One or many lap steels?

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

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Mark Helm
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Preferred Tuning?

Post by Mark Helm »

b0b wrote:
[*]A heavy 8-string stand-up for recording or gigs in my preferred tuning[/list]
What's your preferred tuning, b0b?
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b0b
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Re: Preferred Tuning?

Post by b0b »

b0b wrote:
  • A heavy 8-string stand-up for recording or gigs in my preferred tuning
Mark Helm wrote:What's your preferred tuning, b0b?
6-string G B D F# A D
8-string G B D F# A B D F#
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Steven Paris
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Post by Steven Paris »

What do you CALL that tuning?
Emmons & Peavey
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Doug Beaumier
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Post by Doug Beaumier »

Steven Paris wrote:
Doug Beaumier wrote:I've bought and sold many over the years, but I currently have two 6-string lap steels, one 8-string, one D-8, and one pedal steel guitar.
Doug, what brands are your steels? You sure do make 'em sound good!
Thanks Steve, the only steels I have now: Gibson Century 6, Airline 6-string, Fender Deluxe 8, Guyatone D-8, and an Emmons S-10. A couple of years ago I decided it was time to sell the guitars and amps that I rarely play.
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Post by Mike Schway »

Jack Hanson wrote: Image
Image
I like that control cover on the BR9. A LOT. A definite improvement over the original; pickup adjustment is much simplified and can be done without de-tuning or scarring the face with the pot bodies, and string damping over the bridge ("popcorn chicken") becomes possible.
Last edited by Mike Schway on 26 Aug 2020 6:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
Paul McEvoy
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Post by Paul McEvoy »

Steven Paris wrote:What do you CALL that tuning?
Proper names
6-string G B D F# A D
Guh-bad-Fushad

8-string G B D F# A B D F#
Guh-bad-Fush-ab-du-fush
Paul McEvoy
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Post by Paul McEvoy »

Seriously though D6/Gmaj7?

Is that a version of your PSG tuning Bob?
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Jack Hanson
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Post by Jack Hanson »

Mike Schway wrote:I like that control cover on the BR9. A LOT. A definite improvement over the original; pickup adjustment is much simplified and can be done without de-tuning or scarring the face with the pot bodies, and string damping over the bridge ("popcorn chicken") becomes possible.
Agree 100%. Most postwar Gibson lap steels sound and play great, but the fancy molded Plexiglas pickup/bridge covers have always hindered my playing. On many models, the cover is removable. But not on a stock BR-9. The control mounting plate was relatively simple to fabricate, once I made a suitable routing template. The template took a little longer.
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b0b
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Post by b0b »

Paul McEvoy wrote:Seriously though D6/Gmaj7?

Is that a version of your PSG tuning Bob?
Yes. It's the middle 8 strings of my pedal steel. I call it D6/G, pronounced "D6th over G". Easier to remember than "Guh-bad-Fush-ab-du-fush". :lol:
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Paul McEvoy
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Post by Paul McEvoy »

So it's like C6/F which is not uncommon I think?

I'm not playing much of any kind of steel these days but I was always fascinated by the D6 tuning you were or are using. Someday if I figure out all of the 18 things I'm working on at the time maybe I can try that too.
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Post by Dave Mudgett »

To the original question - right now, many. Every one of them 65+ years old except for a cast aluminum long-scale Clinesmith 8-string with Bigsby-style pickup, and an 8-string McKenna resonator. Vintage lap and console steels are so inexpensive in comparison to comparable vintage guitars that sometimes I forget myself. At a guitar show, I traded a totally garden-variety recent HD-28 that I got in a trade for a ca. 55 quad Stringmaster, one of the coolest consoles ever made.
8-string G B D F# A B D F#
So it's like C6/F which is not uncommon I think?
This is just strings 2-9 of the standard 10-string pedal steel C6 tuning (C F A C E G A C E G/D), except tuned up one whole tone. I've never seen anybody in the pedal steel world call that standard C6 anything but C6. But in the nonpedal world where people seem to make more distinctions, I guess I'd call b0b's tuning D6/Gmaj9 to acknowledge the maj9 function of the A note. Not that it matters - the tuning is comprised of the individual notes. A name is just one person's interpretation.
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Allan Revich
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Post by Allan Revich »

Paul McEvoy wrote:Seriously though D6/Gmaj7?

