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Topic: Other 12 String laps |
Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 14 Jan 2006 8:59 pm |
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I really love my 12 String MSA Superslide. And I really love Reece's 12 string tuning and am getting more comfortable with it every day, so much so that I'm finding it hard to play anything else.
I've been thinking about experimenting with other 12 string laps. Does anyone know anyone else who makes either an acoustic or electric 12 string? I've played HowardR's Sierra, but I don't think they are being manufactured anymore. Any other nifty ones out there? |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 15 Jan 2006 9:09 am
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I know that Cougar steel guitars had a twelve string lap steel. I haven't seen too many others, though.
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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
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Loni Specter
From:
West Hills, CA, USA
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Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 5:17 am
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I think Cougar is out of business. Talking to Loni about building me one.
I think I'll make it my life's goal to champion the 12-sting as the ultimate lap steel. I just find it so versatile.
Btw, my 12 string lap version of Round Midnight should be ready to be recorded soon. As soon as I have it, I'll post it. |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 5:49 am
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| Quote: |
| I think Cougar is out of business |
For a few years now. The late Freeman Cowgar would have built anything you could have dreamed up.
He built an S7 3&4 pedal steel for me with a six string spacing and a non pedal 8 string removable lap steel that attached to the back of it.
What a nice man. I miss him.
BTW, Sierra still makes lap steels. Don't know if Tom still makes a 12 string, but he made "The Beast" for Ed Packard which is extremely custom. |
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Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 6:16 am
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Sierra doesn't seem to have a web site anymore. How do you get in touch with them.
Howard..do you know what the string spacing is on your Sierra? |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 7:40 am
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http://sierrasteels.com/
I don't know the exact measurements off the top of my head, but it's 6 string spacing for 12 strings. I don't think there's a bar wide enough to cover all strings.
Slants are nice, but skip grips are a challange.[This message was edited by HowardR on 16 January 2006 at 07:42 AM.] |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 7:50 am
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What are "skip grips?"
Bill: you are one of my heroes when it comes to GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)!
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Mark
[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 16 January 2006 at 07:57 AM.] [This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 16 January 2006 at 07:57 AM.] |
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Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 8:31 am
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Mark,
they come in one door and go out the other. But it has allowed me to really get what I consider the keepers. |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 9:25 am
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Skip grips are when you pick strings that not in sequential order.
ex.....if you picked strings 1, 2, & 4....or 1, 3, & 5. No slants, straight position.
Now, on a wide spacing...pick strings 2, 6, & 9......  [This message was edited by HowardR on 16 January 2006 at 09:26 AM.] |
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john widgren
From:
Wilton CT
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 9:32 am
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Here is a twelve, that I built, now belongs to Steve Alcott.
Edited by Brad Bechtel to reduce width. [This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 16 January 2006 at 01:55 PM.] |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 9:41 am
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Thanks Howard, I somehow managed to have never heard that term at any time in my life.
Bill, without knowing it, is my confidence builder for when I am ready to order my 12 string SuperSlide.
Reece Anderson has helped to reduce my fears in taking on a tuning of this "magnitude." I'm sure he would not object to me quoting a portion of an e-mail that he sent me awhile back in regards to playing 12 string non-pedal. I post this so that perhaps a few of you that are hesitant about crossing this bridge will realize that it's not rocket science. Of course, that's easy for me to say-I don't have the thing yet! 
From Reece:
"Most of the extra strings is simply octaves. The only mental hurdle is
"visual". At first the neck will appear wide, then the more you play it the
more narrow it becomes. Within a short period of time the 8 string will look
too narrow, AND, the additional strings should greatly enhance the sound of
that which you now play, because you would have the advantage of octaves."
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Mark
[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 16 January 2006 at 09:43 AM.] |
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Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 9:50 am
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Reece is correct. In fact, I have to admit that the Double 8 Superslide I purchased has gotten very little play because I find it almost impossible to go back to 8 strings. To the point that I've spoken to Kyle about having it converted to a Double 12.
12 Strings is the way to go. It is intimidating at first, but after awhile, you can't go back. |
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Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 9:52 am
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| that's cool John. Do you have another one laying around? Wilton is not too far away. |
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john widgren
From:
Wilton CT
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 10:08 am
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| I'm just putting the finish on a red tiger maple 10 string with polished alum neck. I'm now using a Keyless head, and cool bridge system, both made for me by Lamar Colvin. (beautiful) I have parts for another 12, which I'll build when I can. Probably be a metal neck on ribbon mahogany. |
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Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 10:18 am
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| Love to see it when its done. |
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Randy Reeves
From:
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 10:26 am
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12 strings...what tuning?
are the strings paired as in a 12 string guitar?
curious as Ive never heard or seen a 12 string lap before. |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 10:31 am
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Bill, I read one other time that you may take your double 8 and convert to a double 12.
How would you tune the 2nd neck? Do you feel that the Reece tuning leaves something out in terms of playing certain kinds of music?
I'm going under the assumption that when it is time for me to place my order that I would be fine with a single 12 for most anything I want to play. But I'm intrigued by the idea of a double 12.
This isn't one of those things like climbing Mt. Everest "because it's there," is it?
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Mark
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 10:34 am
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Randy-go to www.MSApedalsteels.com
When you get there, click on SuperSlide.
No, the strings are not paired.
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Mark
[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 16 January 2006 at 10:34 AM.] |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 10:46 am
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To me, the number of strings is less important than what you can do with what you've got ... 6, 8, or 12.
As just one example, Jake Shimabukuro gets more music out of a 4-string uke than I'll ever get out of a 6-string string steel. I can't imagine adding 6 more strings would change that significantly - but that's just my opinion.
http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2005/ukelele-weeps-p1.php?fromrelated=1 |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 11:30 am
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Actually Mark,
I got interested in a variation on Reece's tuning that adjusts it to a 9th type of tuning and allows for some alternating bass picking that I'm used to doing on my regular 6 string guitar. That's what I'd use on the other neck. Believe me, Reece's tuning has enough on it for 12 lifetimes. |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 11:43 am
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Bill: Good-that makes me feel better about the "12 lifetimes" thing. In my efforts to try to keep a lid on my own case of GAS, I was thinking there for awhile about a double 12 SuperSlide!
Andy: Another option I was thinking about was a double neck, with a 6 and a 12-so if I get too far lost on the 12 I can always go "back home" to the 6!
Howard: I'm glad a segue was provided for a shameless plug, and I ain't gonna make it to New York for yours-but down the line we may be able to get Reece to do one in the Bay Area.
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Mark
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 11:48 am
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On another note Andy, if you watch Reece and Randy Beavers play the 12 string on the SuperSlide Off DVD, then you'll know why I want one. Not to mention having seen Bobby Black play his several weeks ago out here in Sonoma.
Though I have to admit, Bobbe Seymour made my jaw drop plenty on that same SuperSlide Off DVD playing "only" eight strings...
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Mark
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 12:13 pm
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OK, that settles it! I'm gettin' out of steels and going to chromatic harmonica.
uh oh, do I get a 12 hole, 14, hole, or 16 hole? oh dang it all! |
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