Opinions on Chandler Lap Steel

Loren Larson · Post by **Loren Larson** » 17 Jun 2003 3:07 pm

I am considering buying a near new Chandler RH2 lap steel. I have not played these before, so I am looking for any feedback from those who may have.

I am used to fairly good steels(Stringmaster, Ultratone, Ricks)---Would I be satisfied with the Chandler??

THANKS IN ADVANCE

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 17 Jun 2003 4:03 pm

Hard to say if you'd be satisfied with it or not, but for what it's worth I'm VERY happy with mine.

It's my fourth electric (Supro, Oahu, Melobar Rattler and now the RH-2) and without a doubt the best I've ever had.
I guess it's the sustain that impress me the most, even unplugged it seems to sing forever. Workmanship is fine, tuners works as they're supposed too, but I had to change the tone potmeter since the original only worked between 0-3.

But I would guess the sound is not for everyone, it probably lends itself to the more overdriven 'rock' kind of sound.
I also know that some have found the string spacing to be a little narrow (55mm at the bridge, 43mm at the nut).

You could be lucky and find a used lapsteel in the same pricerange that is just as good or better, but I doubt you'll find a new one that can rival its price:quality ratio.

IMHO of course

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 17 Jun 2003 4:20 pm

Honestly, my opinion is no, you won't be satisfied. I had one for 2 years and didn't find the tone to be stimulating at all, rather like a plank with a p/u, without any resonance either. Acoustically it was all high end. No moving parts either, so you couldn't really adjust the p/u for better tone. My 2 cents.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 17 Jun 2003 4:29 pm

My opinion: the RH-2 is not in the league of a vintage Bakelite or a Fender. It is however, one of the best values for a new, inexpensive steel that offer pretty good tone, good workmanship and a fairly musical pickup. I agree that its best suited toward the rock end of the continuum and the scale length and string spacing aren't ideal for slant bar technique. That said, I keep mine in open E and it works just fine for blues, and folk-rock tunes.

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 17 Jun 2003 4:35 pm

"Acoustically it was all high end."

That's very strange, mine has very little high end but lots of mids acoustically. Plugged in it's a bit on the bright side though, I usually keep the tone control around 5-7 most of the time.
Can they have changed anything to the type of wood they're using or the construction?
Mine is all mahogany but I thought that's what they've been using all along.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 17 Jun 2003 4:45 pm

I had the mahogany one as well. I figured that it was probably the bridge and nut which were most responsible for the loss of resonance. The bridge presents a very severe angle to the string-thru. I had considered a Hipshot trilogy, but Paul told me it wouldn't be feasible with that bridge. I'll say this in the positive, though--it's a good fit to the lap and comfortable to play. And yes, I had to roll the tone control back considerably too.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 17 Jun 2003 5:44 pm

this french musician had one and told me he wanted to sell it.
i tried it and was'nt enthralled compared to my lil ol Gibson BR6
so i gave it back to him and that's all she wrote !

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Steel what?

Jesse Pearson · Post by **Jesse Pearson** » 17 Jun 2003 7:04 pm

I have only tried one unplugged at Guitar Center here in San Diego. It looked o.k. but I have to agree with Mike Neer, it didn't ring out at all on this one and it didn't have the primo measurements of, gasp! a Magnatone cheapo!