Airline Lap Steel Serial Numbers

National vintage serial numbers.

Airline lap steel serial numbers.

The 1466bw jet airliner lap steel is an updated reissue of the supro electric lap steel guitar that was manufactured in the early 1960s. Our airline lap steel homage provides players with an affordable and reliable alternative to picking through vintage stores for something that is going to break the bank and be an iffy partner onstage or in the studio. Airline guitars were made in chicago illinois from 1958 68 by the valco company and distributed by montgomery ward. Valco manufactured and sold electric since the 1950s resonator lap steel and classical guitars and vacuum tube amplifiers under a variety of brand names including supro airline national and oahu.

Yes that number series applies to lap steels and amps made by valco for oahu national supro airline silvertone some for gretsch and probably a few others. We ve recreated these and other 1960 s chicago classics for a new generation of players. Vintage supro supreme lap steel circa 1948. Eastwood devo whip it guitar.

Vintage sound style modern playability. Kay was established in 1931 in chicago illinois by henry kay kuhrmeyer from the assets of the former stromberg voisinet founded as groeschel mandolin company in 1890. Hw russ young member. Valco also manufactured national and supro brands.

Thanks again for the information. From the 40s until 1964 the serial could be found stamped into a small metal plate that was tacked onto the back of the headstock or the back of the cabinet. Kay musical instrument company was a us musical instrument manufacturer of the united states in operation from 1890. National valco serial numbers provide the easiest way to find the year for a particular instrument.

From 1927 to 1935 natonal used a different serial number system for each model. Airline lap steel demo by lance keltner and his band. Yep that s the pickup all right. The most effective way to date a valco guitar or amp is by its serial number.

The jet airliner s vintage correct body shape and art deco aesthetics are enhanced with an intonation friendly string through body hardtail bridge and a silver foil version of the original supro clear tone pickup. We ve retained classic elements of the original including the ceramic. From 1964 1968 the serial was ink stamped onto a silver foil sticker that is found in the same place. They also made amplifiers under contract for several other companies such as gretsch harmony and kay.

The company produced instruments in its plant until 1968 when it ceased operations after a brief. Buy a quality airline lap steel guitar with a hot rail humbucker pickup today. We couldn t get away with ignoring one of valco s first instruments the national branded lap steel. I also have a consul 8 with the serial t49599.

Vintage airline 1961 supro lap steel 399 99 00 msrp. Serial numbers courtesy of bob brozman and his book national resonator instruments 1993. The lap steel in the image you provided was a consul 8 i think. My site doug s free tab all times are pacific us.