D 8 Lefty nonpedal

Post here if you're looking for something special
Post Reply
Walter Thut
Posts: 28
Joined: 6 Oct 2000 12:01 am
Location: Switzerland

D 8 Lefty nonpedal

Post by Walter Thut »

Looking for a D8 Lefty, i know this will be hard to find
Mark Addeo
Posts: 156
Joined: 8 Mar 2011 7:17 pm
Location: New Jersey, USA

Post by Mark Addeo »

Hi Walter, I'm a lefty too and I've never come across a D8 lefty. Over the years I've have looked for D8's with level necks with the hope to convert to lefty. I have seen only really early Epiphones with flush necks. There are so many great old Rics, Fenders, Magnatone, National, all with higher front necks. I finally came across a basket case D8 Fender Stringmaster that I am in the process of converting to lefty. It wasn't much cheaper than a clean one but as a lover of vintage instruments I wouldn't do this to a nice old Fender. The one I bought was already refin'd, had no decal and was subject to years of torture. I hope in the next 6 months to have refinished it blond and will reverse the necks to be lefty. Another option to consider, GeorgeBoards makes beautiful stuff. George makes lefties too. You could find out about having a lefty D8 built. Anyway, good luck in your lefty quest.
Michael Lee Allen
Posts: 4540
Joined: 28 Jan 2004 1:01 am
Location: Portage Park, Chicago, Illinois

Post by Michael Lee Allen »

Deleted
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 21 May 2018 10:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
Michael Lee Allen
Posts: 4540
Joined: 28 Jan 2004 1:01 am
Location: Portage Park, Chicago, Illinois

Post by Michael Lee Allen »

Deleted
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 21 May 2018 10:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Bill Sinclair
Posts: 1545
Joined: 23 Apr 2014 7:39 am
Location: Waynesboro, PA, USA

Post by Bill Sinclair »

I have one of those National Grand D8 Consoles that I plan to put up for sale once I've gone through the electronics. There is also a D8 Supro currently in the for sale section that appears to have level necks.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=310960
User avatar
Scott Duckworth
Posts: 3470
Joined: 6 Apr 2013 8:41 am
Location: Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
Contact:

Post by Scott Duckworth »

You might check with Melbert Guitars. He could build you one reasonably.

http://www.melbert.guitars/
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it

I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus!
Walter Thut
Posts: 28
Joined: 6 Oct 2000 12:01 am
Location: Switzerland

Post by Walter Thut »

Thanks so much for your informations!
Bill, i'm very interested in buying your National Grand D8 Consoles!
User avatar
Bill Sinclair
Posts: 1545
Joined: 23 Apr 2014 7:39 am
Location: Waynesboro, PA, USA

Post by Bill Sinclair »

Hi Walter,
I haven't had a chance to take pictures or work up a detailed write up for it yet. (Maybe this weekend). Here is a preliminary picture of it. I will be asking $675 plus shipping. It looks like shipping to Switzerland would be around $190.00 though. We might be able to get that price down some if you don't want the home-made adjustable legs (made from Atlas mic stands) or the case that I customized for it. Let me know if you're still interested and I'll get you more details.




Image
User avatar
Bill Sinclair
Posts: 1545
Joined: 23 Apr 2014 7:39 am
Location: Waynesboro, PA, USA

Post by Bill Sinclair »

Walter,

Darn. I just noticed that my National Grand Console has a raised outside neck. Probably won't work for you.
Jimmie Hudson
Posts: 1475
Joined: 18 Jan 2014 5:06 pm
Location: North Carolina, USA
Contact:

Re: D 8 Lefty nonpedal

Post by Jimmie Hudson »

WalterT wrote:Looking for a D8 Lefty, i know this will be hard to find
I can build you a D8 Lefty non pedal steel.
2 necks flat or outside neck raised. Built however you want.
Jimmie Hudson
hudsonsteelguitars.com
User avatar
Jeff Mead
Posts: 1708
Joined: 15 Jun 2006 12:01 am
Location: London, England

Post by Jeff Mead »

Mark Addeo wrote:I finally came across a basket case D8 Fender Stringmaster that I am in the process of converting to lefty.
This is the way I'd do it for sure. The necks just bolt together and so can be easily reversed - you will just need to drill/fill the odd hole here and there.

I'd only advise it though if you are absolutely sure you can't learn to play right handed - many great steelies are naturally left handed.

If you are new to the instrument and start to really get the bug, you'll want to add to your collection a some point and your choice will be limited.

And if, at some point, you decide to experiment with pedal steel you would be pretty much limited to very expensive custom builds.
User avatar
Lefty
Posts: 1651
Joined: 6 Jun 2000 12:01 am
Location: Grayson, Ga.

Post by Lefty »

My 2 cents: Buy a right handed double neck, restring it, and adapt to the controls and necks.
I have always done this for non-pedal steels.
Now if I tried to play a lefty it would seem odd.

Bill's guitar above is a nice one and a good price.
regards,
Lefty
Former Member
Posts: 355
Joined: 11 Jun 2008 7:35 am

Post by Former Member »

Now that I've acquired a beautiful T8 long scale, and about to convert it to lefty, I took a test drive with it still as a righty.
There's serious issues (for me) about having the outside necks going "down hill" from the front neck. First, it gives me an unnatural angle to my wrist and it feels like I have less control of the bar, ---worse for the far neck.
Second and more importantly, when I reach out to the outer necks, my arms start to ride on the strings of the closer neck, and that pushes the strings onto the PU's.
Probably the reasons why builders starting stepping the necks up in the first place.
Post Reply