1954 Supro Comet Lap Steel

The serial number on this one was X41548 and it was bought from Minnesota USA in November 2008.

These pickups were unusual in that the strings appear to go through the pickup, as shown in the photo below. A company named Lollar now produces a substitute for these pickups. According to their web site "The steel plate that goes over the strings spreads the magnetic field to surround the strings. This increases the pickup's sensitivity and reduces magnetic pull on the strings which increases sustain".

The instrument itself is covered in a mock pearl plastic covering, known these days as 'Mother of Toilet Seat' or MOTS. In the 1954 Supro catalogue this was listed as a Model 1410 B Comet Deluxe and was priced at $57.50 plus $12.50 for a hard shell flannel lined case or $6.50 for a soft shell "Economo Keratol" case. In the 1956 catalogue the body shape had changed a little and the price was up to $59.95, exactly $10 less than a Supreme.

For more info about Valco made lap steels see my 1956 Supro Supreme and my Gretsch Electromatic.

I sold this one to a guy in Adelaide in March 2011.

More Info

• Brad's Page of Steel
• Supro Serial Numbers
• Another source for Valco Serial Numbers
• Greg Cutshaw - Steel Guitar
• String gauge guide
  This is intended for pedal steel but is also useful for lap steels.
• My string gauges
• Lap steel capos