Lap Steel Sitar?

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 3 May 2013 7:54 pm

This is something I've been thinking about for a while and after consulting with Tom Pettingill, I decided to do a test run on a cheap Rogue lap steel. I did a conversion of the bridge by installing a cut Tele bridge and a set of Rockinger sitar saddles. Altogether it set me back about $200. ($89.99 shipped for the steel, with legs and gig bag--I will add, it's a piece of junk).

Anyway, it really took me a long time to set it up and get it right. I won't go into the details.

I don't proclaim to be a player of Indian music, but I really want this sound in my arsenal. I will have one built using different hardware. Who knows what the future may hold?

Here's a short clip of me noodling around in C6 tuning: https://soundcloud.com/hoopii/lap-steel-sitar-test

Let me know what you think.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 3 May 2013 8:20 pm

Sounds pretty cool. Very sitar-like.

Steve Cunningham · Post by **Steve Cunningham** » 3 May 2013 8:28 pm

I like it a lot Mike...very non-cheesy, which I think is saying something for any kind of sitar simulation. You've got me thinking dangerous thoughts, my friend.
BTW, I dig the Metheny reference...I've been playing "James" on 8-string with my duo. His lyrical style translates to steel playing very well.

Andrew Roblin · Post by **Andrew Roblin** » 4 May 2013 2:31 am

I love it, Mike.

Groovy as can be.

Andrew Roblin
International Sho-Bud Brother & Sisterhood
Member #79, Janitor

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 4 May 2013 3:24 am

Any pics of the conversion?

Laurence Pangaro · Post by **Laurence Pangaro** » 4 May 2013 4:05 am

Super cool sounds, Mike!

What are your design ideas for the proposed instrument? I'm imagining something with a pretty long scale length.

ciao,
Laurence

p.s. Ooops! Right, no details.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 4 May 2013 4:19 am

Scott Duckworth wrote:Any pics of the conversion?

Scott, if I show you, I will have to kill you!

John Wilson · Post by **John Wilson** » 4 May 2013 7:44 am

+1 on the groovy
(and pass the `shrooms)

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 4 May 2013 8:57 am

"Scott, if I show you, I will have to kill you!"

Can't hurt any worse than me breaking the E9 G# on my pedal steel putting on brand new strings... dang that thing hurt!

Daniel McKee · Post by **Daniel McKee** » 4 May 2013 10:44 am

Thats neat I think it sounds good.

Mitch Druckman · Post by **Mitch Druckman** » 4 May 2013 11:14 am

Those Rockinger saddles are very clever. It looks like the height adjusters also adjust the angle for the buzz effect.

Peter den Hartogh · Post by **Peter den Hartogh** » 4 May 2013 11:42 am

The low string is too slack and it lost the sitar sound.
Wy don't you try and tune the guitar one whole note up to see if the effect works better with much tighter strings? You dont have to worry about the bar weight anymore.
Nice playing, Mike...as usual.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 4 May 2013 12:11 pm

I actually wasn't using a bar, but instead I use a glass slide. I forget who made it. I kind of like where the low string is at, though--it reminds me of a fretless bass.

Stephen Abruzzo · Post by **Stephen Abruzzo** » 4 May 2013 1:39 pm

Very cool....I think the low string adds to the mystique of the sound. There's a certain "hollow" quality to the sound (esp on low notes) that is quite intriguing.

No telling what would happen if you and Steve Cunningham ever got together and played.

You did a good job of pushing the boundaries.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 5 May 2013 10:50 am

K'nishhoopi rides again........

Of course I'm in agreement with everyone else.....nice boundary pushing......

Bob Muller · Post by **Bob Muller** » 5 May 2013 3:35 pm

Mike, have you ever tried taking an old steel bar and grinding about a 3/8 flat spot on one side. I had a friend over here a few days back using a bar like that and getting a very similar sound. It would be interesting to hear on a guitar that already sounds that way.

Kevin Brown · Post by **Kevin Brown** » 6 May 2013 2:31 am

I think that works really well Mike. i could use that a lot at the moment, do share your 'difficult' moments and any future mods.

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 6 May 2013 5:23 am

Once again, Dave Easley jumps the gun.... he's got a real bone sitar bridge and then carved a channel in it that fits snug to his regular bar. So he gets the weight behind the curve of the bone and the bar becomes the squeaky thing, but controllably angled all over the neck.

Easley=controllable, not me.

I've fiddled with making a bar to do that, but never in depth. The modern trend in sitars is to make the bridge much higher angled for a much clearer tone - I heartily applaud!

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 6 May 2013 2:51 pm

Very cool Mike ... well done!

Anyway, it really took me a long time to set it up and get it right.

As we discussed, I figured that might be the case, but it sounds like you have it pretty well dialed in. The only significant thing that caught my ear was some rattle on the lower strings, but don't know if thats bridge related or bar rattle from a low slot in the nut.
In any event, looking forward to seeing / hearing where you take it.

Steve Pierce · Post by **Steve Pierce** » 13 May 2013 8:05 am

If you want to do that sitar sound on the fly, you can do the Rob Ickes trick. He turns the bar parallel to the strings until it starts to get that buzzing sound. You'll hear him do this on his version of Caravan

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Lap Steel Sitar?

Lap Steel Sitar?

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