Promoted similar listings













My fellow reverb friends.. I present to you, the holy grail. 

1 of the 4 remaining - oldest known, ORIGINAL, pre-patent electric guitars (full 25" scale) on the face of the planet.

This incredible relic, bridged the gaps in stringed instrument manufacturing, functionality/design and the way guitar would be played for the rest of history.  A meager 5.5 lb of American history, this instrument spawned the birth of Blues, Jazz, Rock N Roll & forever changed the world of music, as we know it. 

Only 46 of these models were produced during '34-'36.  This guitar pre-dates the patent awarded to GD Beauchamp & Adolph Rickenbacher for the first "Electric Guitar" in 1937.   It's value in my opinion - is irreplaceable. 

With no disrespect or disregard to vintage Les Paul - this instrument is one of the most reclusive guitars in the world... a 59 or 60 Les Paul holds no comparison. 

   

Produced by Electro String Instrument Corporation aka Rickenbacher (known today as Rickenbacker) -- it was built with considerable collaboration between National, Dobro, Fender, Harmony, Mosrite. 

Fast forwarding to year 2015 - only 4 are logged into present existence.  It is fully logged & documented with Rickenbacker Corporate. 

It.  Sounds.  INCREDIBLE.  It is 100% original (excluding the nut).  It's output is HOT & has some serious twang.  Frets are near mint condition - nut has been replaced (the only replacement on the instrument).

Wherever you are located in the world - We will cover your flight or will meet you to deliver this instrument.  


Check out the Rickenbacker.com History Page! 


A history lesson for the guitar buff:  

The electric guitar wasn’t invented until 1932, when the big band era was on the upswing. The first person to every play a true electric guitar was a jazz guitarist named Vaughan Reed. The first type of guitar was a kind of hollow bodied acoustic guitar that used tungsten pickups. It was manufactured by a company called Electro String Instrument Corporation. This guitar was called the “Rickenbacker.” (Reference:  ) 

The first electric Rickenbachers were made of aluminum and were designed for playing Hawaiian style but they quickly developed a model that could be played Spanish-style, or what we now think of as the standard way of playing. Rather than build the wooden bodies for the Spanish-style guitars themselves, they contracted with Harmony, who came up with this design that had 17 frets clear of the body.  The guitar was fitted with a classic trapeze tailpiece or the Patented Kauffman vibrato unit (what we know today as the "whammy" bar) that was designed by Doc Kauffman, who later went into business with Leo Fender.  (Reference: Miachel Simmons).  


Promoted similar listings













Listed11 years ago
ConditionVery Good (Used)
Very Good items may show a few slight marks or scratches but are fully functional and in overall great shape.Learn more
Brand
Model
  • Electro Spanish
Finish
  • Tobacco Burst
Categories
Year
  • 1935
Made In
  • United States
Body Type
  • Hollow Body

Product safety information may be available here.

Vintage & Historic Musical

New York, NY, United States
Joined Reverb:2015

Reverb Gives

Your purchases help youth music programs get the gear they need to make music.

Oops, looks like you forgot something. Please check the fields highlighted in red.