Acoustic steel guitar?

Robert Murphy · Post by **Robert Murphy** » 5 Dec 2022 2:27 pm

Have acoustic lap steels fallen out of favor. When I started my steel journey 20 years ago I was thrilled to fine an Ohau student model and played at open mics often. Now I have a GFI and a Clinesmith. They don't come up for sale often and go begging for bargain prices. Your thoughts?

Noah Miller · Post by **Noah Miller** » 5 Dec 2022 3:13 pm

With the exception of bluegrass-style Dobro, they've definitely been on a downswing since about 1935. Just more for the rest of us.

Chase Brady · Post by **Chase Brady** » 6 Dec 2022 6:22 am

There are plenty of Weissenborns being made, but the sort of guitar bodied flattop squarenecks that Oahu used to make have become rare. I have one made by James Adams that I'm very happy with. I'm sure there are many small shop luthiers that would be happy to make one on a custom order. Gold Tone used to offer one in the $500 range that was well worth it, but was discontinued. It seems that most of the manufacturers believe people want Weissenborns. In my limited experience, hollownecks sound sweet, but tend to lack the volume and punch of guitar shaped designs. It would be nice to have more alternatives.

Tim Toberer · Post by **Tim Toberer** » 6 Dec 2022 10:26 am

This is the GoldTone. There is a nice little video attached. This is the kind of thing I have been thinking about too. I am gonna keep my eye to for a cheap 12 fret round neck to convert. I have an old (Harmony) Stella 12 string I may raise the nut on. It has a very stout neck so I think it should hold up pretty well. Could do 7 strings on a guitar like this as well. 2" wide at the nut.
https://www.instrumentalley.com/Gold-To ... p/pbkg.htm

D Schubert · Post by **D Schubert** » 6 Dec 2022 1:02 pm

I've got one of these with a Fishman Neo pickup installed. My first square neck. Sounds good in D or lo-bass G tuning. Not built durably enough to hold hi-bass G without significantly bellying the top. Without the pickup, not very loud and a little bit thin.....

https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=oa ... are%20neck

Tony Oresteen · Post by **Tony Oresteen** » 6 Dec 2022 7:05 pm

I would just find a 000 size acoustic and raise the nut. They will have modern bracing & adjustable steel rods in the necks.

You might not like the curve of the bridge but any luthier could make a straight saddle as well.

The neck most likely will join the body at the 14th fret.

Joe Burke · Post by **Joe Burke** » 7 Dec 2022 9:35 am

I too have been thinking about acoustic lap steels. I came across this video with Mary Flower on a Gibson (non resonator) Squareneck. Does she ever sound great!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UURpSRU6G9U

Jeff Highland · Post by **Jeff Highland** » 7 Dec 2022 11:41 am

Check out Harry Manx, beside the Mohan Veena his regular lap guitar appears to be a Martin Dreadnought, without a nut riser, he even uses a regular Capo on it.

Tim Toberer · Post by **Tim Toberer** » 9 Dec 2022 7:21 am

Joe Burke wrote:I too have been thinking about acoustic lap steels. I came across this video with Mary Flower on a Gibson (non resonator) Squareneck. Does she ever sound great!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UURpSRU6G9U

Thats an interesting guitar, kind of looks like a lg. The standard guitar looks like a Fraulini. Great video!

Tony Oresteen · Post by **Tony Oresteen** » 9 Dec 2022 8:47 am

One issue is most acoustic guitars are 25.5" scale. A bit long for most steel players. Look for a 24.0" scale 000 size acoustic, might take awhile to find one. 24.75" scale are easier to find but a 24.0" would be better.

My 1936 May Bell acoustic is a 24" scale and it is easy to play.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 9 Dec 2022 8:49 am

I played an Oahu square neck (one of the fancier teacher's models) for a while in a four piece band, but could never get a good balance between it and the saxophonist. I switched to a tricone and voila!

Then we added drums and electric guitar and it was back to lap steel. I liked the sound of the acoustic steel either with another acoustic guitar or by itself.

Tony Oresteen · Post by **Tony Oresteen** » 9 Dec 2022 11:34 am

Brad,

When I had my May Bell neck reset in 2004 (it needed a reset since 1968

), I had a K & K passive pickup installed. Now I didn't have to deal with miking it and got my own instrument channel in the PA. Now the guitar could be heard when the sax player was making noise

.

Larry Allen · Post by **Larry Allen** » 9 Dec 2022 12:04 pm

In the early 1990’s John Pearse had all 4 styles made in Italy..when they got to the USA the majority came apart (bad glue). I bought 5 for cheap and restored them.. I kept this Style 4 for myself, converted it to 7 string, made the Ebony bridge and fingerboard, abalone trim and a Fishman under saddle pickup..turned out to be a great player with beautiful tone.. still playing it weekly here in Hawaii..Larry

Tony Oresteen · Post by **Tony Oresteen** » 9 Dec 2022 3:16 pm

That is one gorgeous guitar!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What scale is it?

