looking for my first lap steel

Eric Davidson · Post by **Eric Davidson** » 7 May 2010 7:48 am

Let me say first that I love this site, everyone has been so helpful. I am looking to buy my first lap steel and want to play some old country stuff. I have been looking on-line at some of the old Fender guitars and am wondering what more experienced players thought of them. I love the way these guitars look and I do love anything vintage but realize that thers a lot more to it. Are they good guitars? Sound good? Good to learn on? Thanks everyone.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 7 May 2010 7:54 am

What is your budget Eric?

I just got a 1952 Fender Dual Pro, which has a great sound for that old time country stuff I would imagine.

Eric Davidson · Post by **Eric Davidson** » 7 May 2010 7:56 am

I would like to stay in the $400 range if possible as I am selling a guitar to buy the steel.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 7 May 2010 8:29 am

The older Fender steel guitars are excellent instruments. For that price, you may be able to find a Fender Champion or Champ lap steel, either of which will be great for playing "old country stuff".

Even the current model Fender FS-52 lap steel should be found for well under your budgeted price. It's not as nice a guitar (in my opinion) but should be just fine for learning.

The most common problem you'll encounter (if any) seems to be problems with the tuners. On some of these models the plastic tuner buttons have deteriorated (an easy fix with replacement buttons available most places).

Craig Prior · Post by **Craig Prior** » 7 May 2010 8:34 am

Bill McCloskey said: "...I just got a 1952 Fender Dual Pro, which has a great sound for that old time country stuff I would imagine."

Bill, is that the one they had advertised on Buffalo Bros?

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 7 May 2010 8:54 am

No, I traded a dobro to a forumite for it. I arrived on Tuesday but I've been recovering from knee surgery since weds and haven't had a chance to really play it yet. It sounds sweet though

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 7 May 2010 9:13 am

Eric Davidson wrote:I would like to stay in the $400 range if possible as I am selling a guitar to buy the steel.

You'll need a good hound to sniff out a vintage Fender within your budget, Eric, but it can happen, especially in your rural areas where getting top dollar or beyond isn't always the ultimate goal.
That old country sound is a classic part of Fender steels, but it can be had from virtually any steel via your hand's techniques and set up.

As usual, I'll suggest you look at these www.dynalap.com IMO the best bang for your buck, with superb sound built in. I'd suggest starting with 8 strings.
They fit your budget, and if you get the kit you'll not only learn about different aspects of your steel as you put it together (it's simple) but you'll probably get enuf change back from your $400 to celebrate with a good dinner or buy a bar and picks.

Have fun!

Paul M. Matthews · Post by **Paul M. Matthews** » 8 May 2010 6:20 am

Eric Davidson wrote:I would like to stay in the $400 range if possible as I am selling a guitar to buy the steel.

Not vintage, but for the $400 range you can have a 6 or 8 string Lap steel built just for you. You pick the type wood, color of stain, choice of pickup, knob position, tuning and comes with a Gig bag and cord. Bob also is available by email to answer your questions. He even walks you through the whole process with progress pictures by email...DUH!!
A NO BRAINER!!!
http://www.musonmt.com/

I HAD THE MELBERT PRO 8 BUILT FOR ME AND LOVE IT!

Peter Lindelauf · Post by **Peter Lindelauf** » 9 May 2010 8:30 am

Check out this guy's lap steels, Eric. Handmade in Quebec. I bought a nice walnut 6-string from him last fall for about $250. He has a mahogany 6-string listed for sale right now.

http://myworld.ebay.ca/huguitar/

Eric Davidson · Post by **Eric Davidson** » 11 May 2010 6:02 pm

Thanks Peter I bought this guitar on ebay for about $180. Im really excited about it.

Peter Lindelauf · Post by **Peter Lindelauf** » 11 May 2010 6:38 pm

Sure you'll enjoy it, Eric. He does very nice work and pretty hard to beat that price unless you go Chinese. By the way, that was my bid you beat. Thanks. Would've been hard-pressed to explain another guitar showing up in the mail.

Richard Sevigny · Post by **Richard Sevigny** » 11 May 2010 7:11 pm

Peter Lindelauf wrote: Would've been hard-pressed to explain another guitar showing up in the mail.

Gee, I don't know how it got there dear, really!!

Josh Cho · Post by **Josh Cho** » 12 May 2010 4:22 am

I've been advising new players about the Dynalap for a while, so I decided I better try one out myself.

And after playing a gigging with one, I must say, Dynalaps offer way more value than the purchase price--just as I suspected.

Here's a shot of my new Model 2--with full review to come soon,

You may hear this very guitar playing the bossa classic "No More Blues" in the following thread:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=183775

Ray Shakeshaft · Post by **Ray Shakeshaft** » 12 May 2010 6:01 am

Hi Eric, I see that you have now took the plunge but I watch the Ebay (US) and I see a lot of very nice 'vintage' lap steels going for quite reasonable prices by our European standards, indeed I have taken advantage of two of them and even after paying import duty into the UK and not a particularly good exchange rate I still feel that I have a bargain. (Both would cost at least twice what I paid in total and even more in London shops)

Obviously there are a lot more old lap steels floating around over there than in the UK and so I suppose that our prices get inflated by the rarity value.

Have a good time with the new acquisition.

Peter Lindelauf · Post by **Peter Lindelauf** » 12 May 2010 10:48 am

Loved (and saved) that tune, Josh, and the Dynalap looks awful tempting. Beautiful design and surprisingly good price for the finished vs kit model.

Rocky Graham · Post by **Rocky Graham** » 12 May 2010 1:14 pm

I just got my first lap steel about a month ago and I found a guy in Tennessee who build really nice ones for a very reasonable price. His company is Allen Melbert and I got to choose the wood, the finish and had options for the pickups etc. It's a beautiful, solid instrument and I think it sounds great. Bob is a very nice guy and he stayed in touch all through the process of ordering and as he built it. He was also very helpful to me as I had a lot of questions since I was a total newbie at lap steel. The only downside is that it takes a few weeks, but if you can wait that long I highly recommend him. Here'a a picture of mine. It's ash with a clear finish:

http://www.musonmt.com/

Rich Hlaves · Post by **Rich Hlaves** » 12 May 2010 3:23 pm

Peter Lindelauf wrote:Would've been hard-pressed to explain another guitar showing up in the mail.

I Know what you've been doing!......... Did your friend get you a full report On the item I drop shipped for you? I didn't hear a word after it was delivered.

Sounds like you need one of Mr. Boards "Stealth" Models.

Peter Lindelauf · Post by **Peter Lindelauf** » 12 May 2010 5:11 pm

"Drop shipped." That's a good one, Rich. The Kay you sold me in the forum classifieds now has a happy home in Boulder Creek, CA, which is a long way from here. Think I just need another (Canadian) shipping address as my wife likely can't tell one lap steel from another and probably wouldn't notice a "new" one if I put an "old" one in its case for a while.

The Steel Guitar Forum

looking for my first lap steel

looking for my first lap steel

Dyna's