Epiphone Alkire E Harp 10 String Lap Steel 1948

Eddie Alkire reportedly spent 12 years developing his E Harp method of 10 string lap steel play, intended for implementation on steels that Rickenbacker and Epiphone built with his design.  

"At it's core, the Alkire tuning sounds only like itself: it doesn't sound like a 6th, or a 9th, or a 7th tuning. Like a piano, it has no inherent property that defines it's style.

It was designed with key elements: being 'keyless" designed to be played in any key. Note reading built into the system from page one. dramatic explosion on chords and inversions possible on a single straight bar."

Alkire's method is interesting, and his manual (it can be found online) appears daunting.  Thus, players who use his steels most often revert to standard lap steel tunings.   

This particular steel is in fabulously clean and original condition.  The pots date to 1945, so I am calling this a 1946.  These Epiphone made steels were made from 1946 to 1950.  Everything concerning the steel works nicely and it has the coolest look, with that plexi hand rest and the broad, Brazilian rosewood board.

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• Color: Black and White
• Weight: 9lbs 1.9oz
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Inlays: Mother of Pearl Dot
• Nut: Aluminum
• Nut width: 3"
• Scale: 22-1/2"
• Total length: 32-7/8"
• Lower bout: 9-3/4"
• Waist: 5-3/4"
• Upper bout: 7-3/8"
• Body depth/thickness: 1-7/8"
• Hardware Color: Nickel
• Bridge Pickup: Original Epiphone Master
• Bridge Pickup Reading: 
• Bridge: Aluminum, Original
• Tuners: Original Epsilon E Tuners
• Pots: Original
• Knobs: Original Bakelite
• Case: OHSC
• Notes:

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