European made lapsteels

Michael Greer · Post by **Michael Greer** » 19 Dec 2012 3:09 pm

I just purchased this unique lap steel made in the Soviet Union ( attached pic) and was wondering about other european lap steels....We all love our Fenders and Gibsons but am curious if memebers have any pictures to share of Lap steels made in european countries.

Also, not sure about the electronics....this guitar has two sockets that plud in ....suspect the residential power supply in Russia is different voltage.

James Kerr · Post by **James Kerr** » 19 Dec 2012 4:01 pm

I think the power supply voltage depended upon how fast the Wife could pedal.

James.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 19 Dec 2012 4:36 pm

Thanx to the www I've come to love the funkiness of Soviet guitars, at least the looks, most probably don't play worth... much.
But I really dig Vox Humana steels, kinda the Davoli's of the steel world. They used to show up on ebay, but not lately. I nearly had a dbl. 6 that was used in the Kalima Hawaiians, a post WW2 Dutch group.
There's also the fanciful Commodore's from Australia, of which there's a cool thread to search for here.

Rune Alm · Post by **Rune Alm** » 20 Dec 2012 4:42 am

Hi!
This is a video of a guy restoring a Finnish lap steel pickup from the war. Funny video

http://youtube.com/watch?v=J_ocV0fWET0

Peter den Hartogh · Post by **Peter den Hartogh** » 20 Dec 2012 7:30 am

Link to old Vox Humana guitars made in the Netherlands:
http://www.voxhumana.nl/cms/index.php?o ... Itemid=100

Ron, did the Kilima Hawaiians (founded in 1934) use Dutch Vox Humana guitars?
I suppose this was during the war when US imports were forbidden by the Germans?

Michael Greer · Post by **Michael Greer** » 20 Dec 2012 8:33 am

Gents
thanks for your replies. The Vox Humana and Commadores certainly are beautiful looking ......I think I will get my wife a new bike.

Were there any lap steels made in England ,Scotland or Ireland during the 40,s ,50's,60"s ?

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 20 Dec 2012 10:45 am

One of my favorite lap steels, a Framus S8, which features a retuning device built into the bridge, similar to the Hipshot Trilogy, by which you can change the tuning at the flick of a few levers. Great tone. I believe they were made in Germany. They also made twin neck and triple neck models. My friend Basil Henriques used to have the triple neck model, but he sold it because it was too heavy to take around on gigs. Of course, if you can change tunings on the fly, it obviates the need for three necks with bridge tuners on each.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 20 Dec 2012 11:16 am

Peter den Hartogh wrote:Ron, did the Kilima Hawaiians (founded in 1934) use Dutch Vox Humana guitars? I suppose this was during the war when US imports were forbidden by the Germans?

Peter, evidence says that whomever the steeler was for them at the time used the dbl. 6 I mentioned, maybe a DeFrietas, but that's the only example I know of and never found more about that guitar, but at one time saved all the pix of this unique steel. No doubt steels were extra scarce during the war years. And I'm not suprised the group was formed prior to the war. Thanx for the info and link, I used to have that site, it's a good'n.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 20 Dec 2012 11:28 am

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 20 Dec 2012 12:31 pm

That's some serious design and construction there, Doug, goes to show the promise of good tone is in these VH's. Is/was that your's?

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 20 Dec 2012 2:39 pm

It's not mine, unfortunately. I grabbed the pictures off eBay several years ago.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 20 Dec 2012 2:58 pm

Here's a 1957 Framus Bali I owned a couple of years ago. Not the best sounding lap steel I've ever owned, but the most unique looking one! Sometimes buying a guitar for looks is like marrying a woman for looks... sometimes the "beauty is only skin deep"!

Here's a video I made playing this Framus ----> VIDEO

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 20 Dec 2012 3:44 pm

You've been thru more than a few, Doug, what is your fave sounding steel?

