Epiphone Eddie Alkire E Harp 10-String Lap Steel, 1940s White

A rare and beautiful Lady. Hard to find. Historic as Hell. Highly desirable. A Vintage Eddie Alkire 10-String Lap Steel from the late 30s-early 40s. Serial Number stamped on back of headstock indicates this instrument was made in New York in 1936. It has a few minor bar marks. The white lacquer has faded to a lovely cream color. Fantastic condition for an instrument this old (80 yrs). I have it used it sparingly in a C6th tuning. This is a real gem. You might see other EHarps out there, but not so many that are this clean at this age.

The Eddie Alkire Eharp was the most harmonically advanced single-neck steel lap guitar available when it was designed around 1940. Alkire was a well-known Hawaiian guitarist and early pioneer of the ten-string steel who operated a successful teaching studio. These instruments were primarily sold to his advanced students. Although made by Epiphone, they carry only the "Alkire Eharp" nameplate.

Specifications:

• Ten strings

Body:

• White lacquer top
• Black back & sides
• 9.75" body width
• 1.75" body depth

Neck:

• Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
• "Eddie Alkire E-Harp" logo plate on headstock
• String-through body design
• 22.5" scale

Electronics:

• Epiphone Master pickup, (no longer works but could be rewound and is included in the case)
• New 10 String Steel Pickup installed, could be a Wallace?
• Sounds very pleasing and clear
• 1 Volume,  1 Tone controls

Hardware:

• Nickel plated tuners with plastic buttons
• Original Epsilon "E" logo on back of tuners
• Aluminum bridge & nut
• Felt covered access plate on back
• Clear pickguard
• Brown fabric covered original hard shell case, in Lovely Shape!!! With Bakelite Handle
• Inside of case lined in beautiful plush Blue

Really a great find for the right player. Will be properly insured and packed.