Larry Allen · Post by **Larry Allen** » 9 Dec 2022 3:24 pm

Mahalo… 24.5”. Same as my Excels..my Dobros are all 25”

Miles Lang · Post by **Miles Lang** » 9 Dec 2022 8:57 pm

I found this solid top mahogany Luna around 2018. I put a K&K pickup in and I’ve made several records with it. I don’t think I have $500 in it, even with the modifications. It’s a great instrument.

Here’s a little garage recording I did with it (mix of pickup and mic). It ended up on the next album https://youtu.be/CeVX7NA3Xac

K Maul · Post by **K Maul** » 10 Dec 2022 5:41 am

Miles Lang wrote:I found this solid top mahogany Luna around 2018. I put a K&K pickup in and I’ve made several records with it.

Would that be the three disc type K+K that goes on the sound board? Not an under-saddle type?

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 10 Dec 2022 6:23 am

I love acoustic steel guitar! Here's my version of "On Green Dolphin Street" in Open D on my Asher deep-body Hawaiian. Overall, it has a more guitar-like sound than a typical weissenborn sound.

http://sndup.net/dq92

Tim Toberer · Post by **Tim Toberer** » 10 Dec 2022 6:37 am

For years I was obsessed with finding a nice 12 fret short scale regular guitar. I am amazed how difficult it is. There are plenty of options if the budget is over $2000, but I am usually looking in the cheaper range. There are a number of Smeck reproductions Iris, Bourgious, Santa Cruz or Gibson etc. Anything Martin influenced is going to be longer scale for the most part. I would love to find an affordable 000 or dread sized 12 fret with a short scale. There are obviously quite a few parlor guitars that would probably work with nut and saddle raises. String tension would be a concern, especially on an expensive guitar. Weissenborns are cool, but not my thing.

This one looks interesting and doesn't break the bank, it is a 00 size 24 3/4" scale and looks like a great guitar for the money. I would be a little nervous setting it up in high A bass tuning! https://guildguitars.com/g/p-240-memoir-natural/

Robert Murphy · Post by **Robert Murphy** » 10 Dec 2022 6:51 am

My present axe. It has more volume than any of my sound hole models.

Miles Lang · Post by **Miles Lang** » 10 Dec 2022 9:13 am

K Maul wrote:
Miles Lang wrote:I found this solid top mahogany Luna around 2018. I put a K&K pickup in and I’ve made several records with it.
Would that be the three disc type K+K that goes on the sound board? Not an under-saddle type?

I can’t remember if they are two discs or three discs, but yes, not the under saddle type. Way too bright - I wanted to hear more wood

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 10 Dec 2022 9:23 am

Cool guitar, Robert. I've never seen that model/maker.

Tony Oresteen · Post by **Tony Oresteen** » 10 Dec 2022 6:16 pm

Miles Lang wrote:......

Here’s a little garage recording I did with it (mix of pickup and mic). It ended up on the next album https://youtu.be/CeVX7NA3Xac

That is a nice recording Miles!! I like it!

Tony Oresteen · Post by **Tony Oresteen** » 12 Dec 2022 9:14 pm

Tim Toberer wrote:.....

This one looks interesting and doesn't break the bank, it is a 00 size 24 3/4" scale and looks like a great guitar for the money. I would be a little nervous setting it up in high A bass tuning! https://guildguitars.com/g/p-240-memoir-natural/

Sure it can handle high A bass tuning. Just get a proper set of strings for it. Modern acoustic guitars (6 string) with truss rods can easily hold 160 to 180 pounds of total pull.

Tuning:
Note...Octave
1 E....4
2 C#..4
3 A....3
4 E....3
5 C#..3
6 A....2

With a scale length of 24.75", string sizes needed are 0.013, 0.016, 0.021w, 0.028w, 0.034w, and 0.044w. Total pull on the neck is about 168.14lbs.

You are right if you have a set of strings gauged for a G tuning then tune each string up a whole step, that might be hard on the neck.

That Guild is interesting. Looks like you could flip the tuners to the other side and the buttons would be pointing up for easier tuning

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 13 Dec 2022 6:16 am

I have had an urge to play an acoustic instrument again. I would want something with a big pianistic sound and at least 7 strings, probably 8. The music I am working on now would sound grand on an acoustic instrument. But I have gotten used to playing an instrument on a stand and don’t think I want to get into adjusting my playing posture just for that. Also, some of the techniques are demanding and I think that the stability of playing on the lap could affect that negatively.