Melobars playing position

Kevin Brown · Post by **Kevin Brown** » 26 Nov 2007 5:25 am

I'm becoming interested in a melobar as it would suit a project I have at the moment, has anyone here had experience of playing them, especially in a live onstage situation, standing up and moving around etc. String spacing looks very wierd and uneven in some places, I would use 7 strings if I could, thanks for your time etc

Greg Gefell · Post by **Greg Gefell** » 26 Nov 2007 10:40 am

Kevin - are you looking at the 10 string model or the newer 6 strings? I haven't played either melobar but I researched it quite a bit when I was looking into a wearable lap steel. I believe the 10 string model supports 2 tunings at once - 6 strings on the upper and 4 strings on the lower. I would imagine you could convert the nut/bridge to support whatever you need.

Ultimately I built a wearable 10 string but found it to be too heavy/fatiguing after a while and supporting the weight to be a negative impact on my left arm/hand technique. I wound up supporting my steel off of 2 posts securely attached to my pedal board. I can still be up front, stand and sing and access my pedals. I can even wear my elec guitar while playing steel and switch back forth within a song if desired.

good luck on your quest for a wearable steel.

Kevin Brown · Post by **Kevin Brown** » 26 Nov 2007 12:00 pm

Thanks Greg, Id go for a 10 string and somehow re-cut the nut for a 7 string, thought I could get a nice 3/8 spacing there, checking out junior Brown his set up looks so uncomfortable and heavy, plus he only seems to play the steel for a few bars anyway, thanks for your info on the spacing, now I understand the strange spacing I saw, also the fret bpard tuning system, surely that only works for one tuning and Im wondering what that might be ? any help appreciated, since I saw Basil over here flying around around the stage with his purple Melobar I thought Id give it a go !!

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 26 Nov 2007 1:08 pm

I don't know how interesting this will be to you but I made a project out of one of these a couple of years ago. 10 string with new nut & bridge. Ditched the body. Turned the tuners around. Added hardware. Wear it with guitar strap and an additional mid-strap, a al a saxophone strap. Also put a Fender 10 string pickup in the front position.
Bottom line--it is not and never was a quality instrument. Low quality wood. The original 10 string spacing is not....good. The original playing position is not.....good.
This project was successful in that it works, ergonomically. The guitar is in a good position, it is stable under the bar---it does not roll in or out. It plays like a steel guitar, not like a slide guitar with reasonably proper arm and hand positions.
I never spent enough time playing it to determine whether it can sound good. It sounds...acceptable, not excellent. I'd rather have started from scratch with good materials.
Anyway, if any of this gives you ideas, good.

Kevin Brown · Post by **Kevin Brown** » 26 Nov 2007 1:27 pm

Thanks John, yep thats the same model I saw that you have modified, thats giving me a rather large re-think, you obviously spent a lot of time on that and I value your comments

Jim Frost · Post by **Jim Frost** » 26 Nov 2007 1:53 pm

The best way to play one of the old Melobars is to use a strap attached to the headstock, not the body. It also helps to put some kind of non-skid backing on the back of the body to help it stay in place.

Mark White · Post by **Mark White** » 26 Nov 2007 3:36 pm

Jason at Lap King offers a stand up support on his Bel Aire 6 & 8's. I think Jerry Douglas was using one at the last CMA (Country Music Awards) show.

http://www.lapking.com/belaire.htm

Larry Jones · Post by **Larry Jones** » 26 Nov 2007 10:06 pm

i have one and i used it for rock blues and hawaiian gigs . i use my strap on the body and lift the heel of my right foot so the guitar rest on my thigh . i think if your a steel guitarist you gotta have one as part of your arsenal . its a real crowd pleaser Picture file

Gary Boyett · Post by **Gary Boyett** » 27 Nov 2007 7:01 am

Here is a video of the Clark Brothers playing a Melobar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH9dAkFZBJk

There is an interview in the beginning then the band comes in.

Great Stage presence!

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 27 Nov 2007 1:06 pm

Thanks for the link Gary, I missed that the other night.
I've been following The Clark Brothers and have been enjoying their take on the songs they have been playing.

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 27 Nov 2007 1:11 pm

The idea behind a Melobar is good, but in practice I find they put my right hand too close to my body. Looks to me like the solutions that Jason and Jon came up with help keep the steel away from my stomach for a more natural hand position.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 28 Nov 2007 9:11 am

Which company is it that makes a lap steel with a tummy rest that slides out of the body? I know I've seen pics, but can't remember wich company does it.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 28 Nov 2007 9:16 am

Never mind! Found it. MSA!

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 28 Nov 2007 12:26 pm

Yeah--that's the Superslide.

Peter--that's what my project was all about. I bought the Melobar on ebay thinking it would serve as a standup steel but I really disliked it. The body dimensions and angle create a playing posture that I couldn't get used to at all. Plus mine had the squishy body. What were they thinking? All it made me think of was a cushioned toilet seat. So I flushed it.

My photos don't show it very well but the results of my project have your arms in approximately the same position they might be in if you were standing at a Stringmaster with legs at full extension.
I hope to find time to spend with this thing soon. It might be better than I'm remembering.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 29 Nov 2007 7:46 pm

Has anyone thought of putting palm levers on a Melobar Skreemr and tuning it E9 ? I bought one a couple of years ago and have never figured what to do with it. $:\$

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 21 Aug 2008 7:55 pm

10 months on and I still haven't figured out what to do with it.