help identifying an instrument (lap steel/Roosevelt Collier)

Maxime Ledon · Post by **Maxime Ledon** » 17 Mar 2023 9:47 am

Hello,

I was wondering if you knew what lap steel brand/model Roosevelt Collier is playing on these pictures ?
Is it a "homemade" project or does it relate to a known manufacturer ?
Thanks a lot everyone.
Bye

David Venzke · Post by **David Venzke** » 19 Mar 2023 4:48 pm

This online article (from PREMIERGuitar 2013) says he plays/played DL (Dan Lawson) lap steels.

https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/i ... nd-praisin

Here's a Youtube of Dan Lawson demonstrating one of his eight string laps -- that looks very similar in design to the one in your photos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaaPoBXJ4ls&t=31s

Dan is apparently a member and was last posting in 2016.

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/search. ... Dan+Lawson

Hope this helps.

Maxime Ledon · Post by **Maxime Ledon** » 20 Mar 2023 12:42 am

Thanks David that's very kind of you.
Funny the article in Premier is talking about a Lee Boys oversea tour in France back in 2003. In fact I saw the Lee Boys in "Cognac Blues Passion" in France that year without even knowing it just before Roy Hargrove RH Factor concert ! At that time I wasn't introduced to the "steel" world but I remember the Lee Boys act as a great show, and in an intimate venue ! Great band. Then I saw Roosevelt "solo" on Jam Cruise couple years ago

Absolutely marvellous !

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 20 Mar 2023 2:16 am

Dan Lawson was on my radar years ago from the Facebook lap steel page (which I used to co-administrate). Unfortunately his website says he is no longer building guitars.
https://dpl305.wixsite.com/dllapsteel

Besides the style of guitar in Roosevelt's hands, he made an interesting semi-acoustic guitar. I had been thinking about a baritone scaled instrument but never got serious about ordering one. Steve Kimock posted a demo that impressed me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNdOZhwd5wY
.

Maxime Ledon · Post by **Maxime Ledon** » 20 Mar 2023 10:42 am

Very nice Jon ! I attended my first yoga class with Steve Kimock playing the guitar live (and a real yoga teacher also

) !! Funny to connect him to DL Lapsteel and Roosevelt

To be honest I wish I could find a lap steel with a big sound, in the spirit of Roosevelt Lee boys, Campbell Brothers ... I might be looking for MSA superslide or Sierras or others that I don't know of yet ... we'll see. I've also seen on DL's website that he doesn't make guitar anymore.

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 20 Mar 2023 11:12 am

That Kimock clip is rather the antithesis of what it sounds like you are seeking. It's an interesting, different animal.
I don't know that I've ever heard a bigger, fatter, smoother modern sounding steel than both the Sierra and the MSA.
But if you haven't already, do yourself a favor and find some sound examples of Clinesmith lap steels. Both the wood body and the aluminum body guitars sound huge and fat and bold.