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
July, 2026
June, 2026
May, 2026
April, 2026
March, 2026
February, 2026
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
2026 Festivals and Workshops
NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival HANA HOU at Ka Makana Ali‘iAugust 22, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM HST
Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center, Kapolei
Maui Steel Guitar Festival
October 17, 2026 - 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST
The Shops At Wailea, Wailea, Hawai‘i
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani
November 19-22, 2026 – Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, Waimea, Hawai‘i Island
2026 Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Livestream Broadcasts
All broadcasts originate from the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani
November 20, 2026 - Ho‘olaule‘a concert – 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM HST
Other Events
2026 Events
Steel Guitar FridaysEvery Friday – 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
Steel Guitar Sundays
January 5, February 2, March 2, April 6, May 4, June 1, and July 5, 2026 – 10:00 AM - Noon
Hula Grill Waikiki, Waikīkī
AISGC Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival #
July 23-25, 2026
Winchester Towne Square Community Centre, Winchester, Indiana
2026 HSGA Festival #
October 22-25, 2026.
Hotel Paradox, Santa Cruz, California
* Tentative
# 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
J-FESTA | Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
Kona Steel Guitar Festival
Community Festivals
Ka Makana Ali‘i – Kapolei
Windward Mall – Kāne‘ohe
NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festivals
Livestream Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase