1950 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 great shape, with just a few light marks here and there on its slightly off white painted metal plates. Mepco/CentraLab, Inc. pots point to the 43rd week of 1950. The tuners appear to have been changed to vintage correct for the era Kluson repros. The 1 1/4 Horseshoe pickup is strong and sounds wonderful.

Very Good Plus (VG+) Condition