Guyatone HG-108 8-String Lap Steel Guitar Two-Tone Yellow 1960s

This exceptional vintage instrument brings a highly complete slice of early Japanese design history directly to the modern studio landscape, featuring a unique ivory-yellow and gloss-black two-tone aesthetic profile. Manufactured in Tokyo during the mid-1960s, this rare HG-108 platform upgrades standard lap steel boundaries by supplying an 8-string layout that accommodates intricate country, western swing, and Hawaiian open chord voicings. The instrument comes historically anchored by its original multi-ply headstock emblem badge, factory cream pointer knobs, and a matching original hardshell case.

Tonal production is driven by Guyatone's legendary high-output vintage single-coil pickup, mounted in a clean chrome housing to optimize raw acoustic string definition and rich mid-range growl. The mechanical layout relies on two 4-on-a-plate open gear tuning matrices that turn cleanly, coupled with an integrated geometric string-track fretboard that maximizes slide accuracy. The electronics are entirely intact, though the vintage circuit exhibits a classic period anomaly where the volume output increases as the tone potentiometer is rolled back, adding unique vintage character to a fully functional signal path.

Cosmetically, the lap steel presents in great vintage condition, maintaining a highly reflective body sheen with only typical minor edge scuffs and superficial finish scratches consistent with its sixty-year history. The back panel remains remarkably clean, preserving its genuine factory model identifier sticker over four small historical console leg mounting holes.

This highly collectible import arrives fully detailed and restrung in-house, securely packed within its original velvet-lined travel hardshell case.

Scale Length: 23"

Weight: 6lbs 10oz

Condition: 7.5/10

Bin - PA-0