The Oahu Publishing Company, based in Cleveland, was reportedly the largest printed music distributors of their day. Their shops also gave guitar lessons and sold guitars. Apparently they specialized in Hawaiian music, which was extremely popular in the 20's and 30's (and still is with me) and guitars to play it on. That means square neck steel guitars, both standard- style round hold guitars and later these solid electric guitars.

I don't remember exactly when I bought this guitar - probably the early 90's. It came, I believe, from the estate of some local person of note, though I don't remember who. I think I paid $75 dollars for it.

I've been unable to find any kind of model name for this instrument. Research on the serial number (X10126) indicates it was made probably in 1952. They quite possibly were made by Valco, who also made National and Supro instruments.

Everyone says the body is wood, so I guess it is, although the back feels like metal to me. It has an EXTREMELY LOUD pickup. Just tweak the volume knob slightly and it will blast you. It has separate volume and tone pots, and the cord is hard-wired into the guitar (it passes through a hole in the side of the guitar and disappears inside). It has an authentic Hawaiian sound.

The ornamentation is elaborate. Yellow block letters spell out "OAHU" along the fretboard, and a treble clef showing the notes E-B-G marks the 12th and 24th frets (don't know the significance of that E-min chord).

The case contains a label identifying it as an "Economo" case made by the Geib company of Chicago. A trademark for this item was granted in 1948. I have no idea if this is the original case for this guitar.

I tune to open-G (G-B-D-G-B-D, low to high). I'm by no means a steel guitar player, but I love fooling around on this one.


Here's a sample of how it sounds.


Oahu Lap Steel


-->