My first McGregor Steel

[Don McGregor]

Okay, here it is.






This is my first McGregor steel. It's taken me a while, but I've finally gotten to play something I built.
The body, fret board, and bridge are of Purple Heart. The neck, fret lines, and fretboard binding are Curly Maple, and the Keyhead is Cocobolo. Mother of Pearl dots. Brass nut. 1/4" Stainless steel rod for bridge saddle. Nickel Tulip button Grover tuners. Stainless screws & bolts.
Jerry Wallace TT-8Truetone pickup. 500k pot volume, 250k tone, .020 mf capacitor.
22-1/2" scale with 3/8" center to center string spacing all the way. The keyhead layout allows for a straight, in line string pull. The nut can be easily removed in case I decide to alter the string notches for a different tuning, but for now, it is notched and set up with a high C tuning. High to low - G E C A G E C A
Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish.
Store bought aluminum legs and leg sockets from Sill Music.
I will try and get around to recording something on it soon, and will post.
I do admit, that, although she is totally wired and playable, I still haven't gotten around to making covers for the electronics cavities on the underside. Just couldn't bear to wait any longer. I had previously started a solid body triple neck for my first project, and became overwhelmed. I decided to take two stops back, and start with something simpler for my first, and I find is was a wise decision. NOW, I know how to build the triple.
I spent a long time working out the design for this. I've been playing for a while now, and have definite ideas about what I like.
I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to several people who have helped with advice, encouragement, and inspiration. I'm sure I will be adding to this list as their names come to me.
Here are a few off the top of my head.
My Wife, Cathy, and my kids at home, Selah and Lilah, for being patient while I have spent so much time cloistered out back in the shop. I am a lucky man.
Mark Bracewell. Marks creations are things of beauty, and even if he weren't such a nice guy, I'd still want to get play one of his instruments one day. Especially his What-A-Tone.
Ryan Rukavina. God! The man creates wonders in his shop in Montana. His steels are amazing, and he has made bridges and pickups for me that I intend to use on my next build.
Jerry Lynn of Lynn Guitars. Jerry is another Jonesboro Luthier, who builds beautiful acoustic and electric guitars, and has given me much support along the way.
David Halford of Speaker Services, Memphis, for gifting me this big chunk of Purple Heart.
The Great Billy Robinson, who inspires me every time I hear him, and who was kind enough to share some time and advice with me in Nashville. I will be building a 10 string soon.
Eric Lewis, Monster Musician and Good Guy, who drove over from Memphis to confer and show me some things. I took this knob placement from measurements from his Fender.
Mainly I would like to thank everyone on the Steel Guitar Forum and Steel Guitar Builder websites for all your kindness and advice.
Thank you.

[Randy Reeves]

I enjoy seeing all the nice builds on this forum.
an eight stringer. very nice looking guitar.
Q. which knob is the volume? I am curious about the placement.

[Don McGregor]

Volume is at the end of the neck, and Tone is near the pickup. I don't currently use a lot of volume knob swells, or boowah effects, but Eric Lewis, who does advised me on the placement, and I copied that of one of his Fender consoles.
and thank you for the kind words.

[Tom Pettingill]

Nice job Don

[Don McGregor]

Thank you, Tom.
I must add your name to my list of thanks-you's for all the inspirational content you post on the forum.
I pore over every picture and message you post concerning your builds. I'm in awe of the fluidity of your designs, your attention to detail, and what appear to be flawless finishes.

[Ron Whitfield]

Looks like you did some good homework, Don, and came up with a nice first build. It'll be interesting to see your further efforts. I always like to see parallel string spacing (equal at the nut and bridge), and straight feeds to the tuners as you've done here.

I get curious about what difference in sound/tone would come from dropping the string angle at the nut for all strings, or if a setup as your's is in fact best, with the convex angles, giving the to and bottom most strings the heaviest pressure and the middle the least. If you had a beater proto to feed the inner strings thru eye screws could give a quick answer, but I'm sure your new baby sounds great just as it is. I'll be looking forward to some audio!

[HowardR]

Excellent job!........looks real purty......

[Don McGregor]

Thank you, Howard. I've learned a lot from your posts, and always enjoy your music.
Ron,
Thank you, as well. Most pedal and non pedal steels have a similar arrangement, and it seems to work fine for them. Just going for a straight pull here. I do a lot of behind the bar pulling, and so far this instrument seems to hold its tuning very well.

[Mike Neer]

Don, I agree, it looks gorgeous. My only advice is to change those speed knob into something made of wood. Got any of that purple heart left?

[Don McGregor]

Good eye, Mike.
That is my intention. I am ordering a couple of plug cutters that should make knob manufacturing easy. Still have some Purple Heart. I temporarily borrowed the Gibson knobs from an SG. Just don't quite do the trick with all the pretty woods. They seem a little large in diameter for boowah, too. Does anyone who makes active use of the pots while playing have any suggestions as to diameter? These Gibsons are 1 inch in diameter, and the size of Telecaster knobs just looked a little small when I tried them.
And thank you for the applause. I am a big fan of yours. I've purchased a few of your lessons in the past, and hope to wade over into your Beebop offerings as soon as I have had time to digest some of what I'm already working on.

[Brian Hunter]

NICE! That pickup is what I have in my Melbert. LOVE it.

[David Matzenik]

For a player, there is nothing quite like making your own instrument. Nice work Don.

[Matthew Dawson]

Sharp!

[Matthew Dawson]

Sharp!

[Peter Jacobs]

I like it! Beautiful work, Don.

[Jim Mitchell]

My next one will be an 8 string

I have a doumb question

I see all bridges are fixed at 90 degrees

if you had a non fixed bridge and the string tension held it in place like some guitars

you could slant it to get good intonenation at the 12 fret

Is It required in a steel guitar?

[Don McGregor]

Jim,
90 degrees is best as far as I know. If both a straight nut and straight bridge are at a right angles to the strings, and you put the tone bar across all the strings at the exact halfway point, you should get notes one octave up from the open string notes. In tune. No slanting. With a bar instead of fretted notes, I believe this becomes a moot point.
BTW, I'd need to rig up a chainsaw mill like you had in your picture. Couldn't tell exactly how it was built, but I got the general idea. Just got two chainsaws tuned up and sharpened. I want to cut something.

[Dom Franco]

Beautiful! I really like your head stock, Doe's it seem sturdy enough? Being wood cut that thin and holding the string tension. I want to copy it in 10 or 12 string? I have a nice chunk of purple heart...
Dom

[Don McGregor]

Dom,
Love your "When I Fall...". That's some complicated chord work, and beautiful. Nice 12 string, too. Great job.
Yes, the key head seems to be very solid. I chose Cocobolo for its strength for this first one, but now that I've used it, and seen it in action, I feel safe in using Purple Heart, as well.
I've got a double 10 string in my head that will probably have Billy Robinson's tuning. High C6 with a re-entrant D for the top string above the normal G on one neck, and the same tuning, only to A6 on the other one. That's about as complicated as I feel like getting for now.

[Jerry Gleason]

Nice job, Don! I'll bet it sounds great.

[J. Wilson]

gonna give our ears a l'il taste?