Epiphone Electar 7-string w/ Custom Aiello Potbelly Pickup – Circa ’39, ’07 & ‘17

Epiphone Electar 7-string w/ Custom Potbelly Pickup
Circa ’39, ’07 & ‘17
Custom Vintage Epiphone Electar 7-string Lap Steel Guitar w/ Aiello Custom Potbelly Pickup - Custom made for seven strings in 1939, but newly refurbished in 2017. Excellent condition. One of my favorite lap steels. One of the few models I keep in my personal collection. But, this customized version comes with one of the best pickups made. Rick Aiello’s's pickups have an edge over others. Bigger stronger magnets. Higher output. Great overall signal translation. I've been interested in vintage lap steels for over 51 years now & have been fortunate to be able to familiarize myself with all known models of vintage pups. Some of my favorite vintage lap steels have been wooden bodied models with their associated harmonics. This particular instrument is beautifully executed. A painted aluminum top plate extends (& reinforces) up the neck to the nut. One hell of a pickguard. This guitar was recently refurbished. I've seen new demo guitars that were in worse condition. This is a custom vintage classic combined with modern top quality electronics.
An interesting early lap steel from Epiphone. The black-painted wooden body is oblong with stepped edges; Art Deco ornamentation is etched into a metal top overlay; the whole effect is very "1930's skyscraper at night".
This Potbelly pickup is an evolution of prior developments. You can find commentary on it at the Steel Guitar Forum. Here’s one Link to discussion on Potbelly Pups:
Original octagonal control knobs. The bound rosewood fingerboard has multicolored dot inlay and inlayed brass fret lines. The nut and tailpiece/bridge combination are milled aluminum. The tuners are original individual open back Grover Sta-tites with metal buttons. The headstock metal plate reads "Epiphone Electar" and there is a plate on the back referencing the licensed patents of Meissner Inventions, a firm that in the 1930's claimed patent protection on the concept of electric musical instruments. There is also a leather pad on the back of the instrument. Overall length is 30.25 in. (76.8 cm.), 7.25 in. (18.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1.75 in. (4.4 cm.) deep. Scale length is 22.5 in. (572 mm.).
About me: I try to acquire, play, and sell only the finest most sought after instruments. I vastly prefer mint or near mint works of gear. I’ve been a collector for over 52 years. Over 1000 vintage guitars have passed through my hands. ~
I've had several of this model; it is one of my favorites. This guitar is so unique I considered keeping it for myself....but I already have way more than enough other gear as it is and would prefer this one have a home where it might see the use it deserves.
*Please see our other listings and store for many other Vintage (Lap Steel) Guitars and Amplifiers. We've been in this business for over 50 years & currently have Alamos, Audio Vox, Bronsons, Dickersons, Dobros, English, Epiphones, Fenders, Gibsons, Harlin Bros, Harmonys, Kays, Maestros, Magnatones, McKinney, Nationals, Oahus, Rickenbachers, Sho Bud, Silvertones, Supertones, Supros, Vegas, and White Lap Steels as well as several others. We've been in the guitar business for over 50 years. We encourage you to contact us with any questions or comments*

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