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I play once a month with some guys from church. We play in a medium sized living room. There are at most 5 acoustic guitars, 1 fiddle, and 1 lapsteel. I have a hard time hearing what I'm playing. I bought a small box and mounted it to an acrylic plate under the steel. I put 2 pots and a jack in the box. I have two piezos mounted between the plate and the lapsteel bottom ( a sandwich with thin rubber on both sides of the piezos) They are very sensitive to any contact on the steel's body. The rubber sandwich solved that problem. Playing steel IMHO is 90% about hearing the notes you play and getting to them by sliding into them. If you can't hear them it's difficult to do that in a respectable fashion. I have a small practice amp jacked into the piezo box. I use the phone jack on the amp to an earpiece and I now can hear what I'm doing very nicely. The other cord goes out the main Roland Cube. I didn't want the addition to look obnoxious and when not in use it detaches as a unit quickly from the steel. Here is a picture of the box. It will fit all 6 of my steels. Thanks to David Becker a fellow forumite for the practice amp.
Last edited by Bill Groner on 11 Jan 2025 11:33 am, edited 3 times in total.
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
On my computer it says picture file. I can see the picture when I click on the words picture file. Doesn't it show up on your screen that way also? Is anyone else not able to see the picture I posted?
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
OK, thanks Steve for letting me know. I will try tomorrow when I get some time. Not sure why, but last night for some reason I could not post the picture. I just tried it today and it worked.
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
Volume and tone. A pieso is nowhere as good as a real Pup. For what I am using it for it serves the purpose.
It's basically a monitor for me. I originally bought them for a cigar box guitar 10 yrs ago.
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
Not sure I understand your question David? Are you referring to the lap steel being a Rick Panda? It is not a Rick Panda, only a wanna be that I built. I couldn't swing the $$$$ for a real Panda, and the pickup I used on my homemade lapsteel was a Lollar String through. I also couldn't swing the $$$$ for a Lollar horseshoe. As I said the little black box is only used when playing with other people when I can't hear myself playing. 95% of the time it is off the lapsteel. I hope this clears it up.
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
Bill Groner wrote:Not sure I understand your question David? Are you referring to the lap steel being a Rick Panda? It is not a Rick Panda, only a wanna be that I built. I couldn't swing the $$$$ for a real Panda, and the pickup I used on my homemade lapsteel was a Lollar String through. I also couldn't swing the $$$$ for a Lollar horseshoe. As I said the little black box is only used when playing with other people when I can't hear myself playing. 95% of the time it is off the lapsteel. I hope this clears it up.
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