Is that a version of your PSG tuning Bob?
Bob’s tuning can also be called Gmaj9. My preferred tuning is very close, G9
GBDFAD for 6 string, gGBDFAD for 7 string.

I own 7 lap steel guitars and one dobro. I consider myself a player, with a small collection :-)
Current Tunings:
6 String | D – D A D F# A D
7 String | D/f – f D A D F# A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
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Don Barnhill
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Post by Don Barnhill »

I have an SX, Gretsch, Dues and a Supro. I’m always lookin. I guess cause I like the history along with playing them. They do all sound a little different.
Current Lap Steels: 1953 Supro
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Post by Daniel McKee »

I dont like to have too many because I end up not giving them much attention but I cant resist buying something unique if it comes along. That being said 3 is about my limit.
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Lee Holliday
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Post by Lee Holliday »

I have seven or so electric Lap steels with two being in construction or repair. Too many but I find each one takes you somewhere else, some stay in cases and a couple are always to hand . I will try to assemble the family for a photo when the wife is not around as it is all smoke and mirrors with regards the numbers.

Lee
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Post by Paul McEvoy »

Bob

I was just wondering, do you feel like your tuning bridges the gap between a 6th tuning and a triadic open tuning (like open D)? Can it function as both?

I've been interested in playing some more rock oriented music and was wondering about trying open D but was just wondering if your tuning splits the difference in some way.

Also interested in what gauges your using for the 8 string.
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b0b
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Post by b0b »

Paul,

The basic advantage D/G is that you have 2 major chord positions at every fret. One is a low voicing and the other is high. You don't have to jump 5 or 7 frets to go from I to IV. Also, it makes it easy to play a melody in the high register for one verse and in the low register for another, a technique I used often in Stella.

The m7 and M9 chords are icing on the cake.

Here are all of my string gauges. For 8-string D6th, I use the middle 8 of my D6th pedal steel gauges. I use nickel wound strings.
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Paul McEvoy
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Post by Paul McEvoy »

Thanks Bob. I'm going to try it on 6 string. I appreciate it.
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Post by Jim Pitman »

Bill Groner wrote:You may wish you had a boat soon. I hope you ride out the storm and stay safe!
You can always use a lap steel as a canoe paddle.
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Post by Jim Pitman »

I have three. My favorite is one I made. I also have a 1950 Supro Comet, and a 1963 Fender Champ.
I have a "Tremoloa" from the 30s I believe.
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Post by Allan Revich »

Lap steels and ukuleles are very sneaky. If you don’t stop them, they just keep breeding. Heck! Mine have even interbred, producing a beautiful little baritone ukulele lap steel.

Image
Current Tunings:
6 String | D – D A D F# A D
7 String | D/f – f D A D F# A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
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Jack Hanson
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Post by Jack Hanson »

Allan Revich wrote:Mine have even interbred, producing a beautiful little baritone ukulele lap steel.
What do you call that thing, Allan? A BR-.9? It's cool!
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Post by Allan Revich »

Jack Hanson wrote:
Allan Revich wrote:Mine have even interbred, producing a beautiful little baritone ukulele lap steel.
What do you call that thing, Allan? A BR-.9? It's cool!
I call it a lap steel ukulele. But you’re correct. The builder, Brian Fanner, modelled it on my Gibson BR9.

https://reverb.com/shop/fannerguitarworks links to Brian’s Reverb page. He also does custom work at very reasonable prices.
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Inquiring Minds Want to Know...

Post by Allan Revich »

Since the title subject of this discussion is, “One Steel or Many”, is there anyone on this board who makes do with only one lap steel?
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b0b
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Re: Inquiring Minds Want to Know...

Post by b0b »

Allan Revich wrote:Since the title subject of this discussion is, “One Steel or Many”, is there anyone on this board who makes do with only one lap steel?
While I have several, there is only one that I play in public. I could make do without all the others. I love this little guitar.

Image
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