Sleeping Through the War, in 2017, explored more purposeful, mystical songcraft cloaked in hypnotic, rambunctious rock. That's why so many of these vintage axes have pickups installed. Their tone is muted, with almost no sustain. As cool as Folkstars look, they don't sound good at all-at least as the acoustic instruments they were intended to be. The latter sold through Montgomery Ward stores and catalogs. This Folkstar model came in two colors: red for the Supro model and black for the Airline model.
Another advantage that the always-budget-aware Valco saw in Res-O-Glass-besides its light weight-was the ability to use colored resin, reducing the amount of finishing necessary. It has the classic "Gumby"-shaped headstock that's a Supro signature, and Kluson tuners with oversized butterfly-style buttons. The Kord King neck is described in the catalog as magnesium-reinforced wood. (On a Dobro, those screens would be metal.) That body, with its beveled, molded top providing a slightly arched look, is made of two pieces of the fiberglass material called Res-O-Glass, with a rubber binding seam in the center to attach both halves and inhibit internal rattling. It has a thinline body with a single resonator cone under a distinctive cover plate-are those the tips of tridents or sideways Es?-and two small round soundholes with cream-colored plastic screen covers in the upper body. Now let's get back to our Valco-made Supro Folkstar.