Today I completed my 10th lap steel. There are two steels from the 30's I am very fond of. One is the Audiovox the other the National New Yorker. Since I don't think I will ever own either one, I decided to combine the 2. Love the New Yorker head and the Audiovox body. So I thought I'd call it an Audio-nat. Hopefully I will have time to take some pictures tomorrow of the finished project. (2 months) I still have to wire it.
I always admired Mike Holland's Satin Black Epiphone Electar Century. I found some acrylic that was satin and best of all it shows NO finger prints. The steel is 3/4" thick. Top and bottom are 1/8" acrylic and the core is 1/2" aluminum. There are 3 places it is a bit thicker, but that was to accomadate the end of the cable and to get the steel high enough to play it laying down without the tuner buttons hitting the surface it is sitting on. It plays very nice acoustically on my desk top, but I think it will sound much better when I get that Lollar String through wired up.
Here is a picture of how I started......Stay tuned.
Last edited by Bill Groner on 26 Mar 2021 11:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
Here is the Audionat after 2 months of work. I put it together to make sure all was working properly. It is, so in a couple of days it will be disassembled, and things like the nut, the profile will be polished and fine tuned. I thought since the head was a New Yorker, and this year will be the 20th Anniversary of one of the worst days in the History of America I would add a little something on the back of the headstock. I do have a National decal to put on the front of the head, but that will be the last thing to go on. I may wire it up later tonight? As you can see, it is pretty thin......but that aluminum core has a real nice sound. Hope y'all like it.
Last edited by Bill Groner on 27 Mar 2021 9:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
Here is the backside with the cover off. I think I might try to lighten it up a little more. I have a few spots I can lose some weight. (me and the steel) That slot running down the neck was machined for building purposes. It originally was 5/8" wide. The mill I use has slots in the table 5/8" so I made a "key" that fit both the mill and the guitar. Once the profile was cut, I had no straight edges to use as a reference. This steel was the most challenging one I have built. I'm sure if I hae a CNC it would have been much easier, but not to be.
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
that is really great!! post an audio clip and lets hear it.
may i ask why you milled out all that aluminum from the neck? that adds so much strength and sustain. even if it was a little neck heavy, that is no problem with a lap guitar.
also the severe angle of the outer strings at the nut. i would just wrap those strings the other way and lessen that angle.
a wonderful looking instrument. you are to be commended!
Bill Hatcher wrote:that is really great!! post an audio clip and lets hear it.
may i ask why you milled out all that aluminum from the neck? that adds so much strength and sustain. even if it was a little neck heavy, that is no problem with a lap guitar.
also the severe angle of the outer strings at the nut. i would just wrap those strings the other way and lessen that angle.
a wonderful looking instrument. you are to be commended!
OK.....I like Tom Pettengill am a builder, not a player. I can muddle through some songs, but I cannot do any of my lap steels justice. I have had only one guy Eric Gross who lives very close to me play my steels as they should be played. Thanks Eric, you are welcome anytime to come over.
Bill, have you ever built a lap steel from a solid piece of aluminum? Before anything was ever milled from the piece it rang like a bell. As I stated the 5/8" slot was used in constrution. When I used an edge finder to find the center of the key, I automatically had the center of the steel and all was parallel with the ways and table of the mill. Aluminum is not wood. (P 51 Mustang vs Jap. Zero) LOL Aluminum has a lot of sustain. I might take some more material out of the body in some places, but the neck won't get any more removed. The neck I might add has a generous radius so there is still plenty of meat in it. You won't be bending the 1/2" aluminum with a .036 Low E string.
Like I said this was just a mock up to make sure everything was good. I think you are right about the angle of the outer strings, and it is exactly why I posted pictures to get everyone's feedback and suggestions to make it better while it is still at this point.
BTW, if anyone was wondering......(Joe E?) The fretboard I made from 1/8" Matt white acrylic. I milled slots .046 wide and used a Sharpie to highlight the slots. The 12th.....are you ready???? It's a tube from a can of CRC- 36 you stick in the nozzle to spray in tight spots. It pressed in the slot real nice. Yeah, I'm cheap for some stuff! LOL
Bill, I'm glad you said commended and not condemed. I thank you for your positive input and want you to know I dig the stuff you make.
Now, Steve, Eric (my Test Pilot), Kevin, Ralph, Cliff, Allan, Mike, Carl, Joe E., David, Bill, and Joe C. thank you all for your positive comments.
I don't know if I have another one in me.....this one took a lot out of me! (in a good way!)
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
Bill here is another one I built 3 years ago. Eric has played this one and knows much more about playing than I do. Maybe if you have questions, he can answer them for you.
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
Bill - you’ve done it again! Merging these designs worked out perfectly - the New Yorker and Audiovox features look like they belong together. Beautiful work, as always.
Hopefully I will have time to take some pictures tomorrow of the finished project. (2 months) I still have to wire it. 
