1930s American Folk Lap Steel Guitar – Handmade Primitive Archtop

1930s American Folk Lap Steel Guitar – Handmade Primitive Archtop

For sale is a circa 1928–1940 American folk-built lap steel guitar featuring entirely handmade construction, with the exception of its original tuners and trapeze tailpiece.

Please note: this is a handmade folk instrument, not a factory-branded guitar.

Key details:

  • Prewar American folk / Hawaiian-style lap steel

  • Handmade construction (glue and nails; no screws in primary structure)

  • Original Waverly “Patent Applied For” tuners (post-1927)

  • Original stamped steel scalloped trapeze tailpiece

  • Carved archtop body with paired f-holes

  • Striking red finish with natural craquelure / alligatoring

  • Overall length: approx. 30 3/4″

  • Freshly set up with .012 flatwound strings

Condition is very good for its age. There is honest cosmetic wear throughout, including finish checking and a small chip at one lower f-hole (see photos). All issues are stable and typical for a handmade instrument of this era.

This is an unbranded, folk-built instrument , likely produced in a small regional workshop or by an individual maker during the height of the Hawaiian guitar craze in the late 1920s–1930s. It is fully playable and also highly collectible as a piece of American musical folk art.

Please review all photos carefully and message with any questions.

Buyer pays calculated shipping. Shipping available outside the Continental US.
Please feel free to ask any questions. Stand in pictures is not included.
The environment is important to us. At Golden Pickups, our packaging will be made of recycled materials and recyclable materials. We use the following recyclable packing material or recycled packing material:

  • Cardboard boxes for larger items or recycled-paper padded envelopes for small part or flat items. We do not use plastic envelopes or plastic containers.
  • Paper packing tape is used to seal boxes . Clear packing tape (plastic) may be used in a limited way to join pieces of bubble wrap or for affixing a label.
  • Kraft paper for padding and space/void filling : is made from 100% recycled paper and is fully recyclable.
  • Biodegradable peanuts for padding : are made from organic starch and decomposes in water leaving no toxic waste. Simply dissolve in water or place loosely in a garbage bag since they will decompose in a landfill.
  • Recycled green bubble wrap , that is made from up to 40% recycled content with up to 20% from post-consumer sources.
  • We will re-use other packing material from time to time.

$951.43

In stock

For sale is a circa 1928–1940 American folk-built lap steel guitar featuring entirely handmade construction, with the exception of its original tuners and trapeze tailpiece.

Please note: this is a handmade folk instrument, not a factory-branded guitar.

Key details:

  • Prewar American folk / Hawaiian-style lap steel

  • Handmade construction (glue and nails; no screws in primary structure)

  • Original Waverly “Patent Applied For” tuners (post-1927)

  • Original stamped steel scalloped trapeze tailpiece

  • Carved archtop body with paired f-holes

  • Striking red finish with natural craquelure / alligatoring

  • Overall length: approx. 30 3/4″

  • Freshly set up with .012 flatwound strings

Condition is very good for its age. There is honest cosmetic wear throughout, including finish checking and a small chip at one lower f-hole (see photos). All issues are stable and typical for a handmade instrument of this era.

This is an unbranded, folk-built instrument , likely produced in a small regional workshop or by an individual maker during the height of the Hawaiian guitar craze in the late 1920s–1930s. It is fully playable and also highly collectible as a piece of American musical folk art.

Please review all photos carefully and message with any questions.

Buyer pays calculated shipping. Shipping available outside the Continental US.
Please feel free to ask any questions. Stand in pictures is not included.
The environment is important to us. At Golden Pickups, our packaging will be made of recycled materials and recyclable materials. We use the following recyclable packing material or recycled packing material:

  • Cardboard boxes for larger items or recycled-paper padded envelopes for small part or flat items. We do not use plastic envelopes or plastic containers.
  • Paper packing tape is used to seal boxes . Clear packing tape (plastic) may be used in a limited way to join pieces of bubble wrap or for affixing a label.
  • Kraft paper for padding and space/void filling : is made from 100% recycled paper and is fully recyclable.
  • Biodegradable peanuts for padding : are made from organic starch and decomposes in water leaving no toxic waste. Simply dissolve in water or place loosely in a garbage bag since they will decompose in a landfill.
  • Recycled green bubble wrap , that is made from up to 40% recycled content with up to 20% from post-consumer sources.
  • We will re-use other packing material from time to time.

Description

For sale is a circa 1928–1940 American folk-built lap steel guitar featuring entirely handmade construction, with the exception of its original tuners and trapeze tailpiece.

Please note: this is a handmade folk instrument, not a factory-branded guitar.

Key details:

  • Prewar American folk / Hawaiian-style lap steel

  • Handmade construction (glue and nails; no screws in primary structure)

  • Original Waverly “Patent Applied For” tuners (post-1927)

  • Original stamped steel scalloped trapeze tailpiece

  • Carved archtop body with paired f-holes

  • Striking red finish with natural craquelure / alligatoring

  • Overall length: approx. 30 3/4″

  • Freshly set up with .012 flatwound strings

Condition is very good for its age. There is honest cosmetic wear throughout, including finish checking and a small chip at one lower f-hole (see photos). All issues are stable and typical for a handmade instrument of this era.

This is an unbranded, folk-built instrument , likely produced in a small regional workshop or by an individual maker during the height of the Hawaiian guitar craze in the late 1920s–1930s. It is fully playable and also highly collectible as a piece of American musical folk art.

Please review all photos carefully and message with any questions.

Buyer pays calculated shipping. Shipping available outside the Continental US.
Please feel free to ask any questions. Stand in pictures is not included.
The environment is important to us. At Golden Pickups, our packaging will be made of recycled materials and recyclable materials. We use the following recyclable packing material or recycled packing material:

  • Cardboard boxes for larger items or recycled-paper padded envelopes for small part or flat items. We do not use plastic envelopes or plastic containers.
  • Paper packing tape is used to seal boxes . Clear packing tape (plastic) may be used in a limited way to join pieces of bubble wrap or for affixing a label.
  • Kraft paper for padding and space/void filling : is made from 100% recycled paper and is fully recyclable.
  • Biodegradable peanuts for padding : are made from organic starch and decomposes in water leaving no toxic waste. Simply dissolve in water or place loosely in a garbage bag since they will decompose in a landfill.
  • Recycled green bubble wrap , that is made from up to 40% recycled content with up to 20% from post-consumer sources.
  • We will re-use other packing material from time to time.

Additional information

Weight 7.0 lbs
Dimensions 36.0 × 18.0 × 8.0 in
Handedness

Right-Handed
Type

Acoustic Guitar
String Configuration

6 String
Model

Lap Steel
Item Condition

Used
Brand

Unbranded

Product Enquiry