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Topic: Clinesmith Lap Steel Photos |
Todd Clinesmith
From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
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Posted 6 Jul 2009 7:33 pm |
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I have had many requests for photos, and figured the easiest way to get them out was threw the forum.
Here are some photos of the first batch of Clinesmith Lap steels.
40's style pickup cover:
40's full shot with legs. The models with legs are 1/4 inch thicker to hold the flush mounted inserts
Underside of flush inserts:
Lap with 50's style pickup cover. I think the 40's style looks the coolest but the 50's style is removable and gives a bit more room to the right hand:
All guitars shown are Eastern Hard Rock Curly maple, cast aluminum parts and all hand made here in Oregon . Coming soon is a 10 string Lap steel and 8 string lap with parallel strings spaced up to 3/8ths of an inch from bridge to nut or just about any custom spacing. They should be ready to go in 4-6 weeks.
Thanks for looking . More photos coming soon.
Todd |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 6 Jul 2009 8:56 pm
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Todd, I'm your #1 fan. Those guitars look exquisite! Such beautiful maple. The legs are a real nice touch.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 6 Jul 2009 9:48 pm
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Man, they look great!
Hey - I thought I was Todd's number one fan! 
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Mark |
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Jussi Huhtakangas
From:
Helsinki, Finland
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Posted 7 Jul 2009 1:45 am
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| Just breathtaking, Todd you're the man!!! |
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Todd Clinesmith
From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
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Posted 7 Jul 2009 7:00 am
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Thanks Mike I appreciate the comments, and glad you are enjoying yours. The guitars look great but the sound, and playability is most important, in your hands the guitar really shines.
Tom, I always appreciate your comments and work.
Thanks Mark and Jussi.
Here is a few more photos
Details of the 50's style pickup cover:
The back side:
These come with a custom heavy duty soft shell case made by Blue Heron Case Co. Has pouch in front for picks ect.. a shoulder strap, and guitars with legs have an extra separate (attached) compartment for the legs :
Here is a shot of the butt end. Shows the jack and serial number. This is a photo of #001. Heading out to Chas Smith today. Chas graciously let me take an 8 hour day at his place 1 1/2 years ago, to take all the specs needed off of his 1948 D-8 that once belonged to Joaquin Murphey. I could not have done any of this "right, with out his help, with this guitar and many parts on the console steels. Thank you Chas!
and #002 with no cover
and the logo . The art work was done by Jeremy Wakefield
It's been a long haul getting all the parts made for these guitars, and getting everything perfect. Thanks for all the interest I've had on these wonderful instruments.
Todd |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 7 Jul 2009 7:47 am
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Todd, you're right--I don't think one can really fully appreciate these guitars until he plays one.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Doug Freeman
From:
Los Angeles, CA
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Posted 7 Jul 2009 8:01 am
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| Todd, thanks for the heads up. I reckon come Thursday I'll start hanging out on Chas' front door step and intercept all deliveries. |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 7 Jul 2009 9:34 am A QUESTION about those Clinesmiths............
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Todd:
Do your volune/tone knobs have knurled etchings in them or are they smooth plastic or Bakelite or whatever?
No matter what anyone else says, I wouldn't trust my BIGSBY or CLINESMITH in ANY gig bag. DINGS occure when one least expects it and I'm not convniced a 'gig bag' can provide $1,500 worth of protection.
After years of working in hundreds of places and packing it here and there....I'm proud to say that my QUAD BIGSBY has not a single ding in it with the one wxception of a rough spot on the front where a piece of grit got into the case and worked the finish to a slightly dull blemish. |
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Todd Clinesmith
From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
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Posted 7 Jul 2009 6:41 pm
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Ray,
The knobs are a smooth plastic . The lines you see are the "ivoroid" look.
Yes I understand where you are coming from, but these are not your average Chinese flimsy gig bag. I think they offer much more protection than most of the vintage lap steel cases I got with lap steels , where the instrument bangs around in a hardwood box. In the future i may get some hard cases made up but it would add quite a bit to the price, and I am trying to make these affordable, and portable. In the bluegrass world these Blue Heron cases are cherished by many who tote around 40's and 50's Martins , Standup bass' ect. that out value my lap steel 10 times+ over and are 10 times more fragile . And to avoid confusion.. these are made in the USA.
I like what Sierra has done for a case. The ATA cases are nice but I would have to buy several hundred of them to get my foot in the door, and the Clinesmith steels, castings and patterns have put me far enough in debt for the time being.I think the most affordable alternative would be a gun case. But... With the strap on the Blue Heron case one can walk into a gig with the lap on back, amp in hand and a free hand to get the door. last comment.. these are a well built case.
