Rickenbacker Model B-8 8-String Lap Steel Electric Guitar , c. 1948
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Rickenbacker Model B-8 8-String Model Lap Steel Electric Guitar, c. 1948, made in Los Angeles, California, polished black finish, molded Bakelite body and neck, black road case.
This is a very nice post-WWII example of the original Rickenbacker Electro Model B-8 eight-string Bakelite steel guitar, much rarer than the common 6-string model. While not as avidly collected as pre-war examples these later 1940s instruments were still the standard of their day and remain among the finest lap steels ever made.
This B-8 features the second version of the famous horseshoe magnet pickup with smaller 1 1/4" magnets and a stamped metal surrounding mounting flange. On this 8-string version the strings still loading thru the body, not a metal tailpiece section as the 6-strings did. The body is molded black Bakelite with hollow cavities covered by off-white enameled metal plates; the screwed-on neck has integral molded frets and nut with inset white plastic position dots. This guitar has early postwar mandolin style tuner strips with plastic buttons.
The pickup is adjustable for height with slot-head screws. The volume and tone controls are on the treble side equipped with the original white plastic "flying saucer" knobs used from this time well up into the 1950's. The patent number is molded into the Bakelite body at the tail, with a separate Bakelite saddle mounted directly in front of it. The headstock carries the large post war "Rickenbacker Electro" T-shaped metal nameplate. This is a fine sounding B-8, a lovely example of the black-and-white "panda" version of the classic Rickenbacker Bakelite steel guitar with the added harmonic flexibility of 8 strings.
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 relatively clean and all original instrument, showing some general wear but not too much for being 75+ years along. There is some minor wear overall, with scuffs and scratches, minor loss to some plating and a few small dinks to the enameled coverplates. The guitar remains original except one tuner gear was replaced; it is the correct style but the patina does not exactly match the others. This is a great sounding steel, housed in a decently fitted foam lined road case suitable for serious touring use. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This is a very nice post-WWII example of the original Rickenbacker Electro Model B-8 eight-string Bakelite steel guitar, much rarer than the common 6-string model. While not as avidly collected as pre-war examples these later 1940s instruments were still the standard of their day and remain among the finest lap steels ever made.
This B-8 features the second version of the famous horseshoe magnet pickup with smaller 1 1/4" magnets and a stamped metal surrounding mounting flange. On this 8-string version the strings still loading thru the body, not a metal tailpiece section as the 6-strings did. The body is molded black Bakelite with hollow cavities covered by off-white enameled metal plates; the screwed-on neck has integral molded frets and nut with inset white plastic position dots. This guitar has early postwar mandolin style tuner strips with plastic buttons.
The pickup is adjustable for height with slot-head screws. The volume and tone controls are on the treble side equipped with the original white plastic "flying saucer" knobs used from this time well up into the 1950's. The patent number is molded into the Bakelite body at the tail, with a separate Bakelite saddle mounted directly in front of it. The headstock carries the large post war "Rickenbacker Electro" T-shaped metal nameplate. This is a fine sounding B-8, a lovely example of the black-and-white "panda" version of the classic Rickenbacker Bakelite steel guitar with the added harmonic flexibility of 8 strings.
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 relatively clean and all original instrument, showing some general wear but not too much for being 75+ years along. There is some minor wear overall, with scuffs and scratches, minor loss to some plating and a few small dinks to the enameled coverplates. The guitar remains original except one tuner gear was replaced; it is the correct style but the patina does not exactly match the others. This is a great sounding steel, housed in a decently fitted foam lined road case suitable for serious touring use. Overall Excellent - Condition.