Electar on Ebay

mickd · Post by **mickd** » 17 Feb 2001 12:13 pm

this looks interesting. Gruhn's guide says the metal top is engraved but I don't see that here so is it a replacement top ?
Has anyone compared these horseshoe pickups to a Rick ?
Mick<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by mickd on 17 February 2001 at 12:14 PM.]</p></FONT>

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 17 Feb 2001 2:40 pm

i would imagine that those are rickenbacher pickups.

Eric Stumpf · Post by **Eric Stumpf** » 17 Feb 2001 4:26 pm

The guitar in question is a 1936 Model M Electar, similar to one I have in my collection. This particular instrument should have a sheet steel engraved panel that runs from nut to bridge and a black wrinkle-painted pickup magnet to be original. These Epiphones with this style pickup are truly sweet sounding instruments. The stock pickup is not a Rickenbacher item bought by Epiphone and then installed on their instruments; in design it varies some. The Model M was also available as a 7 string guitar and with an additional tone control (which is how my Electar is). Bob Dunn used one of these in the late 30's. Nice guitars and very underpriced in the current market.

Ian McLatchie · Post by **Ian McLatchie** » 17 Feb 2001 6:17 pm

The pickup on this guitar definitely appears to be a Rickenbacher, and probably a very early one, judging my the thickness of the horeshoe. Who knows the history of this one!
Maybe an instrument customized by an Epiphone employee? In any event, someone may end up spending a lot of money for a guitar without much collectability, but they'll get a first-rate player.