8-string lap steel - built for ME!!!! NEW PHOTOS

Ben Rubright · Post by **Ben Rubright** » 8 May 2013 10:11 am

There are some suprising things concerning this lap steel. Notice that the strings wrap around the end so that the tuning pegs add no additional length to the guitar. (they are actually Grover banjo pegs) The string length is 24-1/4 inches and the total length of the guitar is 25-1/2 inches. The pick-up is a GeorgeL E-66.

The guitar was built by my friend Jim of https://www.facebook.com/ScreamingAngelGuitars of Venice, FL.

More pictures and info to follow:

Iestyn Lewis · Post by **Iestyn Lewis** » 8 May 2013 10:57 am

That is cool!

Frank James Pracher · Post by **Frank James Pracher** » 8 May 2013 11:17 am

Very cool indeed! Definitely more photos please

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 8 May 2013 11:21 am

You could but a few Scruggs pegs on there so you can access some alternative tunings on the fly.

Ben Rubright · Post by **Ben Rubright** » 8 May 2013 11:59 am

Jeff:

Scruggs tuners is a neat idea.....I had not thought of that. I bet that The Flint Hill Special or Earl's Breakdown would be a breeze.

The rest of the photos are on my wife's phone and she is not at home right now......so a bit later is in order.

Rockne Riddlebarger · Post by **Rockne Riddlebarger** » 8 May 2013 12:52 pm

Very cool...is that a sparkle fretboard?

Ben Rubright · Post by **Ben Rubright** » 8 May 2013 1:19 pm

original photos removed....new photos follow.

The guitar is made from the granite series acrylic. The fretboard is also the same material with acrylic inlays for the frets and fret marks. The body is hollow. The sustain goes on and on and on.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 8 May 2013 1:26 pm

Granite! Did you say how heavy this thing is.

Any acoustic engineer want to weigh in on the pluses and minus of using granite in the body?

Ben Rubright · Post by **Ben Rubright** » 8 May 2013 1:33 pm

The guitar weighs 8 pounds.

Stephen Abruzzo · Post by **Stephen Abruzzo** » 8 May 2013 2:29 pm

Very cool. Love to hear some clips of it. The sides and fretboard resemble a Corian countertop.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 8 May 2013 2:42 pm

That is one super cool guitar, man!

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 8 May 2013 4:54 pm

Very cool ...

Reminds me of forum member Terry Farmer's solid aluminum "Shorty Pan" that I cast for him and made the horseshoe pickup to go in it ...

I still have the "mother" I used in the sand casting procedure ...

Haven't heard from him in a few years ... Hope he's OK ....

Anyway ... Love the Granite

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 9 May 2013 5:16 am

Nice guitar Ben.......unique and well thought out.....enjoy it......

Frank James Pracher · Post by **Frank James Pracher** » 9 May 2013 6:26 am

Granite...... I bet it rocks.

(Sorry, I couldn't help myself)

Al Terhune · Post by **Al Terhune** » 9 May 2013 8:23 am

The nicest and most professional looking modern guitar for my taste (Sierra with a close second). It looks perfect with not a single shortcut. Man. Pure class and integrity. I'd like to see this guy make a case!

Ben Rubright · Post by **Ben Rubright** » 9 May 2013 8:56 am

HowardR: Thanks for the comments...you just know that I intend to have it at the Rick Alexander Room next March in Dallas. I would so much like to hear Carco Clave and Mike Neer play it.

Jim's next lap steel project is a 10-string built to Billy Robinson specs.

Can't wait for TSGA JAMBOREE in MARCH of 2014!!!

Carco was the inspiration for this steel. A few years ago in Dallas he played his 10-string creation that had a Sierra keyless tuner in order to minimize the length of the guitar. I tried to buy a keyless tuner from Gene Fields but he does not sell them individually. I have a Traveler guitar that has a wrap around design to minimize length....why couldn't a lap steel have it? Well, obviously it can. I did not know about the steel that Rick Aiello helped create.

Great comment Frank....it does 'rock'.

Al: Thanks for the nice words...I will make sure that Jim sees all of the comments. Any chance that you are any relationship to Max 'Alibi' Terhune?

Ben Rubright · Post by **Ben Rubright** » 12 May 2013 1:17 pm

I stand corrected...............I have edited my posts....please read.

We have some design changes in mind for the next prototype.

Thanks,

Ben