Pulled this out of storage...

[Landon Johnson]

Hi,

I've been active in the pedal steel section of the forum for a while and this is my first dip into the lap steel pool.
I pulled this lap steel out of storage this morning - been sitting in a garage for decades. Looks to be fundamentally sound, with the exception that the tuner knobs turn to powder whenever I touch them. Is there a serial number somewhere?

I'd like to start playing this, hopefully in C6 to augment the E9th pedal steel I currently play. I don't have the guts, nor the time to start with a C6 pedaled neck; this will be a compromise.

Can anyone give me any insight on the guitar itself? I'm familiar with Carvin as a guitarist in a prior life but this is all new territory. Is this a decent project to put time and energy (and a few $$$) into, or is it a weak guitar with no real future. If it's a 'go' I will be off to research C6 tuning and gauges.

20260325_101046.jpg

20260325_101102.jpg

[Noah Miller]

Old Kluson tuner buttons are expected to crumble at some point. They sell replacement buttons. Apart from that, what does it need in terms of time, energy and money?

Carvin steels are good instruments. They have relatively low output and a bright, cutting sound. This one appears to be a 1955-1957 6DHG-1, though Carvin catalogs don't show any without a control plate.

[Glenn Wilde]

Whoa, is the bridge/ tailpiece plastic? Top loaded strings?

[Jack Hanson]

Whoa, is the bridge/ tailpiece plastic? Top loaded strings?

The plastic bridge was the first thing I noticed also. If that's indeed the case, a definite red flag -- especially with vintage plastics.
It that cool old Carvin were mine, I would pull the bridge to save for posterity, and install something far more substantial. And I'd replace the nut to boot.

[Noah Miller]

It is plastic, but whatever formulation they used is stable. I've seen a lot of these bridges and not one has deteriorated. There's no reason to replace the nut either.

[Bill Groner]

Probably glass filled moulded nylon?

[Glenn Wilde]

I guess if it's still holding up 70 years later it's probably all good, heck a Ricky B is almost all plastic