The Steel Guitar Forum

I've had a couple of Nationals (not New Yorkers) and they all had resistance values near that. I think it's normal.

I just make up my own sets with single strings I get from Strings by Mail.
I generally use the gauges recommended on John Ely's page.

https://www.hawaiiansteel.com/learning/gauges.php

https://www.stringsbymail.com/

Another feature of the Dickerson and Magnatone MOTS instruments is the fact that they're featherweights. I've often wondered if it's balsa hiding underneath that celluloid. I have quite a few of these and most appear to be pine bodies, one I'm fairly certain is redwood, and another I have is oddly ...

Here's a few of mine...

My top three are (in no particular order) Clinesmith, Michael Hillman's powder coated bar, and Ezzee Slide.

(I left out my Tribo-tone bar as these are not manufactured anymore and pretty hard to find)

My go to size is 3/4 x 2 3/4

I'm not sure if they've been mentioned on here before, but if you like surf music and lap steel you should check these guys out. The album "Jungle of Steel" is fantastic!

Great surf/exotica sound!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0zhC6ePyxE

Well done! Please post some closer pictures of the keyless tuner.

Have you tried removing individual pedals? Process of elimination. Maybe one is putting the heartbeat noise in the system... I had a tremolo do this with a switching power supply (like the Hotspot).

Another option is Strings by Mail. They're local to me, but they ship worldwide.

TTT

Does the "Virtual Jeff" change the pitch electronically? When I saw the first video I assumed it was a a typical vibrato arm...

TTT

C6. Why? 1) Abundance of tutorial material available. 2) Lots of variations available by tweaking a string or two. 3) Most of my guitars are set up that way. 4) If it's good enough for Jerry Byrd, Joaquin Murphey, Buddy Emmons, Curley Chalker, Mike Neer, et al, it's good enough for me. What Jack sa...

Fine looking steel, but benders aren't really my thing. Thanks for reaching out though.

Looking for a Chandler lap steel.

Bert is awesome! He has a lot of great tabs on here. I'm currently working my way through "Stranger on the Shore"

I have both... they're each fantastic. To me the Clinesmith has a tone closer to a metal bar... I find the Eezzee slide a bit easier to grip.. Both are fine bars, and I found Todd and Basil both very professional and easy to work with.

Very Fine! Love the color!

On the subject of the type of wood these are made of. I have quite a few of these student model Magnatones and the wood they used is all over the map... redwood, pine, I have one that's maple! I assume they used whatever was cheap and available. I would say pine is the most common.

[quote="John Hyland"

That said
What sort of keyhead? The ashtray style or the raised zigzag style.[/quote]

I was thinking the zig zag style.

I think I've seen some lap steels that used a plastic keyhead.

My local library is offering 3D printing. It's surprisingly sturdy stuff. Does anyone have files for an 6 or 8 string keyhead?

There is a Guyatone Conqueror (6 string) available near me. The guy is asking $300. If you've owned or played one what are your thoughts on it?

Curious... does anyone use a wound "A" string?

I'm currently using .020 or .021 plain, but got to thinking perhaps a wound string would sound less plunky

Well done! Lovely playing and some fine singing too! Respect indeed!

You have too many when they stop bringing you joy... I have just under 30 lap steels. Is it more than I need?... of course. But I enjoy having a variety of steels to play when the mood strikes me.
The beauty of these instruments inspires me to play.