New Member - Help me choose a lap steel

Rob MacKillop · Post by **Rob MacKillop** » 17 Mar 2011 11:44 pm

Hi folks. I live in Edinburgh, Scotland. I have been playing a little dobro, but mainly using it more like a country steel. I've decided to go for an 8-string, so I can more easily use different tunings. I've bought Don Helms' book, and De Witt's Basic C6th - both different tunings, so I expect I'll go through a period of each before settling on one.

Anyway, I've identified two instruments within my budget, the Gold Tone LS-8, which is very traditional, and the Slide King by Fern in Amsterdam:
http://www.fernsguitars.nl/lapsteel/slide_king_int.php
- which is more modern. I'd appreciate your comments.

This looks a great site, so I'm pleased to say hello. I've been playing a lot of fingerstyle banjo from the 19th and early 20th centuries, and came here via Banjo Hangout. My website is www.robmackillop.net

Cheers,

Rob

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 18 Mar 2011 12:17 am

Welcome to this Great Forum Rob
i'm sure you're gonna love it here

if i may suggest, George Piburn makes a large variety of 8 string steels fitted to varied budgets
try to contact him & see what he's got to offer at present

george"AT"georgeboards.com

http://www.steelguitarcamp.com/guitars.htm

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=202158

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=202242

Rob MacKillop · Post by **Rob MacKillop** » 18 Mar 2011 1:15 am

Thanks for the links. I guess most people on this site are in the USA, and will quite understandably send me US links, but I'd have to add on 25 percent tax plus shipping with insurance, so I'm looking more to Europe, which is why the Fern link came up. The Gold Tone is available everywhere at pretty much the same price. Those Boards look good, though!

Rob MacKillop · Post by **Rob MacKillop** » 18 Mar 2011 1:16 am

Rob MacKillop wrote:Thanks for the links. I guess most people on this site are in the USA, and will quite understandably send me US links, but I'd have to add on 25 percent tax plus shipping with insurance, so I'm looking more to Europe, which is why the Fern link came up. The Gold Tone is available everywhere at pretty much the same price. Those Boards look good, though!

Oops - I just noticed you are in France! Sorry.

Guy Cundell · Post by **Guy Cundell** » 18 Mar 2011 1:19 am

Hi, Rob.

I love my Goldtone. It is very solid. Feels great but the volume knob would be much better sited on the other side of the neck. It restricts your right hand movement a bit. Also I wasn't happy with the pickup and replaced it with a Jason Lollar "Chicago" model (I think) which turned out great.

Mr Pilburn makes a good axe. I suggest you also investigate John Allison's 8 string units, with or without legs. Very solid, plays beautifully with a broad tonal range. Possibly the closest contemporary sonic equivalent of a Fender Stringmaster. Couldn't be happier with mine!

Steven Pearce · Post by **Steven Pearce** » 18 Mar 2011 1:39 pm

THAT is something to really think about, knob placement. I recently got a new Gretch lap steel. I settled on this for a couple of reasons, aside from price and sound it 'FIT' My right hand has a range on the strings. If I play more 'up the neck' the sound is fuller, close to the pickup and your're chicken-picken. I needed a guitar the the knobs,pickup etc. werent in the way. ALSO, I traded an old lap steel I had for years, looked cool but didnt work because knob placement. It was an OAHU Tonemaster. Call me nuts but I can get it on the Gretch
Always remember, the 'magic' is in you, not what guitar you bring it out with.
Steve

Chris Battis · Post by **Chris Battis** » 18 Mar 2011 2:13 pm

Hi Rob--BHO member Black Flag here. That Fern Slide King looks promising and you'd be near the maker rather than an ocean away if the guitar needed any modifications or (heaven forbid!) warranty work.

I've been happy with most of my old vintage lapsteels, but if I were to buy a new or near-new lapsteel in your price range I'd probably get another Remington.

http://www.remingtonsteelguitars.com/guitars.html

Chris

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 18 Mar 2011 2:54 pm

Hey, Rob - PeterJ from BHO here -- glad you joined us. You've already gotten some great suggestions, but I have to say those Fern Guitars look nice!

While I don't know 8-string instruments, I love my Supro and Bluestem 6 strings. The old Supro/Valco/National instruments are terrific sounding and playing, but I don't know what prices are like on your side of the pond.

Best of luck and keep us up to date on your search.

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 18 Mar 2011 7:01 pm

That Slide King looks like nice steel to me. Beyond the nice looks, it has some top end components, Lollar pickup, good pots and tuners too.

