Rare vntg 1938 Gulden-Jackson Epitome lap-steel guitar & amp, all orig, clean!

Description

From out of the great depression, a matching pair of musical treasures.
For a long time this has been a favorite pair of mine for travel.  Its sweet hot tone and compact size make it super-convenient for practice at home, hotels on the road, or rehearsal.  Plus I totally dig this set’s history.
These came from a dealer in Tennessee, who bought them from the original family, deep in a backwoods mountain hollow, way southeast of Lexington, KY.  Think on that for a moment.  Some 82 years ago, in the dark heart of the depression, when electricity first came to the rural hinterlands, this lap-steel & amp were bringing sunshine and joy to a Kentucky family.  How cool is that?
I know all that sounds like a cliche, but it isn’t.  In fact, without FDR’s new-deal grants, this lap-steel & amp might not even exist.  It was those grants that funded Ohio’s “Federated Teachers Service Corp” to have Gulden-Jackson build this common-man gear, and by mail get it into the hands of rural players near & far.
Most amazingly, to this day both the Epitome amp & matching lap-steel sound as great as they did eight decades ago.  Plus both are all original, from the guitar’s Kluson tuners and DeArmond pickup to the amp’s transformers and Rola field-coil Alnico speaker.
Of course, at 5 or 6 watts the amp will not cut through a raging rock band, but it’s plenty loud enough.  Perfect for noodling in your abode, solo stage work, duets, coffeehouses, or mic’d up for recording.  With its 6V6, 5Y3, & 6SC7 tubes (similar to an early tweed Champ), the amp has a great sky-clear sound.  Plus a gritty breakup when maxxed.  The lap-steel, with its velvety action and original “Hershey Bar” pickup has its own awesome tone, punchy, soaring, and rich.  Remarkable for its year.
Best of all, both the lap-steel & amp have been lovingly taken care of by the original family, one generation to the next.  Even the red & gold decals are still there, in great shape.  The original cream-white & gold crackle finish still gleams in the light, with just a bit of light wear in a few spots.  Even the amp’s original leather handle remains supple & rock solid.  Btw, the lap-steel’s original case is in beautiful shape too.
Whether you’re ready to kick back on your own country porch and serenade the squirrels, or you’re ready for studio or stage, this set is ready to keep you fine company.  I can only hope I look and sound as good as these when I’m 82 years old!  See all of the guitar & amp’s great specs below.
0 for the pair.         shipping for both
(very far & int’l locations may require add’l charge).
The 1938 Gulden-Jackson “Epitome” lap-steel guitar:
Serial number:  none.
Style:  electric lap-steel slide guitar.
Condition:  excellent, all original (except the added & far better steel nut).
Mfg’d by:  Gulden-Jackson, Ohio, for the “The Federated Teachers Service Corp”.
Color:  original cream-white crackle over gold.
Body:  maple or birch.
Back:  matching cream-white crackle finish.
Tuners:  original Kluson Deluxe “no lines”, w/ white buttons.
Fretboard:  colored maple, w/ dot markers & original brass frets.
Bridge:  original Gibson-style chromed steel.
Pots:  original, dated to 1937.
Pickup:  original chromed-steel DeArmand “hershey bar”.
Control plate:  original black powder-coated.
Controls:  Volume & Tone.
Knobs:  original large knurled off-white.
Jack:  standard ¼”.
Approx. guitar size:  32” long, 8 ½” wide.   Weight:  6 lbs.
The 1938 Gulden-Jackson “Epitome” amplifier:
Serial number:  none.
Style:  1x7 tube combo amp.
Condition:  excellent, all original.
Mfg’d by:  Gulden-Jackson, Ohio, for “The Federated Teachers Service Corp”.
Color:  original cream-white crackle over gold.
Cab:  wood.
Grille:  original circular metallic brown weave, w/ cross bars.
Speaker:  original 1938 Rola 7” alnico field-coil, marked B20165.
Power transformer:  original, marked 8-201OPL.
Tubes:  6V6, 6SC7, & 5Y3 rectifier tube.
Control panel/chassis:  original brown-finished steel, w/ white graphics.
Controls:  In 1, In 2, Volume, fuse (2a).
Knob:  original black Daka chickenhead.
Handle:  original tan leather, in great condition.
Power cord:  original heavy-duty black 2-prong (for safety I recommend updating to a modern 3-prong cord).
Approx. amp size:  15” high, 10” wide, 8” deep.  Weight:  11 lbs.
You may rest assured that all my descriptions are accurate, with no disappointments, no unpleasant surprises.   I know you’ll enjoy owning this historical set as much as I have.
I also pack well.  Your 1938 Epitome lap-steel guitar and amp will arrive to you safe, sound, and ready to thrill you.