My New Console Steel

Rockne Riddlebarger · Post by **Rockne Riddlebarger** » 17 Apr 2013 10:41 am

After 105 hours of design and construction work my new steel is a playable intrument. I started designing it in November 2012 and strung it up for the first time last night (4.16.13) I could not be more pleased with the outcome. It has huge round tones and the harmonics leap off the thing. I used the USA Sperzel tuning machines, the George L's E-66 pups and the fretboards from my old Deeks D8. The fretboards are temps until I have time to make the curley maple ones for this guitar. I have been hoarding the two upper pieces of curley maple for over twenty years waiting for this project to come along. I went with a retro three leg setup using the legs and sockets from a new Rogue lap steel and it is actually very stable. The finished weight is 20lbs. The electronics feature a three way neck selector switch, a master volume and the two knob tone circuit from the old Gibson Ultratone/Century/Console Grande. I made individual maple blocks to mount the tuners and the bridge/nut bars are 3/8" round steel rod.

Bill Hampton · Post by **Bill Hampton** » 17 Apr 2013 10:45 am

Beautiful piece of work there Rockne!!

Jim Williams · Post by **Jim Williams** » 17 Apr 2013 11:24 am

Very Nice. Especially like the knobs and the tuning design. Beautiful finish. I've been considering building an 8 string console. Gonna save your photos for reference as I see several helpful design ideas. I had not thought of making the individual mountings for the tuners for instance. I don't have a scroll saw or a router, so that would make that part easier. Hope you don't mind my using some of your design.

Iestyn Lewis · Post by **Iestyn Lewis** » 17 Apr 2013 11:43 am

Looks great!

Rockne Riddlebarger · Post by **Rockne Riddlebarger** » 17 Apr 2013 12:05 pm

Help yourself to anything you like about it Jim! FYI the screws holding down the tuner blocks are 1 1/4" items sold at guitar parts places as Fender Bass pup screws and work perfectly for this. The finish is satin poly applied with a brush. I spent 45 years in the constuction trades, much of as a cabinet makes and finish trim guy so I used all of those skills for this guitar.

David Knutson · Post by **David Knutson** » 17 Apr 2013 1:05 pm

Wow, lovely work. Beautiful pieces of Maple! I see you've got it strung up for two seven-string tunings. Still deciding?

Rockne Riddlebarger · Post by **Rockne Riddlebarger** » 17 Apr 2013 1:48 pm

I have been using the same tunings since 1999, A6 and EMaj. I built as a D8 so that the guitar is ready for any changes that may come in the future.

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 17 Apr 2013 1:58 pm

I have been hoarding the two upper pieces of curley maple for over twenty years waiting for this project to come along.

Excellent project to use them on ... well done!

Don McGregor · Post by **Don McGregor** » 18 Apr 2013 2:30 am

This beautiful!
Could we see the under side? Is it hollow? Is there bracing?
I've been working on a very similar design, and hope mine comes out looking as good as this.

Rockne Riddlebarger · Post by **Rockne Riddlebarger** » 18 Apr 2013 5:08 am

Here is a shot of the underside, it's pretty much a box with corner re-inforcements blocks and two lateral mahogany blocks on which the leg sockets are mounted. I will be making a sheilded cover for the electronics area. the sides and the center joint were all rabbited together. There are no nails or screws used, glue only. This photo is with it in the case, it goes in top down so legs can be screwed on. The case is a keyboard bag the I bought and added cardboard and foam re-inforcement. The cardboard part you see along the side is the cpmartment for the legs.

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 18 Apr 2013 6:28 am

beautiful guitar. that is some accomplishment. I noticed that where the strings go through the body behind the bridge there are no ferrules. are you concerned that the strings will 'bite' into the wood and eventually create pronounced grooves?

Don McGregor · Post by **Don McGregor** » 18 Apr 2013 6:46 am

Thanks for the view of up under. Looks like maybe the center piece of maple that compliments the front and back aprons extends below, and adds bit of stiffening to the middle of the deck.

