The Steel Guitar Forum

I don't know enough about the steel community in general to opine intelligently as to the short- or long-term popularity of the lap steel, but let me offer my own experience. I am principally a songwriter, who plays guitar (6-string, Spanish style, steel strings, that is). But like a lot of folks, I...

This probably isn't info that will be very useful to you, because these aren't Top 40 type bands for the most part, but something about this section of the Forum brings out the young punk in me . . . and all this music is great and would be great live . . . I think that some folks here would be plea...

On the general subject of making acoustic guitars, anyone who is interested would benefit from a reading of William Cupiano's wonderful book called Guitarmaking: Tradition and Technology. It takes you through each step, in detail, of making your own steel string or classical guitar, from boards to b...

I'm so happy to see a thread on Americana music! I can't say whether it's gaining in popularity or not, but with the quality of writing out there it's bound to attract some attention from real music fans. Maybe this is why the internet and college radio stations have been the first to catch on--beca...

I don't have enough experience on the lap steel to speak authoritatively, but you might consider what I have found to me my preferred method on the flattop acoustic guitar--grow your fingernails out a bit. When you get a length that suits you (and they don't have to be very long, really), I find tha...

As always, y'all are a wealth of information! Thanks for all the great ideas. I think I may even suck it up and buy the Jerry Byrd course book to help me through it all. What's a hundred bucks to feed this growing addiction, right? :- ) (Although I sure would prefer it on video.) Thanks again, every...

Thanks for your comments, everyone. Great ideas for getting around the minors problem, Bobby Lee--thanks. I've got the Arlen Roth video coming in the mail, so hopefully that will help me along in the open E tuning, and if I get ambitious maybe I'll try the C6 just for kicks sometime.

Cheers,

Colin

Hey, folks. My first lap steel (Rickenbacher Model 59, which I am thrilled with--even my girlfriend loves it!) arrived a week or two ago, and I am having a blast trying to play the thing. Because I am a guitar player (flattop, that is) I am vaguely familiar with the open E tuning, and consequently I...

I'm awfully sorry to hear that his health is poor, and he will be in my thoughts as well. Hopefully he knows that he is an inspiration to others (pickers and just plain people). In fact, I was trying to pick along to that CD again last night before I went to bed (with the flattop, not a dobro or ste...

I just bought a copy of Brother Oswald's (first?) solo dobro album--I can't even remember the name right now. It's about 15 songs long, all instrumental and all standards. The insert says that he and his pals recorded the entire album in a day--just went in there and busted them out! Well, I would h...

Wow! I'm a little hesitant to enter this fray, but this seemed like a good topic to bring this up in . . . Any of you folks out there listen to so-called "No Depression" or "alt country"? Now, I'm not the oldest guy on the forum, and my background is bound to be a little differen...

Erik-- Jim and John's comments are right on. In particular, building on a comment by John, you could include these older songs in a compilation with songs created much more recently and use one (the most recent) date for the entire compilation. Saves money as well as time and headache. Of course, th...

Thanks, folks. Nothing on the Rickenbacker web site about this particular model (good reading, generally, though), so I'll try the Complete History of Rickenbacker Guitars by Smith.

This forum is a tremendous resource! Thanks again,

Colin

Hey, y'all. I just bought a Rickenbacker lap steel off of eBay, and in another thread you all were kind enough to give me some more info on it than what I had, but I'd still like to learn more. Sounds like it's a Rickenbacker Model 59. Six strings. The auction said that it was made in 1937. Can anyo...

I saw this post while searching for something else and I though I would mention a good alternative for folks who don't have a good alt country/americana station nearby--internet radio. I have been listening a good bit to Texas Rebel Radio out the Texas Hill Country, and they play a lot of great musi...

Thanks for your responses, guys. With a little time to think it over (and with your comments), I feel pretty good about the purchase. I don't foresee playing out with this guitar anywhere in the near future, so looks are not too important--if the sound is good, I'm happy. I'll certainly let you know...

Hey, y'all. I've been watching this board for a couple weeks, and I appreciate all the great info. I just won an eBay auction last night for my first lap steel, a 1937 Rickenbacker. I was a little surprised to be the high bidder--at $250. Now I'm wondering if I made a good buy, and I would greatly a...