Idea for Lap Steel Holder for standing...(Video added)

Terry VunCannon · Post by **Terry VunCannon** » 19 Mar 2015 12:26 pm

I have been working on a Lap Steel holder to make it possible to play standing. I have used the one used by Roosevelt from the Lee Boys as my plan. The back will be about the size of a Washboard, with a top platform to hold the lap. Attached to a guitar strap, this just might work out fine.

Terry VunCannon · Post by **Terry VunCannon** » 19 Mar 2015 12:27 pm

I know my Blueprint art is crude...(Hey, I'm a lap steel player)

Terry VunCannon · Post by **Terry VunCannon** » 19 Mar 2015 12:45 pm

Here is the one that Roosevelt with the Lee Boys uses that I am using as my plan...

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 19 Mar 2015 7:05 pm

Looking forward to seeing what you get cooked up

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 20 Mar 2015 6:38 am

Wouldn't it be easier to just sit down?

Terry VunCannon · Post by **Terry VunCannon** » 20 Mar 2015 7:19 am

It probably would Erv...but I want more in a live show.
Plus, our band plays a pretty aggressive show live, and I know it is easier to interact with the crowd standing up.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 20 Mar 2015 7:23 am

There was a steel player on the Grand Ole Opry who played an electric Gibson standing up and it looked like he just used a dobro strap. I think it was Cousin Jody.
He always wore bib overalls and didn't have any teeth.

Jack Aldrich · Post by **Jack Aldrich** » 20 Mar 2015 7:50 am

Erv Niehaus wrote:There was a steel player on the Grand Ole Opry who played an electric Gibson standing up and it looked like he just used a dobro strap. I think it was Cousin Jody.
He always wore bib overalls and didn't have any teeth.

You are correct.

Kekoa Blanchet · Post by **Kekoa Blanchet** » 20 Mar 2015 4:47 pm

Here he is! But according to Jody, he's playing a biscuit board, not an electric Gibson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjGXFnKLbk8

George Piburn · Post by **George Piburn** » 20 Mar 2015 5:45 pm

You might want to talk about this with Mark Roeder (Deluxe 34 Stands).

Part of his business is making Tents I am certain he is familiar with Lighter Weight Materials, Bending, Tubular Aluminum and this sort of information.

Hope you eye deer works out to Fruition.

Stephen Cowell · Post by **Stephen Cowell** » 20 Mar 2015 9:05 pm

Here's what Mark was demoing at his booth... he was right next to Ram guitars, who made the guitar. Great stuff...

Greg Maass · Post by **Greg Maass** » 20 Mar 2015 9:58 pm

If you don't mind drilling a couple of holes in the bottom of your guitar- as you can see, my '53 Oahu Diana is already pretty beat up.

This is a piece of refrigerator tubing along with a couple of clamps. The tubing slides right in, and it fits me perfectly when standing. I've played dobro for a long time, so I am used to this, and it is much more fun than sitting down when the rest of the band is standing.

I have no mechanical abilities, so if I could do this, anyone could...

Terry VunCannon · Post by **Terry VunCannon** » 21 Mar 2015 5:37 am

That's cool Greg...I like it. I don't want to drill my Nationals tho, they are in almost time capsule shape...I don't want to drill em even for a strap button.

Terry VunCannon · Post by **Terry VunCannon** » 21 Mar 2015 5:43 am

And yes George & Stephen, Mark with Deluxe 34 is great...he has already helped me with my X-Stand that I use now.

Greg Maass · Post by **Greg Maass** » 21 Mar 2015 10:30 am

Terry VunCannon wrote:That's cool Greg...I like it. I don't want to drill my Nationals tho, they are in almost time capsule shape...I don't want to drill em even for a strap button.

Yeah, would not want to do this on a pristine instruments, but if that isn't an issue, this is a workable solution that is fully removable if needed.

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 23 Mar 2015 5:00 am

Terry - I like the idea of what you drew. Not sure why the panel that rests against you needs to be so long, though. Wouldn't 3-4 inches be enough to keep the platform stable? Could you cut it off right under the connection for the support brace?

I'm envisioning it like the sides of a squareneck reso. My stand-up steel (the Strap Steel -- see my avatar) is less than 3" deep, and it stays in place just fine.

On the other hand, a longer panel offers you some sponsorship opportunities...

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 23 Mar 2015 7:16 am

Didn't MSA build a lap steel that had a couple of shafts and a pad that extended in and out from the guitar ao you could play it standing up? I forget what they called it.

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 23 Mar 2015 8:21 am

Erv Niehaus wrote:Didn't MSA build a lap steel that had a couple of shafts and a pad that extended in and out from the guitar ao you could play it standing up? I forget what they called it.

Yes, it was called the freedom bar

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 23 Mar 2015 10:23 am

this is all unnecessary. i've played my rick b6 with just a strap,standing. if you're all so handicapped, mount it on your walker.

edit--i thought that would be funnier ..!!

Dustin Rhodes · Post by **Dustin Rhodes** » 23 Mar 2015 10:37 am

chris ivey wrote:this is all unnecessary. i've played my rick b6 with just a strap,standing. if you're all so handicapped, mount it on your walker.

Quite helpful as always.

Don Crowl · Post by **Don Crowl** » 24 Mar 2015 3:27 pm

I've done some jams using a walker on which I installed extended legs to match a comfortable stand up playing height; looks like a regular walker with a lap steel resting on top, only higher. The original walker unmodified rubber hand grips hold my lap steels without slipping. If someone bumped into the set up I suspect it could push off the steel, though the four legs hold it stable. I even had a Native American design apron made to attach on the front for fun decoration. I need to figure a way to hold the apron on more securely if I want to use it again. Another neat thing about it is that it folds nicely & is pretty convenient to transport.

Greg Maass · Post by **Greg Maass** » 24 Mar 2015 8:49 pm

I'm posting some more pictures of the rig that I came up with, as some people have asked for more details.

Here it is attached:

You need a couple of tubing clamps like these:

They are attached to the plate (which is screwed to the bottom of the guitar) using a couple of wing nuts. When the clamps are attached, they look like this:

Then you get some bendable copper refrigerator tubing, bend it to the right shape, and insert it into the clamps. Note that the ends of the tubing will be flush with the sides of your guitar.

You will need to spend a little time in a decent hardware store to get the right thickness tubing and clamps- I actually had to order the clamps online, as my local store did not have the right size.

Any questions, let me know. I'm really happy with this system- it is very stable and you can remove it anytime.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 25 Mar 2015 9:42 am

just leaves a few screw holes.

Terry VunCannon · Post by **Terry VunCannon** » 21 Apr 2015 6:50 am

I played out with the Lap Tray prototype, and it works great. Got to fine tune it, make a couple of changes...then I will post more pictures.

Stephen Abruzzo · Post by **Stephen Abruzzo** » 21 Apr 2015 7:20 am

Pretty neat set-up Terry. Looks like it came right out of Woodshop class. Is your tray very heavy?

The Steel Guitar Forum

Idea for Lap Steel Holder for standing...(Video added)

Idea for Lap Steel Holder for standing...(Video added)

Eye Deer

Here is what I am using.

More pics of homemade belly bar