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Electric Hawaiian guitar

ALTERNATE NAME(S)

Electric lap-steel guitar

Maker Slingerland Drum Company

Date1936

Place MadeChicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

ModelSongster

Serial No.101

SignedEngraved on silver glitter plastic inlaid on headstock: SLINGERLAND

Engraved on silver glitter plastic inlaid on headstock: SONGSTER

Engraved on hand rest: Slingerland

Stamped on nut cover: SLINGERLAND [letters curving downward at each end] / U.S.A.

Stamped into string holder: SLINGERLAND / [illeg.]MarkingsStamped on back of headstock near upper edge: 101

Stamped on tuner plates: GROVER [lettering curved downward on each end]DescriptionThe Slingerland Songster is an incredibly special and rare guitar dating from the early period when electric guitars were exploding in popularity. Slingerland was mainly known for its drums and banjos, but they also introduced one of the first solid-body Spanish electric guitars made, beginning in fall of 1936. Slingerland’s electric guitars were first advertised in Popular Mechanics in September of that year. The steel-style instruments are nearly as rare, and both models feature a high-quality, advanced pickup with a “humbucking” design to reduce noise from electrical hum. Even more interesting, the NMM’s Hawaiian steel-style example is numbered 101 on the headstock, which appears to make it the earliest known serial number.

Stringing: six steel strings
Pickups: one single-coil pickup with individual pole pieces; nickel-plated cover; nickel-plated brass hand rest; black plastic volume and tone knobs with triangular tab indicating position (same knobs as on Rickenbacker frying pans); electronics cavity covered with slab-cut quilted maple bound in ivory celluloid, on front of guitar, secured to top with four domed, slot-headed screws; integral black cloth covered cord with bakelite and nickel-plated steel 1/8" plug
Body: slab-cut quilted maple on top, back and sides
Neck and head: rectangular profile light hardwood, possibly basswood, linden, or willow; head veneered with black plastic inlaid with two silver glitter sparkle plastic trapezoids engraved with "SLINGERLAND" and "SONGSTER"; four small silver glitter sparkle plastic diamonds at corners; larger silver glitter sparkle plastic diamond at center, in turn inlaid with green glitter sparkle plastic diamond
Fretboard: brown-stained maple bound in ivory celluloid; 23 ivory plastic flush position markers; single mother-of-pearl dots behind 3rd, 5th, 9th, 15th, 17th, and 21st fret markers; double mother-of-pearl dots behind 7th, 12th, and 19th fret markers
Nut: bone with nickel-plated steel removable cover
Bridge: rosewood with bone compensated saddle; string hitch nickel-plated steel secured to top with three nickel-plated steel domed, slot-headed screws
Tuners: six individual Grover worm-gear machine tuners with nickel-plated steel plates, nickel-plated steel rollers, and ivory plastic heads
Pickguard: none
Binding: ivory celluloid on top and back
Finish: dark to light brown sunburst
DimensionsTotal electric Hawaiian guitar length: 881 mm (34-11/16")
Back length: 389 mm (15-5/16")
Upper bout width: 230 mm (9-1/16")
Waist width: 181 mm (7-1/8")
Lower bout width: 290 mm (11-13/32")
Side height (including edging): 50 mm (1-31/32")
Head length: 185 mm (7-9/32")
Head width, top: 50 mm (1-31/32")
Head width, bottom: 89 mm (3-1/2")
Neck length (nut to body): 269 mm (10-19/32")
Neck width, nut: 46 mm (1-13/16")
Neck width, body joint: 55 mm (2-5/32")
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): highest string: 616 mm (24-1/4"); lowest string: 622 mm (24-1/2")
Scale length: 610 mm (24-1/32")ProvenanceAbout 1987, purchased by donor, Eric Shoaf, Charlotte, North Carolina.Published ReferencesShoaf, Eric C. "Slingerland Songster: Cool enough for Sol Hoppi!" _Vintage Guitar Magazine_ (April 2001). Online at: http://www.vintageguitar.com/1931/slingerland-songster/

Credit LineGift of Eric C. Shoaf, 2018

Object number15065

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