George Piburn · Post by **George Piburn** » 18 Mar 2011 7:50 pm

Rob MacKillop · Post by **Rob MacKillop** » 18 Mar 2011 11:12 pm

Well, what can I say? Many thanks to all the posters. There are many great lap steel's out there! You've given me much to think about.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 19 Mar 2011 1:37 am

Asher Guitars - California - ..................... http://www.asherguitars.com/

Clinesmith Guitars - Oregon - ----http://www.clinesmithinstruments.com/

CruzTone Steel Guitars -California ........... http://www.cruztonesteel.com/

Dustpans & stuff - Virginia ............... http://www.horseshoemagnets.com

Fluger/Marrs - New York ........ http://www.flugerguitars.com/RGS.html

SSHawaiian - Texas - .................. http://www.skobrien.com/sshawaiian/

Harmos Steel Guitars - Minnesota - ....... http://www.harmosmusic.com/

Lapdancer Guitars - California - ........ http://www.lapdancerguitars.com/

Lap King Guitars - Connecticut ... http://www.lapking.com/index.htm

Lapro - Minnesota ......... http://laproguitars.com

MSA - Texas - SuperSlide http://www.msapedalsteels.com/html/homess.html

Remington Steel Guitars - Texas .... http://www.remingtonsteelguitars.com/

Rukavina Guitars - Montana ... http://www.rukavinaguitars.com/index.html

Scantic River Guitar - Massachusetts ........ http://www.scanticriverguitars.com/index.html

Scotty's Fry Pan - St Louis - http://www.timarastringbenders.com/scottyfrypan.html

Tradewind Steel Guitars - ? - .........http://www.tradewindsteelguitars.com/index.html

We need the money guitars - Tennessee - http://www.weneedthemoneyguitars.com/

West Coast Steel Guitar - Washington . http://www.westcoaststeelguitar.com

Europa & other lands :

Duesenberg - Germany - http://www.duesenberg.de/duesenberg/en_ ... psteel.php

Cole Clark guitars - Australia http://www.coleclarkguitars.com/products_lap_steel.asp

Des Anthony - Australia - http://www.desanthony.com/lapsteels.html

Pete Woodman guitars - UK ....... http://www.petewoodmanguitars.com/

Canopus - Japan - ...... http://www.din.or.jp/~canopus/index01.htm

Fuzzy Steel Guitar - Japan - .......................... http://www.fuzzypsg.com/

Fern's Guitars - Holland ....http://www.fernsguitars.nl/index2.php

Hermann Guitars - Italy ....... http://www.lapsteelguitar.net/

there are others too

Rob MacKillop · Post by **Rob MacKillop** » 19 Mar 2011 2:35 am

Wow, many thanks. I'll bookmark this page.

Now, I'm going to disappoint many of you when I say I've gone for a cheap option, just to test the water. It's the Harley Benton Slider 8 http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_slider_8.htm

The 6-string Harley Benton is reputedly a poor instrument, but the 8-string is said to be of a different order, and German made. They sell quickly and are currently out of stock, so I'll have to wait a couple of months, but that's OK.

It comes set up for B11 tuning. At first I thought 'what the...?' but after reading up on it at this forum, I see it is a very useful tuning, and other popular tunings are very close.

If all goes well, I may indeed choose a hand-made instrument this time next year.

Stephen Baker · Post by **Stephen Baker** » 19 Mar 2011 5:43 am

Hi Rob,
I’ve got a Slider 8 that I bought as a “side of the sofa” guitar that is easy to just pick up and play as my wife won‘t let me get rid of the coffee table and set up my Stringmaster in the living room. They are fabulous for the money, solid ash, German built, unlike the Far Eastern Slider 6. The photos on the web site don’t do it justice as the chrome on black looks amazing. I have mine tuned to C6 as a lot of instructional material uses this tuning. My only (minor) gripes are the jack socket could have been in a better place, it doesn’t actually get in the way of the tone knob but it’s a bit close, and the fret markers go a bit off past the 17th. I hope you get one soon you’ll find it worth the wait.
Steve

Rob MacKillop · Post by **Rob MacKillop** » 19 Mar 2011 5:50 am

Thanks, Steve. That is comforting. There are notes above the 17th fret??!! Only kidding.

Funnily enough, though the website said, and still says, they are out of stock, I just got an email saying they have shipped it today. I've had a couple of things from them in the past, and they have given first-rate service. We shall see. I'll let you know. It had better not be B stock...

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 19 Mar 2011 9:38 am

Welcome, Rob. Of the two instruments you were originally considering, I have never heard nor played the Slide King. I have played a Gold Tone LS-8 and I think they're great instruments for the price.

I'd be interested in reading your review of the Harley Benton Slider 8 when you get it.

Rob MacKillop · Post by **Rob MacKillop** » 19 Mar 2011 11:38 am

Will do, Brad.

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New Member - Help me choose a lap steel

New Member - Help me choose a lap steel

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