The origins of Lectrolab, and its parent – Sound Projects Company - are shrouded in the haze of time. Perhaps it began as a machine shop, or a cabinet-maker. Or maybe, just maybe, it sprang into life to take advantage of a radically wacky new idea, the Electric Guitar.
The Troubadour brand is a very early entry in the history of the electric guitar and guitar amplification.
Troubadour Guitar
Thanks to one of our readers, John McGuire, we have also found examples of an archtop guitar with what appears to be a pickup identical to that on the lap steel, and the Troubadour brand label! John informs us that Ex. 2 below was “found in the attic of an old defunct guitar store”. Thank you, John!
The guitar itself is a very old-style archtop with small violin-like f-holes. “Troubadour” is stenciled on the headstock in the same font as that on the lap steel and amp (see below). There is binding on the body, but not the neck or headstock. As on the lap steel, the pickup also serves as the bridge. Very cool art deco knobs are identical to those on the lap steel.
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- Ex. 1
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- Ex. 1
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- Ex. 1
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- Ex. 2
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- Ex. 2
