Slingerland Songster 401
Manufacturer
Slingerland Banjo and Drum Company
Date1939
Mediummaple; rosewood
DimensionsOverall (HWD) (overall): 7 × 93 × 29 1/2 in. (17.78 × 236.22 × 74.93 cm)
Credit LineMoPOP permanent collection
Object number1997.221.1
Text EntriesBody is solid, single-bound and made of maple with a sunburst finish, partially protected by a plastic, faux tortiseshell pickguard. Neck is round (as opposed to square, like the Hawaiian version of this insrument) and is covered by a rosewood fingerboard. Peghead has Grover tuning keys with plastic knobs and is decorated with glitter-inlaid diamond shapes and a glitter-inlay of the model's name: Slingerland Songster. Pickup includes individual string magnets as well as the large horseshoe and sits within a panel that can be removed from the guitar. Metal, raised cover guard covers the pickup and is engraved with the name "Slingerland." Two plastic, octagonal knobs sit on either side of the pickup. The cord is an integral part of the guitar and connects directly to the internal, electric components. Tailpiece is metal with "Slingerland" stamped on it.
Many of the features of electric guitars that were built after World War II were first put into place on this exceedingly rare 1939 Slingerland Songster. Its solid-wood body, size, and pickup design, with individual magnets for each string, all foreshadow features of postwar guitars.
Despite its unique design, the Slingerland Songster never became a success; in part because World War II put most music manufacturing on hold. But the Slingerland company also saw this guitar more as a diversion from its better-known drum production than an earnest beginning for a new instrument line and did not resume production of these guitars after the war.
CopyrightThe organization that has made the Item available reasonably believes that the Item is not restricted by copyright or related rights, but a conclusive determination could not be made. For more information, see http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NKC/1.0/
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