1937 Rickenbacher B6
December 2, 2018 • Geronimo "Geri" Valdriz • Instruments and Luthiers
In 1909, Belgium chemist, L. Bakeland devised a resin that hardened into a tough, dense material. The result was "Bakelite", a precursor to plastic.
Adolph Rickenbacher poured this resin into a guitar shaped mold and created the Bakelite steel guitar.
The horseshoe magnet pickup provides enormous volume and rich tone, and Bakelite's mass density causes these lap steel guitars to ring and sustain forever.
Early Bakelite models with chrome cover plates, 1½" wide horseshoe magnets, and string thru bodies are in high demand by players and collectors.
VintageArchives
March, 2025
February, 2025
January, 2025
December, 2024
November, 2024
October, 2024
Complete Issue Archive
Complete Series Archive
Categories
Education and TrainingEntertainment
Equipment
Festivals and Conventions
Instruments and Luthiers
News
Steel Guitar History
Authors
Author IndexHIMELE Events
2025 Festivals and Workshops
Kaua‘i Steel Guitar FestivalMay 4, 2025 - 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST
Kukui Grove Center, Lihue, Hawai‘i
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
June 7, 2025 – 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST
Windward Mall, Kane‘ohe
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week - July 7-12, 2025
July 7-10, 2025 – 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST (Nightly Concerts)
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
July 11, 2025 – 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
July 12, 2025 – 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM and 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival Keiki Kine at Kahala Mall
August 16, 2025 (tentative)
Kahala Mall, Waialae-Kāhala
Maui Steel Guitar Festival
October 18, 2025 - 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM
The Shops At Wailea, Wailea, Hawai‘i
2025 Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Livestream Broadcasts
All broadcasts originate from the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
June 7, 2025 – 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
July 11, 2025 – 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
July 12, 2025 – 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM and 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival Keiki Kine at Kahala Mall
August 16, 2025 (tentative)
Other Events
2025 Events
HSGA Hawai‘i Convention Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week
July 9, 2025 – 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM HST (HSGA Hawai‘i Convention Performances) Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
AISGC Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival *
July 24-26, 2025
Town Square Community Centre, Winchester, Indiana
* Registration Fee Required
Copyright ©2018 by Hawaii Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences, Inc., and Cyberventures Unlimited.Terms of Use
About HIMELE
HIMELE is a Hawai‘i non-profit corporation that supports music enrichment and education for people of all ages. Our purpose is to educate, promote, and perpetuate Hawaiian music, Hawaiian culture and Hawaiian musical instruments.
Visit HIMELE
Board of Directors
Mission Statement
Support Us
Learning Resources
Ke Kula Mele Hawai‘i
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Symposium
Statewide Festivals
Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
Maui Steel Guitar Festival
Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Festival
Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
Kona Steel Guitar Festival
Community Festivals
Ka Makana Ali‘i - Kapolei
Windward Mall - Kāne‘ohe
Kahala Mall - Wai‘alae-Kāhala
Livestream Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase