Rickenbacker Model NS Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1940s)
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Item # 12674
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Rickenbacker Model NS Model Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1940s), made in Santa Ana, CA, grey enamel finish, stamped metal body, brown chipboard case.
Sometimes the lines blur between the Rickenbacker's pre-war Model 59 and post-war Model NS; this one still has a pre-war look to it but the smaller magnet pickup and style of Kluson strip tuners identify it as a later 1940s example. The Model NS was the bread and butter instrument in Rickenbacker's line of post-WWII steel guitars. This stamped metal steel was produced in the 40's and early 50's as a student guitar, for use in the many teaching studios active in that era.
With the same horseshoe magnet pickup as the more upscale steels in the line, the Model NS sacrifices nothing in sound but is finished in a fairly plain grey sunburst enamel with black fittings. The Rickenbacker logo is a decal, although this one still carries the drilled holes for the prewar-style metal logo plate never installed! The aperture for the pickup is the larger pre-war size as well. Today the NS is a great affordable gigging steel, with a very hot pro-grade sound and a lot of bang for the buck.
Overall length is 29 1/2 in. (74.9 cm.), 9 1/4 in. (23.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 22 1/4 in. (565 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/4 in. (57 mm.).
This is a very nice example overall; it shows some very light finish wear but nothing serious. The pickup magnets have a couple of chips to the enamel on the edges. All hardware is original including the PU, wiring and knobs; one tuner shaft is correct period but mis-matched (not a Safe-Ti-Slot) and the plastic buttons have been replaced. This is a fine early post-war Rickenbacker steel, plain looking but great sounding still in the original battered but functional brown chipboard case. Overall Excellent Condition.
Sometimes the lines blur between the Rickenbacker's pre-war Model 59 and post-war Model NS; this one still has a pre-war look to it but the smaller magnet pickup and style of Kluson strip tuners identify it as a later 1940s example. The Model NS was the bread and butter instrument in Rickenbacker's line of post-WWII steel guitars. This stamped metal steel was produced in the 40's and early 50's as a student guitar, for use in the many teaching studios active in that era.
With the same horseshoe magnet pickup as the more upscale steels in the line, the Model NS sacrifices nothing in sound but is finished in a fairly plain grey sunburst enamel with black fittings. The Rickenbacker logo is a decal, although this one still carries the drilled holes for the prewar-style metal logo plate never installed! The aperture for the pickup is the larger pre-war size as well. Today the NS is a great affordable gigging steel, with a very hot pro-grade sound and a lot of bang for the buck.
Overall length is 29 1/2 in. (74.9 cm.), 9 1/4 in. (23.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 22 1/4 in. (565 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/4 in. (57 mm.).
This is a very nice example overall; it shows some very light finish wear but nothing serious. The pickup magnets have a couple of chips to the enamel on the edges. All hardware is original including the PU, wiring and knobs; one tuner shaft is correct period but mis-matched (not a Safe-Ti-Slot) and the plastic buttons have been replaced. This is a fine early post-war Rickenbacker steel, plain looking but great sounding still in the original battered but functional brown chipboard case. Overall Excellent Condition.