Ever seen one of these?

Chuck Fisher · From: Santa Cruz, California, USA * R.I.P.

I've been playng this lately, seen one?

Bill Leff · From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA

As a matter of fact, Chuck, I think I have!

Ricky Davis · From: Bertram, Texas USA

Wow; I see A LOT of things I really like about this steel design, without seeing it up close in my hands.
The idea of having the longer overtones to the tuning pegs from the nut on the lower-bass strings and the shorter overtones for the higher strings is WONDERFUL Idea..wow.
And the solid wood designed to that tuning key stock..>wonderful.
Solid bridge and nut screwed down to the wood and strings hooking on a plate behind the bridge...wonderful. Looks to be at least a 24" scale if not longer??? I wonder what the wood is?? Some kind of Poplar or Mahagony??Who built this?? what that you Bill Leff??
Don't know what that is just in front of the pickup; before the end of the fretboard?? But rip that George L out of there and put in a single coil...and you have yourself one KILLER hawaiian steel.
Ricky

Jim Phelps · From: Mexico City, Mexico

Looks like a gold plaque there in front of the pickup, probably something like, "Custom made for so-and-so by so-and-so", right?

I too would prefer a single coil, but I bet it sounds great with that pickup too. One of Rick A's MRI pickups would be killer.

The grain of the wood looks more like maple to me except it's the wrong color, maybe maple with a light stain.... so many exotic woods, impossible to guess...

Fantastic guitar though, no doubt about that.

[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 01 December 2005 at 10:54 PM.]

Chuck Fisher · From: Santa Cruz, California, USA * R.I.P.

The guitar was made by forumite Don Reutnik and it is really very nice indeed! It is carved from 1 solid piece of Bubinga, and its carved out hollow. The back is maple. it is a 22 7/8 scale with 3/8 spacing and 8 strings tuned to my E-13.

It is amazing how he did this from a single piece, it is lightweght , has a pretty loud acoustic sound for something its size, and a ton of sustain.

Don made a prototype from ash and we tried both a George L and J.W. TruTone Pickups, I am a blues and rock guy and the GeorgeL was better for pulling harmonics and hummed less through hi-gain distorty amps, although the TruTone was niely detailed it seemed to require a lighter touch than mine.

I'm sure Don would answer question when he's on here.

CF

Ricky Davis · From: Bertram, Texas USA

Cool Deal Chuck; thanks.
Ricky

Bill Leff · From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA

I demo'd two prototypes of this guitar over at Chuck's and was very impressed. I preferred the True Tone pickup by far.

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

And it's got "F" holes! Very cool guitar!

Chuck Fisher · From: Santa Cruz, California, USA * R.I.P.

I gotta tell you Bill, this on is even better, more sustain, and a bit "woodier" sounding. As I said the the TruTone liked your (much moreso than mine) delicate touch. You have to come by and try this one.

This one has a tasty rosewood fingerboard instead of plastic laminate. And bigger F-holes. Don did a fantastic job on this one!

Also, Planet Waves tuning keys are very cool if anyone is thinking of trying them.

CF

[This message was edited by Chuck Fisher on 04 December 2005 at 09:42 AM.]

Donald Ruetenik · From: Pleasant Hill, California, USA

Chuck posted a picture of (what he and I call) 'Lappy Lou'. The construction is of what I call a 'super routed' design. The body (bouts and neck console) is milled out of a solid piece of stock to 5/32" walls. The inherent strength is in the concentric-rounded shoulders eliminating the need for kerfing on the closing plate as in a constructed box instrument. The headstock is designed to pull the strings straight over the nut hence the staggered configuration dictated by the middle two strings; this allows for shallower grooves. The milled out headstock concept is George Piburn all the way. I've made several Laps with milled aluminum headstocks and the difference is obvious to my ear.

The strings 'feed-through' the body in an internal foot (which I've already redesigned for the next one). It is mildly acoustic 'unplugged' and resonates well when amplified. The prototype (out of Ash) has one or two 'sweet-spot' notes but this new one has several. It was evident from the outset of this project that this instrument design was taylor-made for Chuck's music and his weirdo tuning (I've since become a convert to this very versatile tuning). Chuck and I were contemplating installing one of Aiello's Horseshoes on Lappy Lou so I asked Bill Leff to come by with his Bakelite and it was determined that that type of pup would not work on this one. Chuck's a rocker and a Blues hound and gets some crying, circling down riffs that I try to imitate.

Chuck had the prototype for a year and generated much feedback to apply to this latest incarnation. I have another piece of Bubinga to make the next Lap. I'm contemplating making another Lappy Lou or making Terry Farmer's latest design in 'super-routed'. But then, Chuck has been talking about a 15 string instrument to explore diatonic tunings. I haven't decided yet.

Terry Farmer · From: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

I would be honored if you used my design. You do some beautiful work!

Donald Ruetenik · From: Pleasant Hill, California, USA

Thank you for the compliment, Terry. I love that 'stubby' design of yours with the 'folded under' headstock concept. It would be a natural for the 'super-routed' treatment. I'm going to do it. I just have to decide on the scale and a few other minor details.

Chuck Fisher · From: Santa Cruz, California, USA * R.I.P.

That is a cool design idea, I like the strings wrapping around, makes it possible to hide string-bender mechanisms inside the guitar.... Theres a thought for y'all

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