60s(?) Lap steel

[pearldivers]

Hi,

I joined the forum today, so hello all.

I've been trying for years to find out anything about my old Ibanez lap steel, and this site popped up in Google!

This one was a pawn shop refugee which I gave a home to in 1977. It has a ply vinyl-covered custom hard case.

A few years ago I sank a Dimarzio pick-up in it (my other replacement Bill Lawrence humbucker I removed and put in another guitar long ago). The original pick up still works just dandy. I replaced the original volume/tone knobs (just for fun) but I still have them. One of the plastic machine head crowns shattered when I dropped the geet two years ago, which broke my heart. I use one of the original volume knobs as a crown (as in the pic below).

Any ideas as to the more precise age of this little champ (my pride and joy)?

Jet

[ibanezfreak1960]

Hi,

I joined the forum today, so hello all.

I've been trying for years to find out anything about my old Ibanez lap steel, and this site popped up in Google!

This one was a pawn shop refugee which I gave a home to in 1977. It has a ply vinyl-covered custom hard case.

A few years ago I sank a Dimarzio pick-up in it (my other replacement Bill Lawrence humbucker I removed and put in another guitar long ago). The original pick up still works just dandy. I replaced the original volume/tone knobs (just for fun) but I still have them. One of the plastic machine head crowns shattered when I dropped the geet two years ago, which broke my heart. I use one of the original volume knobs as a crown (as in the pic below).

Any ideas as to the more precise age of this little champ (my pride and joy)?

Jet

pearldivers welcome to ICW. Nice lap steel you got there. We don't see them much here but there are a some in the thread archives floating about. What kind of condition was she in wehen you bought her back in 77? And is there a serial number anywhere?

[pearldivers]

Hi Brian,

the guitar was in average condition, with the usual signs of use, a few nicks in her here and there, but 100% solid structurally and nothing wrong with its fittings. The original p/u is a bit on the thin side in terms of tone, but it still makes a nice sound.

There is a number stamped on the top end of the headstock "7724", but I suspect it's a pawn shop ID rather than a serial number. It is actually hammered into the wood.

Jet

[ibanezfreak1960]

This one might be for Harry and Hasy to figure out. How about it our sixties experts?

[hasy]

WOW !

This one is a late 50s !
I got more pictures in the sixties page, a blue one.

I dont know, how many was made and the catalog give`s not so much informations.

Can you add more pictures, thx

Hasy

[ibanezfreak1960]

Awesome! Looks like you got yourself a real gem pearldivers.

[pearldivers]

Here are more pix.

[pearldivers]

A few more...

[pearldivers]

Last few...

[hasy]

thx 4 the pictures !

The ibanez name plate: this is a good example for the first production of the name plates in the early 60s.
I found 4 diffrent productions, looks all the same, but some little changes was done.

Thx again

Hasy

[ibanezfreak1960]

Hasy do you have any catalog links for this model?

[pearldivers]

Yes, any more precision on the date of this one?

Jet

[hasy]

Freak & Jet:

http://www.break-even.org/six2/cat/la/la-59-cat-8-100.jpg

its from the 1959 catalog (sorry only aviable in bl/wh). I think they built it between 1958 - 1962.
From 1960/61 on ibanez use the typical 60s metal name plate, here we got the example for the first series.
E & Z is diffrent to the next generation in 1964

Greetz Hasy

[ibanezfreak1960]

Thanks Hasy. It would be cool to have that volume pedal pictured in the catalog. I guess some of the accesories are VERY rare!