My Keyless Lap Steels

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 29 Apr 2015 7:12 am

I've had several people ask over the years if I intended to make any more of my lap steels. I have been thinking lately that I may make some more of them,,,in 8 string AND 10 string version. I may also make some sets of keyless tuning fingers available for the DIY'ers. Wondering how much interest there would be. I'll see if I have any pics of the ones I did before,,,,,

Stephen Abruzzo · Post by **Stephen Abruzzo** » 29 Apr 2015 8:16 am

Ver nice work. Really like the ones with the wood grain showing through.

Don McGregor · Post by **Don McGregor** » 29 Apr 2015 8:36 am

Beautiful! I would be interested in keyless tuners. So far they've been kind of cost prohibitive, but i definitely have interest. I've thought of trying to make my on, but I really don't have the proper tools for it. I'd like to know about how much you could sell 6 and 8 string tuners for. I've got a couple of commissioned projects in the design stage right now that might benefit from them. Please keep me posted. You do nice work.

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 29 Apr 2015 10:02 am

I think thats a great idea Sonny!

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 29 Apr 2015 10:31 am

Thanks for the feedback!!

I might mention that the late Rick Alexander bought the red one,,,,I told him I couldn't be more honored if Jerry Bird himself had bought it. Not sure where it wound up.

If I make some more I may come up with a design that is less labor intensive,,,,and yes,,,I'm definitely partial to the natural wood,,,,love beautiful woods!!!

An 8 string set of polished tuners would be in the $50 range.

Frank James Pracher · Post by **Frank James Pracher** » 29 Apr 2015 11:40 am

$50 dollars seems very reasonable for a set of 8 string tuners. You might consider offering a set with a bridge like the one on the red guitar pictured. So a person would just have to add the wood and a pickup.
I've always loved the look of these keyless designs.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 29 Apr 2015 12:13 pm

sonny. sent you an email. thx!

Ken Campbell · Post by **Ken Campbell** » 29 Apr 2015 3:16 pm

Frank James Pracher wrote:$50 dollars seems very reasonable for a set of 8 string tuners. You might consider offering a set with a bridge like the one on the red guitar pictured. So a person would just have to add the wood and a pickup.
I've always loved the look of these keyless designs.

This.

Jim Myers · Post by **Jim Myers** » 29 Apr 2015 6:58 pm

I too would be interested in keyless tuners for my next project. In a couple of days I'll be posting pics of my new creation. You've done a great job on those.

David Venzke · Post by **David Venzke** » 29 Apr 2015 8:42 pm

Interested. Sent you a PM ...

Larry G. Allen · Post by **Larry G. Allen** » 30 Apr 2015 2:25 am

Please add me to the interest list, I have several builds in the works that would look great with your tuners. Any chance you could post a better picture of the key head ?

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 30 Apr 2015 5:55 am

Those guitars are beautiful, Sonny.

Dustin Rhodes · Post by **Dustin Rhodes** » 30 Apr 2015 6:03 am

That price isn't bad at all.

Steven Cummings · Post by **Steven Cummings** » 30 Apr 2015 6:05 am

Nice work Sonny!

I like the idea of the setup with the integrated bridge too. What else might be cool would be a nut with a slot cut to allow the interchange of different blank materials so a fella could experiment with tonal differences. just a thought

The natural woods.... stunning.

Johnie King · Post by **Johnie King** » 30 Apr 2015 6:30 am

Sonny those are super cool. An I would like to purchase one of your 10 string keyless tuners. Sonny have u noticed that keyless lap holes pitch forever when I pickup a key model it always needs tuning back too pitch. The laps your building look very comfortable for lap playing.

Bob Russell · Post by **Bob Russell** » 30 Apr 2015 6:54 am

Those are beautiful steels, Sonny! As an owner of a keyless guitar, I can attest to how solid and efficient the tuning is and how practical the keyless concept is. I hope you do decide to make more of 'em..

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 30 Apr 2015 7:14 am

Hey guys,,,THANKS for the kind words,,,,for sure some of you do MUCH more beautiful work than I do,, I mean man,,look at T. Pettingil's,,,,or Johnie King's,,,,whoaaaa). I try to do the best I can with the few BASIC tools and equipment that I have,,,,when I say basic,,,I mean basic,,,LOL. I've always built things,,,from houses to cars to jewelry,,,and everything in between.

Johnie,,,I didn't want to mention it because most wouldn't believe it,,,,but you are right on about keyless staying in tune,,,,my little "go to" 8 string hangs on the wall for weeks,,,I get it down to play,,,start to tweak it,,,,DOESN'T need it!!!! Unbelievable!!! The 8 string reso (with standard keyhead) ALWAYS needs tweaking.

I'm working on a 10 string keyless now,,,want to try out B. Robinson's tuning,,,maybe Zane's E6/9.

I'll try to get some pics up ASAP to show what I can offer as to tuners. The painted guitars I made had a polished housing (I think I have 4-5 of those housings left),,,,the natural wood guitar had a matching wood housing built around them. The tuners I mentioned earlier are just the fingers on a shaft. I will clarify later the principle that ACTUALLY holds the string in pitch for those who may not be familiar on keyless tuners.

Johnie King · Post by **Johnie King** » 30 Apr 2015 7:34 am

Sonny that tuning issue all so holds true for keyless pedal steels.

Jim Rossen · Post by **Jim Rossen** » 30 Apr 2015 11:24 am

Sharp looking guitars! I am keen for an 8 string, 24.25 in scale with shortest overall length possible- an instrument that could fit in a checked suitcase.

Jim

Don McGregor · Post by **Don McGregor** » 2 May 2015 6:15 am

I want at least one 8 string set. This is exciting.
Will all of them be 3/8" spacing string to string?

G Strout · Post by **G Strout** » 2 May 2015 9:58 am

Sonny I will take an 8 string set.... maybe 2. let me know when they will be available.
gary

Don McGregor · Post by **Don McGregor** » 2 May 2015 1:25 pm

make that at least 2 of the 8 string sets when they are available. maybe more.

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 2 May 2015 8:02 pm

Sonny, I sent you a pm. I would be very interested in a 10 string keyless tuner

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 5 May 2015 9:20 am

I posted pics and description of my keyless tuners here. I'll be contacting those who have expressed interest when I get set up to start work. Thanks for the interest and kind words.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... 68#2381968

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 16 May 2015 5:28 am

To all who have expressed interest in my items,,,,PLEASE contact me by email,,,,,sojen1 at gmail dot com and refresh my memory (since there is NO continuity via the forum messaging system).

Also to clarify the "spacing" I mention is the spacing at the NUT!!,,,,not bridge or pickup spacing! The 5/16" spacing that I use just gives a very slight taper from bridge to nut. Some players prefer NO taper.

The Steel Guitar Forum

My Keyless Lap Steels

My Keyless Lap Steels

keyless tuners/bridge