1951 Rickenbacker B-6 Hawaiian Lap Steel Guitar "Panda" Lapsteel

Rickenbacker Bakelite B-6 "Panda" steels were the professional standard of their day. They are still generally considered by many players the finest-sounding lap steel ever made. Pros such as Sol Hoopii, David Lindley, Jerry Byrd, and Megan Lovell of Larkin Poe have helped give these Bakelite Rickenbacker B series steels their iconic reputation! 

Overall length: 29 3/4 in
Lower Bout: (75.6 cm.), 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm.)
Body Depth: 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.)
Scale length: 22 1/2 in. (572 mm.)
Nut Width: 2 1/4 in. (57 mm.)

This lovely example is a very early 1950s model with a unique set of specific features seldom found. It sports the late era Rickenbacker Blade-shaped logo with no cover. Around this time, Rickenbacker changed spellings from the original Rickenbacher, and this would have been an earlier example to reflect that change. The company had also returned to better-sustaining string through construction.

Overall, this example is in lovely shape, with just a few light marks here and there. The tuners appear to have been changed, and there is one extra screw hole fully concealed underneath their plate. Although showing some scratches and missing some chrome plating, the 1 1/4 Horseshoe pickup is strong and sounds wonderful. Clarostat Mfg. Co. pots point to an assembly date in late 1951.

Very Good Plus (VG+) to Excellent (E) Condition