New Tradewind lap steel

JOZEF SMITH · Post by **JOZEF SMITH** » 7 May 2009 9:38 pm

Elva West just made a new 8 string lap with Stringmaster pick-ups and hardware. It sounds great and looks good. Body shape can be changed per customer request. Call Elva at 714-637-4084
See pics attached.

James Mayer · Post by **James Mayer** » 7 May 2009 9:45 pm

What's the $$ ballpark?

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 8 May 2009 4:12 am

Nice looking. I would have made the neck a bit wider.

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 8 May 2009 5:27 am

I agree re: the NECK. It appears strings 1 and 8 are 'out-in-space'. I have a SHO-BUD 10 string which was actually made from the mould of the 8 string frypan, (JB model). Similar sting set-up...strings 1 and 10 are 'out-in-space'.

Elva, and his guitar, look good !

Roger Palmer · Post by **Roger Palmer** » 8 May 2009 6:42 am

Looks nice

What is the thumbscrew for behind the bridge?

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 8 May 2009 6:49 am

It's a blend control to mix the sound of the two pickups, similar to that found in the Fender Stringmaster steel guitars.

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 8 May 2009 8:41 am

I'll bet she sounds mighty sweet.

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 8 May 2009 9:06 am

Elva has been making excellent steel guitars for many years. I have a few of his early Tradewind models...he has sure come a long way in the meantime !

Elva is a very fine fellow to deal with, very trustworthy, honest and totally reliable.

Gwyneth Morgan · Post by **Gwyneth Morgan** » 8 May 2009 9:15 am

How much difference does a blend control make when the pickups are that close together? More than I might think?

Nils Fliegner · Post by **Nils Fliegner** » 8 May 2009 10:16 am

I owned a Fender D8-Stringmaster once and the bridge pickup on its own sounded a bit thin IMHO - so I ended up using both pickups on full all the time.
This setup also gives the best humbucking effect, I presume. Or am I wrong about this?

Gwyneth Morgan · Post by **Gwyneth Morgan** » 8 May 2009 12:13 pm

That is ingenious.
Thanks for the info, Ulric!

Kay Das · Post by **Kay Das** » 9 May 2009 12:25 pm

Hi Elva,

Great to see you and your guitars again, I bet the new one sounds great! Hope to visit you again soon, will visit with Jozef!

Kay