building something different

Dennis Brown · Post by **Dennis Brown** » 7 Sep 2009 3:17 pm

This is a little creature I'm trying to bring to life. It's a solid aluminum lap, slide, dobro simulater. The hollowed out area leaves only a .030 bottom. A sound post from bridge to the thin bottom
simulates a dobro sound. I have alumitone pick ups and a piezo with pre amp for a variation on tones and sounds. Still experimenting with several crazy thoughts. Also making one to replace the pad on the single neck double body pedal steel it's only 3/4" thick. If the pad is installed with velcro, It could be removed at any time for the six string creature.
Any thoughts? Dennis

Lee Gillespie · Post by **Lee Gillespie** » 7 Sep 2009 4:22 pm

HMMMmmm.... interesting. Great to think out of the box.... Please keep the forum informed of the progress. Lee

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 7 Sep 2009 5:19 pm

Always nice to see some creative thinking.

Stan Schober · Post by **Stan Schober** » 7 Sep 2009 7:13 pm

Verrrrrrrry slickkkkkkk.

Nice work !!!

How about some sound bites ??

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 7 Sep 2009 7:58 pm

Very cool Dennis

Dennis Brooker · Post by **Dennis Brooker** » 8 Sep 2009 4:47 am

Keep going - I to can't wait to hear some sound samples - Anyone named Dennis is always going to be doing something different

DB

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 8 Sep 2009 5:52 am

Nice work! What are you doing your machine work with?

Dennis Brown · Post by **Dennis Brown** » 8 Sep 2009 10:42 am

Thanks for the cool comments guys. The plan is to take it with me 10/04/09 to Michigan. My son is doing the machine work at his place of employment. Until then I'am trying to wire up two alumitones, one piezo, Piezo/magnetic outboard mixing preamp, three mini switches,9volt battery and of course a battery disconnet type 1/4" jack. I find myself stumped on this.
It should give one heck of a variation for the twang and tones if I can figure it out. (Could use some help on this.) Open to helpful suggestions and ideas if you wish to share them.

Dennis.

Stan Schober · Post by **Stan Schober** » 8 Sep 2009 12:46 pm

Dennis Brown wrote:...trying to wire up two alumitones, one piezo, Piezo/magnetic outboard mixing preamp, three mini switches,9volt battery and of course a battery disconnet type 1/4" jack.

is that actually becoming inboard ?

Dennis Brown · Post by **Dennis Brown** » 8 Sep 2009 1:41 pm

Hello Stan. The item discription calls it a ONboard piezo/ magnetic pickup mixing amp. The instructions call it a OUTboard mixing preamp. I just want the dang thing to work when it comes together. So if you want to call it a INboard, thats good for me to.

Inboard it is.... Thanks Stan, enjoy your evening.

Dennis.

Dennis Brown · Post by **Dennis Brown** » 8 Sep 2009 2:17 pm

Hello Dennis Brooker. Yep, something in that name!

Does "D" stand for oh-oh?

Hey Bill, my son is doing the surgery with a CNC.
near Grand Rapids, Mi. (long distance) but the cost
of his labor is is priceless.
Have fun, Dennis

Stan Schober · Post by **Stan Schober** » 8 Sep 2009 7:13 pm

You have a schematic waiting in your inbox...

Mark Bracewell · Post by **Mark Bracewell** » 8 Sep 2009 8:55 pm

I have always felt that a luthier should befriend a machinist at any opportunity, but you actually made one. That's foresight! Well done.

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 9 Sep 2009 5:43 am

Dennis there are already "fry pans".
Call this one, "The Boat Oar".

Dennis Brown · Post by **Dennis Brown** » 9 Sep 2009 9:34 am

It does look somewhat like a boat oar. Now that the shape is running thru my head, it sorta looks like the paddle my dad used on my rear end, it had holes in it to. Those things hurt when you put holes in them.
Why did you have to go there Rick?

Thanks for the comments, and Stan I thank you for all your help. Dennis.

Stan Schober · Post by **Stan Schober** » 9 Sep 2009 10:12 am

You're welcome.
Let me know if you need to revise it in any way.

James Fleming · Post by **James Fleming** » 9 Sep 2009 1:05 pm

Dennis,

Do you have any new photos? Looks like you have a fretboard right behind that cold miller lite, how about a photo of that.(the fretboard, not the beer)

This looks like a cool project.

Chris Fouke at Industrial Guitars builds a lot of Aluminum Lap Steels. He is a nice guy and might be of some help with some of your technical questions.

http://www.industrialguitars.com/contactinfo.html

Dennis Brown · Post by **Dennis Brown** » 9 Sep 2009 3:55 pm

Hi there James, look close, I hope thats a Pepsi. (I didn't tell my wife I took). The Miller Lite comes from my own (shop)fridge. There should be a can somewhere in the pics. The fret board you mentioned is something I used on my pedal Steel's back neck in the 80's in place of the C6th. I really don't remember where it came from.
James, I thank you for your help, It all adds up.

James Fleming · Post by **James Fleming** » 24 Sep 2009 6:12 am

Hey Dennis, I am rebuilding an old Bronson Lap Steel and am toying with the idea of new electronics.

Which Alumitone model pup have you chosen for your guitar.

I see a lot of guys on the forum go with Bass Bars.

Is that something you only need when dealing with 8 ,10 and 12 string guitars, or is it a tone issue for Steel playing?

Thanks,

Jim

Dennis Brown · Post by **Dennis Brown** » 24 Sep 2009 11:22 am

James, I went with the single coils because they where on a clearance table at my local candy store and I also wanted one close to the bridge and one close to the neck. This along with a piezo and pre amp should give a variety of sound for a variety of music. I bought two, three packs. enough for three guitars of this type.
You might ask the other fellers there opinions, They can help you much more than I.

Have a great time. Dennis

C. Brattain · Post by **C. Brattain** » 30 Sep 2009 8:54 am

GREAT IDEA, I would like to hear what it sounds like.
www.texasguitartradingpost.com

Dennis Brown · Post by **Dennis Brown** » 30 Sep 2009 5:02 pm

Thank you, Stan Shober Just finished up the wiring on the thing. I recieved it yesterday. He's been a great help. I'm going to Michigan for a week and I should have something in a couple of weeks. (I hope).
Dennis

Dennis Brown · Post by **Dennis Brown** » 30 Sep 2009 5:03 pm

Thank you, Stan Schober Just finished up the wiring on the thing. I recieved it yesterday. He's been a great help. I'm going to Michigan for a week and I should have something in a couple of weeks. (I hope).
Dennis

Stan Schober · Post by **Stan Schober** » 30 Sep 2009 7:59 pm

You're welcome !
( Gee, I guess I did such a good job, he said it twice...)

Dennis Brown · Post by **Dennis Brown** » 1 Oct 2009 8:59 am

Yep, It was worth repeating myself, don't double dare me to do it again......

( whoooops)

The Steel Guitar Forum

building something different

building something different

Lap steel

creature

Re: creature

Good Q.

whats in a name.

Scheemmmmattic...

shape?

Hi James

Which Alumitone?

alumitones

Hello.

Hello.

Twice?