Count me in!
I'd go with a vintage Supro, Oahu, etc. You can find these for under $400, and the vibe is so great.
Check these out:
1950 Gibson BR-9 for $349
1953 National for $349
There are a lot more out there. Of course, I'd recommend playing a vintage lap steel before purchase. Sometimes the pickups may have issues (I had to have the horseshoe pickup on the 1938 Oahu
re-gaussed as the 1st string was a bit weak. This is something you can do yourself if you know how using magnets - I had a friend do it for mine). Sometimes the tuning key buttons are deteriorating/about to crumble (or course these can be replaced relatively cheaply). I'd suggest looking on Craigslist in your area.
Pictured below are my steels (and a resonator)...
1948 Gibson BR-9 (tuned to C6)
1938 Oahu (tuned to Bb dim7)
1960 Supro (tuned to B11)
1980 RQ Jones square neck resonator (tuned to open G)
1960 Fender D8 Stringmaster (Two 8 string necks: 1 is Bb dim7, 2 is B11)
1957 Fender T8 Stringmaster (Three 8 string necks: 1 is C6/high G, 2 is E13, 3 is C6)
