The Steel Guitar Forum

I'm in love with that frame and head stock! Strong, light, and beautiful... My kind of girl

That looks great Bill. I could see where you might would keep that in the shop to play. Looks a perfect size for it!

Those look awesome! Great job!

I decided this weekend that the new baby needed a case. So after a trip to Hobby Lobby and Lowe's, I was able to put this together. https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix1712/17545_5487437336934784247_1.jpg https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix1712/17545_2986939771349741710_1.jpg https://bb.steel...

Thanks very much Bill.

If I ever do get a chance to play more of a standard one, I'll be sure to throw a comparison in here on how it feels in the lap in contrast to it.

It very well may not be as comfortable as others (but a can't say for sure as it's my first ever). In my own opinion, it's certainly not uncomfortable. Here's a pic from above and in front as best as I can do selfie style, not sure how it's even supposed to sit :? https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/use...

... and women especially like 'em. :lol: It's funny you mention this. I sent the pic of the template laying crooked on my "pizza spatula" to my wife, and her instant response was, "I like it!", she didn't care as much for the symmetric design. I liked them both, but felt this ma...

Yeah, from what I've read, the boo wah can be done with either type, just is supposedly "easier" to do with an audio/log pot since the taper rises faster then levels off vs a straight line from point A to B and I don't think you have to swing the pot as far to get the effect you're going f...

Thanks for the recommendation Bill. Are these the GHS that you're referring to? I've seen a few different ones, so want to be sure before I order. https://reverb.com/item/6618-ghs-electric-lap-steel-strings-c6-tuning-15-36 (Screenshot below) https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix1712/17545_Screen_S...

Excellent info guys. Thank you.

I'm sure it's obvious I'm a noob at this, and if it weren't for that pesky thing called work, I'd be watching videos and trying to learn how to play and use these techniques right now!

Only a couple more hours and I'll be doing just that

The more I think about it, even with a linear taper pot, you should get less than an instant full on in 10% rotation. By the way it sounds, when the actual wiper makes contact you're getting full juice instantly. Within that 10% rotation, is there any variance? Like, if you turn it 1% - 5%, is there...

Is there any reason to not use a Dobro bar (Stevens 345) on an electric 6 string lap steel? Or would I be better off to invest in a bullet bar? I could definitely see a difference in shape and how it's held, but as far as the sliding part, they're both a rounded smooth piece of steel so wasn't sure ...

Forgive my ignorance on this subject, but does a tone bar and a round bullet bar give different sounds? Or is the difference mainly for larger string patterns? I bought a Stevens 345 tone bar for the 6 string LS I built, but the more I read, it seems more people use the bullet bars or the Lap Dawg. ...

Yeah, I was about to suggest the same for a boo wah effect. Based off of what I've read solely, not experience.

The rule of thumb I've seen here and other places regarding tone pots (and the rule I used which worked quite well) is that your tone pot should match the same value as your volume pot with the exception of the taper type (Volume = Audio, Tone = Linear). The values of these are rather standardized b...

Thanks Bill! I've seen pics of your work on here, VERY IMPRESSIVE!

Okay, thanks I'll give that a shot! I'm currently using some Ernie Ball Regular Slinky strings on it. I had bought a 3 set pack for my electric guitar a little while back so I had a set to spare to test it. Are there any other strings that you guys would recommend or are these common for this type o...

Oh, and for the style of music as inspiration. I listen to a WIDE variety in music. I grew up listening to my grandfather play bluegrass, my parents listened to country, and there isn't a sound quite as unique as a lap steel in any genre. I think as far as what I'm looking to attempt to play, is pro...

So, the wood... is just a plain old piece of yellow pine that I bought at Lowe's, and the only finish is some Minwax Clear Gloss spray polyurethane. The Douglas Fir guess makes me feel awesome though!

Thanks Andy! For the frets and the body top I made out of a single sheet of 12" x 17" body blank acrylic. I got it from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZOV491Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 For the dots, I took a 1/4" countersink bit and a hand drill and...

Hey Tim, thanks for the reply and welcome wagon! Well, it didn't start looking like that in the original design. But once I got all the hardware laid out, I took a pic. Upon later inspection, I thought it looked too much like a pizza oven spatula and not enough like a guitar and was clear that I had...

I just started trying to play mine this evening. I'm thinking it might be a bit (few weeks) before even attempting to record this noise.

Hello all, I just built my first lap steel guitar, and I joined these forums because it seems like a really good community to be a part of! I looked for an "Introductions" section, but didn't see one, so I'm kind of coupling it in with this. I've played different instruments over the years...