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 20 Dec 2012 4:00 pm

Ron, for non-pedal I think I like the Stringmaster best. I also like my Gibson Century 6. I've tried a couple of Rickenbackers, but they just don't feel right to me, for some reason. Just my preference. For pedal steel, Emmons push/pull.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 20 Dec 2012 4:09 pm

Yes, Doug, but all those instruments mentioned are American. I guess you're answering the question asked, but this topic is about European lap steels.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 20 Dec 2012 4:30 pm

Russia isn't part of Europe.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 20 Dec 2012 4:44 pm

Yes, Doug, but all those instruments mentioned are American. I guess you're answering the question asked, but this topic is about European lap steels.

True. I haven't played enough European steel guitars to have an opinion about them. I Have played a Hofner and a Framus, and I didn't like them much. I Do like (Japanese) Guyatones from the 1960s. I'm a Fender freak and most Guyatones are basically copies of Fenders.

Stephen Cowell · Post by **Stephen Cowell** » 20 Dec 2012 4:50 pm

Eskimo Pie!

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 20 Dec 2012 5:06 pm

Sorry bout' the topic drift but
over here even if Russia is not in the EEC/CEE or European Union, , a good part of it is considered to be Europe
The Ural Mountains form a north-south range that divides Europe and Asia
Ladoga and Onega, two of the largest lakes in Europe
the Volga is the longest river in Europe
European Russia (also Western Russia or Central Russia) refers to the Western areas of Russia that lie within Europe, comprising roughly 3,960,000 square kilometres (1,528,560 mi²), larger in area than India, and spanning across 40% of Europe. Its Eastern border is defined by the Ural Mountains and in the South it is defined by the border with Kazakhstan. This area includes Moscow and St. Petersburg

Robert Shafer · Post by **Robert Shafer** » 20 Dec 2012 5:41 pm

A popular lap steel made in the UK, probably Bradford, was the Wyseaki.

These were made by Mr. Z. Wyzecki a Polish luthier. The pick-ups were hand made and wound to the purchaser's spec by a Mr. Cyril Proctor from Leeds.

These guitars were endorsed by the late Kealoha Life, who played for Felix Mendelssohn, and were advertised regularly in the B.M.G. Magazine. (Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar.)

Here's a few pics of mine.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/w ... 185640.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/w ... 0b99aa.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/w ... f6671e.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/w ... seaki2.jpg

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 20 Dec 2012 7:20 pm

Don't forget the Duesenberg.

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 21 Dec 2012 1:12 am

Alan Brookes wrote:

One of my favorite lap steels, a Framus D10, which features a retuning device built into the bridge, similar to the Hipshot Trilogy, by which you can change the tuning at the flick of a few levers. Great tone. I believe they were made in Germany. They also made twin neck and triple neck models. My friend Basil Henriques used to have the triple neck model, but he sold it because it was too heavy to take around on gigs. Of course, if you can change tunings on the fly, it obviates the need for three necks with bridge tuners on each.

My first steel was that same Framus model except for the tuning changer device. I was 14 and didn't know squat about tunings or how to play in general and there was nobody to teach so I sold it to a friend. It did have nice tone!

Michael Greer · Post by **Michael Greer** » 21 Dec 2012 2:57 am

Doug

were any modifications required for the Framus to operate on 120 USA/Canadian electrical current?

Did the Framus have two sockets in its body for a double ended cord to plug in?

thanks
mike

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 21 Dec 2012 6:29 am

Here`s a 25" lap steel custom made for me here in Finland by Ville Tyyster.
Lollar Chicago steel bridge pup, custom made tapped humbucker neck by Rami Hakala. I have a 27" version, too.
335 -type body, center block, hollow wings.
Acoustic type bridge with a piezo pup.
This does it all, more or less....

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 21 Dec 2012 7:45 am

were any modifications required for the Framus to operate on 120 USA/Canadian electrical current?

Did the Framus have two sockets in its body for a double ended cord to plug in?

The Framus Bali had one of those screw-on output plugs (amphenol) that had metric threads. My amphenol connector would not screw onto it, so I had my local guitar shop change the output over to a standard 1/4". They had a hard time installing it because the body was so thin. Other than that there were no issues.

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European made lapsteels

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