Up for sale, a circa 1925 Weissenborn Style 2 Hawaiian acoustic lap steel in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original chipboard case. One of the more rare and sought after lap steel brands, it's widely believed that only an estimated 5000 Weissenborn steels were produced in Los Angeles from the late 1910's to the early 1930's, during the peak of the Hawaiian music craze.
This particular Weissenborn is a Style 2, featuring Hawaiian flame koa construction throughout. Koa yields rich natural projection, complex overtones, and midrange detail and warmth, and this Style 2 is exceptionally vocal and sonorous with an X-braced top. The lows are round and sweet, and the trebles are crisp and smooth, with great balance across the strings. Featherweight at 2lbs 14oz, this Weissenborn Style 2 has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 12-54 bronze strings.
Specs:
-Scale Length: 25“
-String Spacing: 1 9/16“ at nut
-Playing Surface: Lined, dot inlays with diamond inlay at octave (described in the Weissenborn catalog as “fancy selected position marks”)
-Nut: Bone
-Tuners: Open-gear strip
-Bridge: Dyed maple, fretwire saddle
-Factory Markings: “H. Weissenborn” brand inside soundhole, “Henry Stadlmair Co.” stamp (the sole East Coast Weissenborn distributor)
The gloss finish highlights the curly flame figuring in the Hawaiian koa, framed by black binding, and the lacquer finish exhibits subtle checking, with an area of concentrated pick wear, both between the bridge and soundhole and adjacent to the playing surface (treble side). There is one small well-matched koa patch on the bass-side rim at the upper bout with targeted touch-up, some dings and scuffs consistent with limited use, and light wear central to the back.
The original chipboard case is included, with functional latches and the original leather handle. The edges and top of the case are separated in a few locations (taped over).