Supro 60

This is a 1957 model, same body shape as used by the Ozark model which replaced it, and by other supro guitars. It's got one cutway on the treble side. A very light and resonant body, covered with some kind of vinyl. The "60s" logo painted on. Bolt on wooden neck, only two bolts. One attaches, the other adjusts neck height. It shouldn't work, but it does. The fretboard is a really nice pice of rosewood. String tension actually keeps the neck from shifting side to side. Very cool gumby headstock with the Supro logo tag attached. Instead of slanting back, it slants forward. Once again, it shouldn't work but does. The coolest feature is the pickup. It's Supro's standard single coil lap steel pickup, strings through the pickup, attaching to the back plate behind the pickup. To the best of my knowledge, this was the only solid body that came standard with a strictly lap steel style pickup. Gibson and other used pickups developed for regular guitar (such as the famous Charlie Christian p/u) which later became identified with lap models, but the Supro string through pickup was developed for lap steel only. So this baby is unique. The bridge is a slotted piece of wood held against the guitar by string tension, fitting against the body in a slot cut through the pickup back plate. Tone and volume controls, plug goes straight in under the pickup. I give it an 8 because it's so simple.

Two things take getting used to. The cord plugs straight in to the front of the guitar, so you have to be careful not to knock it when you adjust volume. Also, the pickup is square edged, with really sharp edges. I'm working on right had position; it's easy to rough up your hand and/or bang the strings around in the pickup opening if you play it wrong. Right hand on and slightly behind the pickup works well, allows you to damp strings right at the bridge too.

This little thing looks like a toy but sure doesn't sound like one. Wall rumbling tone. Very heavy. Now I understand why Ry Cooder put one of these pickups on a regular guitar. Tone full treble and volume up, tuned down to D for slide, it's extremely loud and full. The pickup works my old Deluxe Reverb like no other guitar I've played. Had to turn the amp treble down, put the bass up a bit. It also likes the reverb up to around 4.5 or 5. Have to be careful, it could easily blow out the speaker. The body is quite resonant; this guitar has a loud, ringing sound even unplugged. If you lean up against it, you can feel the low D vibrate in your chest. Add volume, and it's a hell of a sound. The tone control is very effective. Actually lowers the volume as it cuts the treble, so I end up adjusting only the tone, not the volume, to change volume and dynamics.

I've never heard a better slide sound than this. The pickup is completely balanced, very clear even when it's way overdriving. The bass strings scream like hell. You can slide high up on the neck on high strings, reach down and pluck the two D strings in unison and be heard in the next town. Really wonderful sound!

This is a cheapy guitar, but it plays extremely well. Straight, clubby neck, excellent frets and finish. Neck radius is kind of flat, so it's not as comfortable for lead work as my strat, but with a little bit of playing adjustment you can really do anything. I play it strictly in open D for slide, and use either flat pick or just fingers. It's one of the best playing guitars I've ever owned, and certainly the cheapest.

It's lasted this long, I don't see what's going to go wrong. Electronics are perfect. The vinyl cover has lifted a bit in spots, but no biggie. Some playing wear, nothing major. I'll gig with this anytime.

Non-existent. Supro's been out of business since 1968.

I was actually looking for lap steels when I found this. Plugged it in and promptly emptied out my wallet. I've been playing slide style for more than 30 years, own or have owned many guitars, never found an electric that delivered slide sound anywhere near this. It's in another league, tonewise. Big and raw sound, dense and very loud but with perfect definition and great dynamic range. It's only comparable to lap steels, which to my ears can produce single coil tones you just can't get from regular guitars. This little baby is a keeper!