Short scale lap steel?
Moderator: Brad Bechtel
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Short scale lap steel?
Hi. I see that both Jerry Byrd and Chris Scruggs recommend 22.5 scale lap steels for easier bar slants, and especially easier behind-the-bar bends. Chris has a video interview on YouTube where he shows some slants, and the best bends I've ever seen!
But which guitars use this scale? Any recommendations?
Thanks.
But which guitars use this scale? Any recommendations?
Thanks.
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Like Noah mentioned 22.5 is a very popular scale. I would not go any shorter than that (Rogue, Artisan lap steels) as the slants get very difficult especially above the 12th position. If you have purchased or plan to purchase one of those steels due to budget constraints, I would suggest talking with George Piburn (George Boards) he makes a conversion kit that will fit right on them to convert them to 22.5 scale.
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Last edited by G Strout on 26 Jun 2023 1:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Melbert 8, Remington S8,Remington D8, Rick B6, Tremblay 6 lap steel, Marlen S-10 4&4, Old Guild M75 and Artist Award, Benedetto Bravo, Epiphone Century Electar (the real one) and a bunch of old lap steels.... mostly Ricks and Magnatones'
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That's strange, wider string spacing (at the nut) actually reduces the required slant angle.Rich Arnold wrote:Scale length has never made a difference to me when slanting the bar. It's the string spacing. Closer string spacing makes slants easier.
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Interesting point, Jeff. Mileage may vary, but I'm with Rich on this one.
Narrow string spacing creates a more acute angle, but my hand naturally wants to throw the slant a bit further anyway, so my intonation is better with narrower string spacing.
I think a lot of it comes down to how you hold the bar. My index is not lying flat across the top, anything but. If I used the conventional flat posture that you see with most pedal steel players, I think I would find acute slants difficult.
Narrow string spacing creates a more acute angle, but my hand naturally wants to throw the slant a bit further anyway, so my intonation is better with narrower string spacing.
I think a lot of it comes down to how you hold the bar. My index is not lying flat across the top, anything but. If I used the conventional flat posture that you see with most pedal steel players, I think I would find acute slants difficult.
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The contemplation of bar angle is irrelevant. In case you haven't noticed the frets get closer together as you go up the scale so the angle is changing. All that is needed to get this correct while playing is an ear. Unless you want to use a protractor.Jeff Highland wrote:That's strange, wider string spacing (at the nut) actually reduces the required slant angle.Rich Arnold wrote:Scale length has never made a difference to me when slanting the bar. It's the string spacing. Closer string spacing makes slants easier.
That being established, closer string spacing (not only at the nut but the entire string length) allows for successful slant execution acrost mutaple strings. For example the 1st and 7th string played in unison.
I made a bar for a dude who wanted it 6 inches long so he could accomplish those slants.
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No I don't use a protractor.Rich Arnold wrote:The contemplation of bar angle is irrelevant. In case you haven't noticed the frets get closer together as you go up the scale so the angle is changing. All that is needed to get this correct while playing is an ear. Unless you want to use a protractor.Jeff Highland wrote:That's strange, wider string spacing (at the nut) actually reduces the required slant angle.Rich Arnold wrote:Scale length has never made a difference to me when slanting the bar. It's the string spacing. Closer string spacing makes slants easier.
That being established, closer string spacing (not only at the nut but the entire string length) allows for successful slant execution acrost mutaple strings. For example the 1st and 7th string played in unison.
I made a bar for a dude who wanted it 6 inches long so he could accomplish those slants.
However the common justification for using short scale lengths is that it make slants easier by reducing the angle required. Narrow string spacing increases the angle, just a matter of geometry. I don't really care either way.
Duesenberg Fairytale
1949 Supro Supreme
1950 National New Yorker
2008 Highland Baritone Weissenborn
2020 Highland New Yorker.
2020 Highland Mohan Veena
2021 Highland Weissencone
1949 Supro Supreme
1950 National New Yorker
2008 Highland Baritone Weissenborn
2020 Highland New Yorker.
2020 Highland Mohan Veena
2021 Highland Weissencone