Early 1930's Rickenbacher Amplifier
April 1, 2021 • Geronimo "Geri" Valdriz • Instruments and Luthiers
From the very beginning, Rickenbacher developed and sold guitar amplifiers. After all, the first electric lap steel guitar worked only in conjunction with them. Their early pioneering work has gone largely unnoticed!
The first Rickenbacher production-model amplifier was designed by C.W. Lane and built by the Van Nest Radio Shop in Los Angeles.
The wooden cabinet of the amp was made by the Johnson Cabinet Works. It is built of plywood and covered with Keratol, a protective covering.
In 1935 the Rickenbacher Frying Pan steel guitar and amplifier set sold for $125.00, a huge amount in post-Depression years. Also, many rural areas and urban households did not yet have electricity to plug an amp in!
Archives
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 ©2021 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