advice needed: lap steel building/designing information and
Moderator: Brad Bechtel
- Burney Warren
- Posts: 10
- Joined: 4 Jan 2014 9:52 am
- Location: Arkansas, USA
advice needed: lap steel building/designing information and
Hello,
I am an apprentice stringed instrument builder/designer and an aspiring lap steel player. I am interested to study many models of lap steel guitars in order to design and build a unique high quality instrument. My favorite in tone and play-ability, so far, is an Emmons 8 string lap steel that I use in a C6 variant tuning. Although, I'd like to design a lap steel with two setups in different tunings. I could use advice on hardware, woods, laminate tops, inlays, bindings. If you would like to post pics here that would be great. Any and all advice is welcome here. I would like to say thank you to all who have replied to the posts I've created before this. I am new to the forum and appreciate every one of you. I am really having a good time with my steel guitar, now. God Bless Yall!
I am an apprentice stringed instrument builder/designer and an aspiring lap steel player. I am interested to study many models of lap steel guitars in order to design and build a unique high quality instrument. My favorite in tone and play-ability, so far, is an Emmons 8 string lap steel that I use in a C6 variant tuning. Although, I'd like to design a lap steel with two setups in different tunings. I could use advice on hardware, woods, laminate tops, inlays, bindings. If you would like to post pics here that would be great. Any and all advice is welcome here. I would like to say thank you to all who have replied to the posts I've created before this. I am new to the forum and appreciate every one of you. I am really having a good time with my steel guitar, now. God Bless Yall!
_Burney Warren
Emmons 8-String Lap Steel
Vox Volume Pedal
Vox Valvetronics Amp
Fender Stage Lead Amp (used with Albert King by Keith Green)
Digitech Istomp
medicine bottle/1" copper pipe/Stevens Bar...
Emmons 8-String Lap Steel
Vox Volume Pedal
Vox Valvetronics Amp
Fender Stage Lead Amp (used with Albert King by Keith Green)
Digitech Istomp
medicine bottle/1" copper pipe/Stevens Bar...
- Burney Warren
- Posts: 10
- Joined: 4 Jan 2014 9:52 am
- Location: Arkansas, USA
also, i am currently amplifying through a VOX valvetronics and it cuts through the band's mix, very well. I am not opposed to advice in amplification either. this is all new to me.
_Burney Warren
Emmons 8-String Lap Steel
Vox Volume Pedal
Vox Valvetronics Amp
Fender Stage Lead Amp (used with Albert King by Keith Green)
Digitech Istomp
medicine bottle/1" copper pipe/Stevens Bar...
Emmons 8-String Lap Steel
Vox Volume Pedal
Vox Valvetronics Amp
Fender Stage Lead Amp (used with Albert King by Keith Green)
Digitech Istomp
medicine bottle/1" copper pipe/Stevens Bar...
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- Posts: 291
- Joined: 5 Nov 2000 1:01 am
- Location: waco tx
- James Kerr
- Posts: 1674
- Joined: 16 Feb 2008 7:40 am
- Location: Scotland, UK
Have a look here, a search of the Forum will turn up similar pages of Lap Steels.
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=134200
James.
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=134200
James.
-
- Posts: 635
- Joined: 13 Dec 2008 9:07 am
- Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Burney, where in Arkansas are you? I'm in Jonesboro, and am starting to build a couple of steels after a lot of research. I've found myself taking what I like most about different instruments, and working these details into my own designs. It depends a lot on what you like, or envision in a steel, and then what skills and tools you have to work with.
I think a single neck is much easier to design and build than a double. All sorts of ergonomic and mechanical complications are introduced when you add the second neck, especially if you intend to have on-deck volume or tone controls.
Or, you can just take a big chunk of wood, and carve away everything that doesn't look like part of a steel.
I think a single neck is much easier to design and build than a double. All sorts of ergonomic and mechanical complications are introduced when you add the second neck, especially if you intend to have on-deck volume or tone controls.
Or, you can just take a big chunk of wood, and carve away everything that doesn't look like part of a steel.
- David Mason
- Posts: 6072
- Joined: 6 Oct 2001 12:01 am
- Location: Cambridge, MD, USA
Steel Guitar Builder's Forum:
http://steelguitarbuilder.com/forum/index.php
Musical Instrument builder's forum:
http://www.mimf.com/phpbb/
Guitar Repair Bench:
http://www.mimf.com/phpbb/
Frets.com
http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/pagelist.html
This last one has shop tips and articles about building your own tools instead of buying them all, worth it's weight in... parts?
http://www.frets.com/HomeShopTech/hstpages.html
http://steelguitarbuilder.com/forum/index.php
Musical Instrument builder's forum:
http://www.mimf.com/phpbb/
Guitar Repair Bench:
http://www.mimf.com/phpbb/
Frets.com
http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/pagelist.html
This last one has shop tips and articles about building your own tools instead of buying them all, worth it's weight in... parts?
http://www.frets.com/HomeShopTech/hstpages.html
- Jack Hanson
- Posts: 5024
- Joined: 19 Jun 2012 3:42 pm
- Location: San Luis Valley, USA
- David Matzenik
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: 8 Oct 2004 12:01 am
- Location: Cairns, on the Coral Sea
There are a lot of things to consider, but one detail overlooked on a lot of guitars is the placement of the controls. The tone control can go anywhere not in the way of your picking hand, but the volume control should be in a position that is easy to reach with the 4th finger when doing volume swell and violin. Near the bridge, it can be quite close to the top string without getting in the way. Sometimes there is way too much strum room. I would say about one inch between the string and the center of the control.
The wood for the body should be dense; the softer it is the more vibration it will soak up. The bridge and the nut should be as close to integral as physically possible for maximum transfer and sustain.
The wood for the body should be dense; the softer it is the more vibration it will soak up. The bridge and the nut should be as close to integral as physically possible for maximum transfer and sustain.
Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother.
- Burney Warren
- Posts: 10
- Joined: 4 Jan 2014 9:52 am
- Location: Arkansas, USA
location
Don, check pm. I am from Memphis, but I currently live in West Memphis. I would like to meet you if possible. I was referred to this site by Richard Ford. He plays with my brother in law in the band Big Barton. He has been a great help to me getting started on steel.
_Burney Warren
Emmons 8-String Lap Steel
Vox Volume Pedal
Vox Valvetronics Amp
Fender Stage Lead Amp (used with Albert King by Keith Green)
Digitech Istomp
medicine bottle/1" copper pipe/Stevens Bar...
Emmons 8-String Lap Steel
Vox Volume Pedal
Vox Valvetronics Amp
Fender Stage Lead Amp (used with Albert King by Keith Green)
Digitech Istomp
medicine bottle/1" copper pipe/Stevens Bar...