Electro Vibrola Spanish Electric Guitar
This guitar is an example of one of the most unusual experiments in early electric stringed instrument production. It is made from molded bakelite with the neck bolted to the body. The body has five decorative chrome plates with six-punctured holes in teh upper bass plate and sixteen holes in the upper treble plate. The pickups are 1-1/2 inch horseshoe magnet pickups stamped with patent number 2089171. The instrument features the Doc Kauffman motorized vibrato tailpiece designed to create vibrato effects. It consists of a motor, flywheel, and solenoid assembly that when activated is supposed to subtly shift the pitch to create a vibrato effect. Versions of the instrument, with bodies half as deep, were also made and are much more commonly found. This added feature makes the instrument tremendously heavy and a metal stand is included that allows the player to prop the instrument against the amplifier for extra support. The vibrato effect requires a separate electrical cord to be plugged into the wall (in addition to the cord to an amplifier). Each string has a separate bridge. Stamped on the tailpiece: VIB-ROLA / PAT. NO. 1839395. The nut and frets are integral to the instrument. A metal plate attached with two screws at the top of the headstock reads: Richenbacher Electro Los Angeles.
Artwork Details
- Title: Electro Vibrola Spanish Electric Guitar
- Maker: Rickenbacker, Inc. (American)
- Date: 1939
- Geography: Los Angeles, California, United States
- Culture: American
- Medium: Bakelite
- Dimensions: Overall length 32-1/2 in. (82.6 cm); width 9-1/4 in. (23.5 cm) at lower bout; depth 3-1/4 in. (8.3 cm). Scale length 22-1/2 in. (572 mm). Width of nut 1-3/4 in. (44 mm)
- Classification: Chordophone-Lute-plucked-fretted
- Credit Line: Purchase, The Jonathan & Faye Kellerman Foundation Gift, 2016
- Object Number: 2016.413a–d
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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