 1/2 inch horseshoe magnet pickup, still one of the greatest-sounding units ever designed. While the very first few Electros have no onboard controls, this 1934 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 original good quality open gear plastic button tuners, the same as seen on many 1920's Martin and Gibson guitars. A gold metal name-plate is stamped "Richenbacher Electro, Los Angeles" with "RE" between mirrored lightning bolts. The serial number is 00125, making this one of the first couple of hundred electric guitars ever built.
Although the A-22 was marketed 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 still sounds fantastic�still a very fine, usable musical instrument.
Overall length is 29 in. (73.7 cm.), 7 1/8 in. (18.1 cm.) width, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) deep. Scale length is 22 in. (559 mm.).
The guitar is structurally fine and fully functional. There is some noticeable wear and flaking of the thin gold plating on the front and the heavier enamel on the back; these finishes are not particularly durable. The chrome on pickup magnets and mounting is still well-preserved and very shiny.
The very rare rectangular case has some exterior edgewear, but the interior and lining are very nice; handle is replaced. Excellent Condition.
