They were actually quite popular in the mid to late thirties, and early forties. Then a resurgence came around, and they were electrified, and are still used by some artist today.
My Buddy's Grand Son, made one for show and tell. I had an old busted ovation type guitar, I had thought about fixing, but I gave it to him, and he used the neck and tuning keys from it.
They actually make a pretty neat blues instrument.
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Nice job. Now lets hear some Muddy blues.
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Wayne