Andy Henriksen · Post by **Andy Henriksen** » 18 Apr 2013 7:04 am

It's so weird to me that humans can be "moved" by a piece of wood...but good lord, that's gorgeous! Nice work, and good job staying patient and waiting for the right project for it!

I'm also intrigued by the tuning peg blocks. Are you at all concerned about their longterm stability? I don't know how much tension there really is on a piece like that and how that compared to the "gripping power" of the screws and glue (assuming they are also glued). It looks cool though, and is a very logical solution to your tool limitations.

some day I'll make my own D8 or maybe even a T8...everytime I see one, it makes me jealous and anxious to start.

Rockne Riddlebarger · Post by **Rockne Riddlebarger** » 18 Apr 2013 7:21 am

Thanks to all for your replys....Don, that center apron does extend to the bottom of the lower table and is rabbeted like the outside ones then capped with a maple strip. Randy, I didn't use ferrules at this point, I will be watching the holes closely and may add them if needed. Andy, the tuning blocks are not glued but only screwed into very solid 3/4" maple, it's another detail I will monitor closely. I figured if the screws won't hold then a bit of glue wouldn't either. I think the actual direction of the exerted force toward the nut bar will not overcome the screws. While there is certainly some lift I think there is more shear force involved, a force screws deal with very well. I also inserted those screws into the very smallest pilot hole possible for maximum bite.
Every part of this guitar except for that small strip underneath and the mahogany blocks is full 3/4" solid maple.

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 18 Apr 2013 4:00 pm

maple is a gorgeous wood. difficult to work with. You did a fantastic job.
maple ages to a warm yellow. send pictures every ten years.

Russell Adkins · Post by **Russell Adkins** » 19 Apr 2013 10:51 am

That Steel looks pretty good .

Rockne Riddlebarger · Post by **Rockne Riddlebarger** » 19 Apr 2013 11:28 am

I played this steel last night in the first of the final 4 shows of THE HONKY TONK ANGELS in Maysville, Ky ant the historic Washington Opra House. It performed outstandingly and drew compliments from all. here is a shot of it at my stage position at a warm up before the show.

Rockne Riddlebarger · Post by **Rockne Riddlebarger** » 20 Apr 2013 6:00 am

Here is a photo from the construction period of this steel, it takes a lot of clamps for these long joints.

Robert Burgess · Post by **Robert Burgess** » 30 Apr 2013 5:09 am

Nice work Rock' but chrome legs would set her off a treat,give the lady some classy pins'.

Rockne Riddlebarger · Post by **Rockne Riddlebarger** » 30 Apr 2013 3:27 pm

Pretend she's wearing black stockings! This "lady" needed to go to work and make some money, not spend more on cosmetics...........

Ernie Galletta · Post by **Ernie Galletta** » 6 May 2013 10:52 am

Wow!...I want It!

Rockne Riddlebarger · Post by **Rockne Riddlebarger** » 6 May 2013 1:19 pm

Sorry, Ernie...I'm keepin' it! This steel sounds so good and is so playable, it has exceeded all of my expectations. I've had to futz around with the electronics a bit. I started with the old Gibson two tone setup but found it wasn't really that usable so I changed it over to a standard tone control for each neck and that is just right! I also found that the "audio" taper pot I bought for the master volume was a linear taper which made it a little weird but I have come to like it! My western swing band, SPEEDING WEST will be recording some demo's Thur. night and by the weekend they will be on my website. This steel will be featured on the tunes.

Don McGregor · Post by **Don McGregor** » 6 May 2013 3:45 pm

I'm looking forward to hearing this jewel.
BTW, did you ever say what scale length and string spacing you've got going on there? Also curious as to what pot values and caps you're using.

Rockne Riddlebarger · Post by **Rockne Riddlebarger** » 7 May 2013 6:45 am

The scale length is 24", the string spacing is 3/8" at nut and bridge. The pots are all 500K and the caps are .02 and the George L E-66 p'ups have 17.5K Ohms resistance.

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