Lap Steel

Clark Doughty · Post by **Clark Doughty** » 30 Mar 2011 4:29 pm

If you're going to try the lap steel how do you decide whether to go with the 6 or 8 string?

Paul Bostic · Post by **Paul Bostic** » 30 Mar 2011 4:51 pm

My Ric B8 allows me to play everything that you can on a 6 string. It also provides two additional bass strings that gives you another octave of range. I think more is better in that case.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 30 Mar 2011 4:59 pm

The first 6 strings are your money strings and you can make a lot of music with just 6; but 8 strings gives you an opportunity to play in a lower octave and I really like it down there.

Wayne D. Clark · Post by **Wayne D. Clark** » 30 Mar 2011 5:36 pm

what Mike and Paul Said.

Wayne

Melbert 8 counsol

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 31 Mar 2011 7:16 am

I think it all depends on the tuning you decide on.
You can get by with 6 strings if you stick with a simple tuning but if you choose a 6th or a 7th tuning or something even more complicated, it's nice to have a couple of extra strings.

Twayn Williams · Post by **Twayn Williams** » 31 Mar 2011 9:07 am

Clark Doughty wrote:If you're going to try the lap steel how do you decide whether to go with the 6 or 8 string?

I can see by your sig that you're a pedal player, so 8 is definitely where you want to be.

OTOH, if you're asking for someone who is new to steel then there are significantly more and cheaper options with 6 and 6 is a better initial learning platform.

PS
Last time I was in Lone Jack MO I got pulled over for speeding and spent the night in jail for an expired parking ticket. 20 years ago!

The Steel Guitar Forum

Lap Steel

Lap Steel

Re: Lap Steel