Std. Ac.-->Lap Conversion?

HOWaiian · Posted 9 Jan 2002 7:37 pm

I've got an old Aria acoustic 12-string which is a real dog. I'd like to convert it to 6-str. lap, but I've got a coupla questions:

1] where can I find a raised nut? the guitar's nut is 1-7/8". StewMac has one, but it's uncut (2"). should I just get this & take it to a metal shop? or can I get one in the proper width from somewhere?

2] I don't want to chop the headstock in half, but use the far 6 tuning heads for the new string setup. this would give me much greater string length behind the nut, which I think might improve the tone. am I correct in my hunch?

any help in this area would be appreciated, as I've been jonesing for an acoustic Hawaiian for years!

-how

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

You should be able to get a 6-string Hawaiian extender nut from such places as Elderly Instruments or Scotty's Music if your local music store doesn't have such a thing. I've never tried turning a 12-string guitar into a lap guitar, so I can't guarantee it would fit.

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Tim Rowley · From: Pinconning, MI, USA

HOW,

Elderly Instruments item #EN02, page 58 of catalog, measures exactly 1 7/8". I've got one so I know. Price is $4.35. Elderly Instruments, 1100 N. Washington, Lansing MI 48906, phone (517)372-7890 or online at www.elderly.com to place an order. They take VISA, M/C, Discover.

Tim R.

nick allen · From: France

Well, I did exactly what you're doing - converted an old 12-string to a lap guitar - in several stages. I used a bone blank to make a new nut (not hard, just requires a lot of patient filing!) I actually flared the nut out a bit from the bottom, so that the outside strings are just about in line with the edge of the fingerboard.
Also added a high, straight bridge saddle.
I've filled in 6 of the string holes in the bridge with plastic wood, and did end up by cutting off half the headstock. You may be right about the tonal advantages of extra string length past the nut... probably depends on a lot of other factors as well, though.
Nick
P.S. Kelly Joe Phelps does pretty well with a couple of Gibson 6-strings modified for lap playing - just new nut and saddle.

HOWaiian · Posted 10 Jan 2002 5:11 am

thanks, all! much appurshiated!

nick-
did you put the ball ends straight thru one row, or alternate holes?

nick allen · From: France

I used one row (the front one - nearest the soundhole) - which in practice IS alternating holes, as you go along the length of the bridge... at least on that guitar.
Nick

John Kavanagh · From: Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada * R.I.P.

All you really have to do is the raise the nut, but since you've got the extra tuners on there already, why not consider making it a 7 or 8 string?

I did this (it was originally a 12-string, but I had already cut the headstock down), and it worked out pretty well:
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/001642.html

I wanted to keep the string spacing fairly standard (it's wider than my electric), so I made new bridge holes for the extra strings, and made a wide nut that overlapped the fingerboard on each side a little. It looks weird, but it plays okay. (If your neck is wide, you might get away with seven strings without doing much extra except a new nut and an extra hole in the middle of the bridge.)

If I wanted to put more time in it, I would fill all the bridgepin holes, attach a tailpiece, and fit a new wider, high saddle on the existing bridge for the strings to pass over. This might increase downward pressure on the top too much (I have to use lighter strings than I'd like as it is).

But I love having an acoustic 8.

[This message was edited by John Kavanagh on 10 January 2002 at 01:06 PM.]

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

I've done this to play slide - one of the big advantages is that the 12 string top is braced for a higher string tension, so you can put 6 fairly heavy electric strings on there and wail away. Loud as hell (I'm not sure I'd WANT that hole sitting on my lap pointing at my ears).

HOWaiian · Posted 10 Jan 2002 9:23 am

great, folks! thanks again.

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

Stewart MacDonald also sells an extension nut - it's on page 84 of their current catalog, part #4596. For $3.64, it's an easy way to find out if you're gonna like the thing....

Ted Smith · Posted 15 Jan 2002 6:50 pm

Dad spent a great deal of the 70's on Acoustic Lap Steel, I have a couple listed on the Specials page where you can see the tilt neck ideas he had.
I've had a half dozen blank un-fretted 12 string's up in the barn, with no idea what to do with them, if anyone wants to fool around with them. I tried a lot of ideas and finally went to a smaller short scale guitar on the Strummr for beginners. Problem has always been in volume.
I believe the best bet is to use a bone saddle and nut, and put a half copper tube over the saddle for more volume in brightness, then make or (if you can still find one), buy, a Bridge Dr. system, to put under the bridge to make the top stronger. It WILL belly bow in time if you don't, Kelly states on his video that he tunes down to protect from that, and slacks the guitar when he's not using it.

The nut raisers do not have a good tone, take the time to put on a Phenolic nut, and you'll get a better tone with a better (Bar on - Bar off) volume sameness.

My two bits.

Ted

HOWaiian · Posted 19 Jan 2002 7:38 am

Thanks, Ted.

I already picked up the raised nut, so I'll give that a go & decide if it's worth it to proceed further.

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