Gibson Royaltone Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1950)
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Gibson Royaltone Model Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1950), Kalamazoo, Michigan.
This is a great sounding if somewhat worn-in original example of one of Gibson's most obscure postwar lap steels, the Royaltone. This original version of the model was only built from 1950-52, and only around 600 were ever made. The stepped hardwood body has a nice figured maple cap on the top (prefiguring the Les Paul?) but the back and sides are finished in a non-descript brown. The cool back-painted Lucite bridge cover is a typically Gibson touch in this period. The standard Gibson headstock has a decal logo and mounts the earliest Kluson Deluxe tuners. The Royaltone is equipped with an early P-90 pickup giving a typically "Gibson-esque" character to the tone, not as bright as period fender and Rickenbacker instruments. This is a cool Kalamazoo rarity and still a fun steel to play.
Overall length is 32 in. (81.3 cm.), 8 3/8 in. (21.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 9/16 in. (4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 22 3/8 in. (568 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/4 in. (57 mm.).
This is a decently worn but original instrument showing dings, dents and scratches overall but no really heavy wear. There is a chip off one upper headstock tip and the Gibson logo decal has mostly flaked away. The plastic bridge cover has one chip off the bottom edge but at least is not fully broken or cracked as many are. The original Kluson tuners have newer correct-looking cream buttons. This is a powerful sounding steel with the darker tone characteristic of P-90 Gibsons, sweet at lower volume and seriously raunchy when cranked. It resides in the original rectangular HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This is a great sounding if somewhat worn-in original example of one of Gibson's most obscure postwar lap steels, the Royaltone. This original version of the model was only built from 1950-52, and only around 600 were ever made. The stepped hardwood body has a nice figured maple cap on the top (prefiguring the Les Paul?) but the back and sides are finished in a non-descript brown. The cool back-painted Lucite bridge cover is a typically Gibson touch in this period. The standard Gibson headstock has a decal logo and mounts the earliest Kluson Deluxe tuners. The Royaltone is equipped with an early P-90 pickup giving a typically "Gibson-esque" character to the tone, not as bright as period fender and Rickenbacker instruments. This is a cool Kalamazoo rarity and still a fun steel to play.
Overall length is 32 in. (81.3 cm.), 8 3/8 in. (21.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 9/16 in. (4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 22 3/8 in. (568 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/4 in. (57 mm.).
This is a decently worn but original instrument showing dings, dents and scratches overall but no really heavy wear. There is a chip off one upper headstock tip and the Gibson logo decal has mostly flaked away. The plastic bridge cover has one chip off the bottom edge but at least is not fully broken or cracked as many are. The original Kluson tuners have newer correct-looking cream buttons. This is a powerful sounding steel with the darker tone characteristic of P-90 Gibsons, sweet at lower volume and seriously raunchy when cranked. It resides in the original rectangular HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.