Ben Harper on his Montelone - flatpick style

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 10 Apr 2021 7:53 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E0gtRWiJQE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71D-URQxpM8

Scott Thomas · Post by **Scott Thomas** » 10 Apr 2021 8:51 am

I have to think John Montelone didn't see that coming! Nice playing. Still wrapping my mind around a fine archtop used that way.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 10 Apr 2021 9:04 am

It was built for Harper as a lap steel, not converted from a Spanish guitar. Note its square neck.

Scott Thomas · Post by **Scott Thomas** » 10 Apr 2021 9:17 am

oh...."never mind".

I just read an interesting account of how he worked with Monteleone to bring this about.

https://guitarrelic.com/acoustic/how-a- ... ic-guitar/

James Knox · Post by **James Knox** » 10 Apr 2021 4:54 pm

This new guitar and new album create a nice new space for Ben. Thank you for sharing this!

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 11 Apr 2021 2:35 pm

I don't get the left hand technique at all. He's going to end up with a cramp in his pinky.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 12 Apr 2021 4:58 am

I donâ€™t get the bar hand pinky thing either - but heâ€™s been doing that for many years so apparently cramping is a non-issue.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 12 Apr 2021 5:02 am

There are some players who "do it all wrong" but it comes out right. Wes Montgomery is one famous example. Everyone's hand is different and it if it sounds good, who can argue? Listeners don't care if Harper blocks behind the bar with his trailing fingers or not.

I've noticed that a bunch of players I admire on both steel and standard guitar tend to anchor their right hand pinky on the instrument. My hand just won't do that. If we want to hear the music badly enough we all find a way.

Baron Collins-Hill · Post by **Baron Collins-Hill** » 12 Apr 2021 5:48 am

Thanks to Mr. Harper for making my instrument acquisition tendencies look like only a drop in the bucket.

Baron

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 12 Apr 2021 6:15 am

I wonder what this instrument cost? Out of curiosity the other day I was looking at some used Monteleone arch tops (roundneck of course) on Reverb. The least expensive guitar listed was $95,000!

Brian Evans · Post by **Brian Evans** » 12 Apr 2021 6:43 am

The guitar is the subject of an article in the current Fretboard Journal, covered in extreme detail. It has a round neck and a leg support. It's very similar to John's normal archtops (hence round neck) but has a raised nut and different neck joint geometry so the bridge height and break angle are right. Even pictures of the inside of the top, bracing, etc.

Bill Leff · Post by **Bill Leff** » 12 Apr 2021 7:16 am

Interesting video on the family business - https://youtu.be/9uqDPHbDOKM

Gerard Ventura · Post by **Gerard Ventura** » 25 Apr 2021 8:30 am

Ben Harper is one of the best known lap steel players who uses no fingerpicks, maybe not even a thumbpick. Curiously, I haven't read any interviews where people ask him about technique & preferences.

Mark Mansueto · Post by **Mark Mansueto** » 25 Oct 2021 10:02 am

I finally got around to listening to Ben's latest album and was pleasantly surprised that it is just him playing acoustic. Can't hide behind the band when your playing alone, especially clean acoustic. That said his new guitar sounds great on the recordings and his playing is flawless to my ear. I watched the two videos in the first post and he was blocking behind the bar in the second one. Interesting technique but he's been playing a long time so I definitely won't question it.

Gene Tani · Post by **Gene Tani** » 25 Oct 2021 12:27 pm

One of my favs, 2018, BH on his Asher solidbodies and how to get a few Dumbles in your garage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS6Q_uN_C1s

Mark Mansueto · Post by **Mark Mansueto** » 26 Oct 2021 4:14 am

That's a great interview and gear review. It's interesting that he's using one of Lindley's old Dumbles. Thanks for sharing that.

Mark Mansueto · Post by **Mark Mansueto** » 26 Oct 2021 4:22 am

Regarding the Monteleone, I noticed that it has a leg riser/pad device that I've never seen but I've always thought about adding something like that to my acoustic 12 that I converted to a 6-string lap steel. I currently use a riser under my left foot (like a classical guitarist) to get my leg up to support the neck but what Ben has looks like it might work better. I think I need to mock something up.

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Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 26 Oct 2021 5:04 am

I interviewed Ben in September about this new guitar and his lap steel playing for the soft bound reissue of my Guitar Dreams book coming out soon. John Monteleone shared some cool photos from the build.

Mark Mansueto · Post by **Mark Mansueto** » 26 Oct 2021 5:37 am

Excellent. Let us know when it's out because I'd like to read your book.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 5 Mar 2022 1:13 pm

It's out now! Available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, volkmediabooks.com, and many other places.

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Ben Harper on his Montelone - flatpick style

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