Rickenbacker Electro Spanish Guitar
RICKENBACKER ELECTRO SPANISH GUITAR (c.1935-37) VG-EC, rare model considered by many to be the first solid body electric guitar! Bakelite body with 5 chrome control cavity covers on top, round bolt-on bakelite neck, 23 molded frets with dot inlays (end of fretboard broken off on bass side), replacement flat middle rectangular top cover plate, 1-3/4" nut width, ~22-5/8" scale length, strings through body, horseshoe magnet pickup (treble side thumbscrew replaced with a hex nut), one volume control on bass side (replacement knob), 3-on-a-plate Grover open-gear tuners with oval metal buttons, metal plate on headstock reads "RICKENBACHER / ELECTRO / LOS ANGELES," below bridge molded into body is "PAT.NO. 1881229," this model was essentially the Spanish version of the Electro Model B Hawaiian lap steel guitar, George Beauchamp's design would prove to be ahead of it's time as steel guitar playing was more popular during this era, this rare short lived model laid the framework for the solid body electric guitar as we know it today ! (SN:B291)