Mike you are correct if I do say so my self. These instruments have tone and playability like no other I have found.
Doug... good luck
Jim , I like the coffee table idea. I have been wanting to build my self some furniture again for a while now. Something tells me it will be a while, but when I do you can be second on the list .
Todd |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 7 Jul 2009 7:20 pm
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| Todd Clinesmith wrote: |
| Jim , I like the coffee table idea. I have been wanting to build my self some furniture again for a while now. Something tells me it will be a while, but when I do you can be second on the list. |
I'm gonna hold you to that. 
_________________
www.JimCohen.com
www.RonstadtRevue.com
www.BeatsWalkin.com |
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Gregg McKenna
From:
South Windsor, Connecticut, USA
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Posted 8 Jul 2009 10:40 am
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| That's some very beautiful work Todd. |
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Jonathan Lam
From:
Brooklyn, NY
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Posted 8 Jul 2009 2:55 pm
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| What is the scale on these guitars? |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 8 Jul 2009 3:06 pm A QUESTION for Todd ....................
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or any other steel guitar experts........
Until a few years ago, I was unaware that there were 2 scales (short & long) for steel guitar. It was the SGF Experts that enlightened me.
As a novice steel player, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT REALLY MAKE? Either you CAN play it or you can't!
I don't really understand the fuss. Some manufacturer's EXPERTS determined this scale (or that one) was best suited for THEIR PRODUCT line.
Please explain..........and THANKS in advance. |
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Marc Jenkins
From:
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 8 Jul 2009 9:52 pm
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| Exceptional work Todd! If I had a Romero banjo and one of your steels I'd be set! |
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Todd Clinesmith
From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
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Posted 9 Jul 2009 6:48 am
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Jonathan,
The scale length is 24 7/8.
Ray, obviously any one can play any scale length guitar. I prefer a longer scale instrument. It is just what I am used to, as far as feel and sustain. I have no problem achieving the few slants I use on a longer scale instrument. The shorter scale instruments just sound and feel a bit tight too me. But you are correct one should be fine with either scale length, and in your hands it would not matter a bit. I hope this does not turn into a debate on scale lengths as that has been discussed several times on other threads.
Hi Marc, thanks for the comments. You must be friends with my good buddy Jason Romero. He's quite the craftsman and a great guy.
Todd |
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Marc Jenkins
From:
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 9 Jul 2009 7:09 am
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| Hi Todd, yes I am friendly with Jason, as he married a good friend of mine! Jason told me about you when we first met... |
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Jon Nygren
From:
Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 9 Jul 2009 7:11 am
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Some guys just have a preference for longer or shorter scales. The feel is a bit different, and slanting is a bit different.
I learned on 22.5, and just kinda stayed with those, because it feels familiar. Not a big deal. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 9 Jul 2009 7:48 am
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Ray, I kind of agree with you here--I wouldn't let scale length prevent me from owning the steel I want. The tone and playability are far more important to me. I own guitars that are 22 1/2", 24 7/8" and 25 1/2" and I just make the necessary slight adjustments. I don't play any differently on any of them, but the tone may be different.
The way Todd sets up the guitars, they are perfectly balanced across the strings and they are comfortable to play in any range. The tone is very even all the way up the neck and the sustain in the upper registers is there, unlike several other guitars I've played in the past. Todd, I wouldn't change a thing.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 9 Jul 2009 7:55 am
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The only thing I would add to this is how tunings are effected by scale length. By that I mean that it can be hard to get a G or G# on a long scale. So a longer scale may limit your tuning choices. Any thoughts?
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www.deluxe34.com lap steel stands, Clinesmith, Gibson Console Grande, Northwesterns, The Best Westerns
https://www.facebook.com/TheBestWesterns |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 9 Jul 2009 8:07 am
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| Mark Roeder wrote: |
| The only thing I would add to this is how tunings are effected by scale length. By that I mean that it can be hard to get a G or G# on a long scale. So a longer scale may limit your tuning choices. Any thoughts? |
I used a G# on my Clinesmith console with no problems whatsoever. I believe I used .011, but could have gone .012 easily.
When I buy pre-packaged steel guitar strings, to me the strings always seem a little too slack for a 22 1/2" instrument.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 9 Jul 2009 8:11 am
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I just sent my deposit for a lap yesterday. When I read how long the scale length was I got alittle concerned since the longest I have played so far is 24" with a G#. So I hope it works.
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www.deluxe34.com lap steel stands, Clinesmith, Gibson Console Grande, Northwesterns, The Best Westerns
https://www.facebook.com/TheBestWesterns |
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Jon Nygren
From:
Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 9 Jul 2009 8:31 am
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| I also use an .011 on a longer scale for the G#. You wont have a problem. |
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