thought i would show you guys something fun i am working on!

[WezV]

every now and again i get the urge to build something quick and simple and this time that meant doing  my second lapsteel build.  its great because it lets me use up some scr@ps of wood and usually i use spare parts for them as well although this one ended up a bit higher spec

anyway, i'm about to do the clear coats on this and placed the hardware on for a mock up:


the centre is a neck blank i had ordered but rejected because of unsuitable grain orientation for a guitar neck - great for this though!!  the wings aree some mahogany i had left as offcuts, not big enough for anything else.  the fretboard is on offcut of flamed maple with black veneer fretlines and aluminium tube filled with red epoxy for the dots... and a paduak disc logo as well.

pickups actually pretty good if not BKP- a SD antiquity firebird pickup but really the tone of these things comes from some damn heavy strings (16-59) and a big chromed metal bar called the steel, not a finger slide as they dont really weigh enough

i thought i would show this as i know there are lots of people that would like to build a guitar but perhaps dont have the confidence. these are a great way in as at its simplest its just a plank with strings and they still work well like that. 

here is a good intro site to building one:

http://buildyourguitar.com/resources/lapsteel/index.htm

[AndyR]

Nice one.

The first gig I went to was Slim Whitman, back in the seventies some time - and I was blown away by this bloke playing a pedal steel (I'd have been 10-11 at the most). Several times I've tried to play lapsteel since then, but never got very far. Every now and then I put a resonator on my lap and see what happens... Maybe I ought to get a steel and try again - I've got loads of slides, but never bothered getting a steel. If I could figure out how to play one convincingly, it IS a guitar I could build!!

What tuning would you put on it?

I'm assuming it'll be "Hawaiian", the good ole "drop G" us bluesers use (D-G-D-G-B-D)?

Originally I couldn't believe this tuning could produce Hawaiian sounds, but then one day I saw Michael Messer live, and yep, it seems to be the tuning to use...

Unless of course you have some secret info?? :lol:

[Philly Q]

Can you play lap steel Wez?  I'd have thought it'd be hard to know how to set it up if you don't play - I wouldn't have a clue.

I've seen both John Paul Jones and David Gilmour playing lap steel live, they can sound amazing in a rock context!  :)

[AndyR]

I don't think there's much "setting up" involved Philly - action's usually about 1"!!

I've seen Joe Perry do it in Aerosmith - it does work surprisingly well

[WezV]

there is no set-up needed.  you put the bridge smack bang on the scale length and dont do any intonation adjustments at all.  since you dont push the string down you dont need any compensation/intonation offsets.  the strings will sit about 10mm away from the  fretboard.  the fretlines are just a guide - you have to use your ears a bit as well.  no truss rods or fret levelling  or anything that seems to scare people making a guitar neck for the first time... you dont even need the fretboard if you trust your ears enough

you get an open tuning so at its simplest you pick a few notes on one chord and slide up to another for a few more... they are eay to play  and very satisfying once you develop the muting technique .  the kind of thing anyone can build and play - especially if they have a stash of spare parts doing nothing.

[Philly Q]

OK, it does sound pretty simple.  Maybe I should have a go at building one!  :D

[38thBeatle]

That looks great Wez. I play a fair amount of slide now but in standard tuning( saves messing around at gigs) but I love the lap steel and would love to get one one day.

[FernandoDuarte]

Nice project, Mr Wez!

[PhilKing]

It's looking great Wez.  Very Art Deco'ish.  It really should have a Manhattan on it to keep the vibe, but Johnny Winter gets some great slide tones from a Firebird, so I think this will sing too.   

[Plexi Ken]

Very cool... I always intended to by a Gretsch lap steel but never got round to it.

[Johnny Mac]

Sounds like a good project. They do sound lovely, I'd love one.

[Kilby]

Time to invest in some Robert Randolph CDs

You going to do a pedal steel next ? Cos that ones looking good

[WezV]

god no!!  i like doing these as an alternative to the guitar projects because they are simple and a bit of light relief... a pedal steel would be quite difficult - especially since i dont do much metal work.  I am tempted by some 8 or 10 string double neck console steels though, i just dont fancy working with any pedal mechanisms

[il˙ti]

Looks great Wez! Lap-steels are great fun.

[MrBump]

Can you down tune it and add a Warpig?