The Steel Guitar Forum

Yeah, I know just enough on the steel guitar to keep impressing myself and I can throw just about every cliché passage I know at this one and make it sound beautiful (to me, at least).

'Spring Is Nearly Here' (originally by The Shadows)

I would think this song to be perfect for steel guitar but haven't been able to find anyone who has done it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XABIeqg07VU

Any thoughts?

Back in the early '60s (I think) when his 'Sing along with Mitch...' program was on the TV, my folks would always watch and sing along out loud. I thought it was so hokey but I watched anyway. I remember his smiling face and kind eyes that put you at ease. And I remember remarking to my Dad while wa...

I also have a couple of Rogue Squarenecks from when they were 150 bucks. I did extensive work on each leveling the well lips and replacing and truing the spiders and installing Quarterman cones. They sound great although not as 'delicate' sounding or quite as loud as the Regals. One is tuned C6/A7 a...

I have 3 all tuned differently (open G, C6th, E13). I reconed 2 with Quartermans. Like erv wrote, 'good bang for the buck'.

I learned today of the passing of Chuck Fisher. http://www.legacy.com/SantaCruzSentinel/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=134072816 Some might remember him as an infrequent poster on the forum. Others who knew him personally marveled at his tenacious spirit in spite of his physical condit...

I agree with Ryan. But take it to more than one luthier and interview them as to how they would remedy the problem. Having not seen the instrument and going on your description, it may need to be laterally pinned or screwed together along with epoxy gluing after the previous 'filling' has been clean...

I would say to start with, offer parts for makers; especially the 'cottage' manufacturers. These could include nuts, bridges, coverplates and 'routed' fretboards (that can be painted) for 8 and 10 string instruments. A lot of the 6 string steels are made with 'off the shelf' guitar parts. Those of u...

I built a 10 string Lap with a George-L 12-5 a while back. Although all the different sounds were fun to noodle around with at first, my ears decided that only two were usable and I replaced the cantankerous 5 way rotary switch with a 2 way toggle. If your Sierra has a regular George-L pickup, I don...

I wonder how that Vox will make my black Artisan sound?

Looks like Vox is trying to play catch-up with the Microcube popularity. I wonder if other manufacturers are jumping on the 'band wagon'.

When I recieved my black Artisan a few years ago, I had to fiddle around with it and tweak 'this 'n that' on it to get it to sound right. That's about parr for the course on cheap instruments, though. I would bet that they're not assembled by Luthiers; rather made in the same factory that all those ...

DT is right on the money. An inexpensive electronic keyboard ready to dink on is just what a kid needs. If they got it in 'em, it'll be obvious. Not everyone has 'the music in them'.

You can get strings sets on this website:
http://pedalsteelmusic.com/strings.html

Just scroll down to the 'LAP STEEL SETS' and your all, well, set. And buying products from this SGF helps support it, too.

As far as instructional material is concerned, George Piburn's DVD/CD courses are about the best. Forget the paperwork, Piburn shows you how to do it on video. He'll get you up and running and playing cool licks 'right off the bat'. http://www.georgeboards.com/index.html#Instructions

I'd get the Artisan if I were you. It's a good starter and you can keep it around after you've graduated into a better lap steel. Just make sure you get a black one.

stewmac.com, #1961 might be a starting point.

stewmac.com, #1961 might be a starting point.

Thank you for the compliment, Terry. I love that 'stubby' design of yours with the 'folded under' headstock concept. It would be a natural for the 'super-routed' treatment. I'm going to do it. I just have to decide on the scale and a few other minor details.

Chuck posted a picture of (what he and I call) 'Lappy Lou'. The construction is of what I call a 'super routed' design. The body (bouts and neck console) is milled out of a solid piece of stock to 5/32" walls. The inherent strength is in the concentric-rounded shoulders eliminating the need for...

Not only does he make an outstanding Steel, his DVD/CD courses are also. Forget the paperwork, Piburn shows you how to do it on camera; "Do this, then do this, and then do this.......". I wish I had teachers like him when I was going through K-12.

Your piece of wood will be strong enough even if you gouged out a cavity for electronics. KEEP YOUR DESIGN AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE. You will learn enough from your 'first' one to make your second even better.

I can't imagine how tuners on the back end of a Lap Steel would make tuning easier.

Howard, would that be a black one?

I wouldn't expect to build just one. The first one is the trial-run, the proto-type, the one that teaches you what not to do on the next one. It will also make the decision as to even making the next one.

And now the question everybody wants to ask: Is it a black one?