converting standard 6-string to dobro

Don J. Dixon · Post by **Don J. Dixon** » 26 Feb 2006 11:11 pm

Where can I get the raised nut to convert a standard Harmony guitar to dobro and do I need to raise the bridge as well?
Don

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GFI Ultra D-10, Airline 6-string lap steel
steelsanta@aol.com
steelsanta@aol.com

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 27 Feb 2006 12:00 am

Go here...
http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/EN02.htm

Sincerely;
Dom Franco

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 27 Feb 2006 12:02 am

No need to raise the bridge, it should be fine.

Dom

Don J. Dixon · Post by **Don J. Dixon** » 27 Feb 2006 3:10 am

Thanks, Dom. Just what I was looking for. People on this forum are great!
Don

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GFI Ultra D-10, Airline 6-string lap steel
steelsanta@aol.com
steelsanta@aol.com

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 27 Feb 2006 7:11 am

Like many, I used a raised nut before I got a real square-neck resonator. You should be aware that most regular guitars and raised nuts have considerably narrower string spacing than real square-necks designed to be played lap style with a bar. This makes it more difficult to do the hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slants that are essential to real Dobro playing. A raised nut is a reasonable way to get started, so I don't mean to discourage you. In fact, I mean to encourage you by pointing out that your sucky playing with a raised nut will vastly improve when you get a real square-neck instrument.

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<font size="1">Student of the Steel: Zum uni, Fender tube amps, squareneck and roundneck resos, tenor sax, keyboards

Matt Lange · Post by **Matt Lange** » 27 Feb 2006 8:14 am

I'm also thinking of doing a similar conversion with a flat top acoustic i have lying around. Here's an interesting article i found about this: http://www.fretsmag.com/story.asp?sectioncode=58&storycode=12514
This article suggests replacing the bridge, but i've heard from others that this isn't totally necessary.
Also, if you want to hear some cool lap slide on a converted acoustic (as opposed to dobro style playing) i'd recommend giving Kelly Joe Phelps a listen. He does bluesy stuff on a converted Gibson acoustic, and it's really great.

Gary Schuldt · Post by **Gary Schuldt** » 27 Feb 2006 1:21 pm

Hey Don,
Just to get started on dobro you could take your guitar over to Rossi's and Rob or one of the tech's over there will install a higher nut if you want,or you could go to Area Records in Geneva and they will do it.
I took a round neck there a couple years ago. It did work. You don't have to do anything to the bridge.
But David is right.I lost interest because of the sound i was getting, so i sprung for a Gold Tone Resonator set up by Paul Beard.
I love this dobro and play it all the time.You can also order an extension nut from Resophonic Outfitters for $4.99. That is probably your best bet. Go to Resophonic outfitters,click on ,parts store,then accessories.Hope this helps you Don.Keep pickin. Maybe i'll see you when i get home this summer.
Gary Schuldt

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 27 Feb 2006 1:29 pm

I've used a Hawaiian adapter nut on several guitars without ever having to have the bridge modified at all. Keep in mind that heavy gauge strings may cause problems with the guitar's neck bowing or bending.
My current beater guitar is a 1993 Dobro® Hound Dog, round neck with a Hawaiian adapter nut. It sounds just fine and is very playable.
You won't get the distinctive Dobro® sound, but you'll definitely be able to play lap style.

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Don J. Dixon · Post by **Don J. Dixon** » 27 Feb 2006 3:30 pm

Thanks guys for all your help, especially David.lol. I think I might sound sucky on anything! Actually the guitar is a Harmony from Fingerhut and is already written off cause the neck is pulling away from the body now. Darryl Rossi said there was no fix so I can't hurt it. Gonna try to drill a hole through the neck the neck support and insert a small bolt. If that works I'll order the extender. If I can get it running for $20 that would be great. I tried it with a small bar and it sounded surprisingly good. Thanks to each of you.
Hi Gary Schuldt. Did you get my email? Drop me one when you can.

Don J. Dixon · Post by **Don J. Dixon** » 6 Mar 2006 4:10 am

FYI- I drilled a small hole and used a very small toggle bolt (with a regular nut) to refasten the neck. Worked perfectly and doesn't look too bad. Gonna order the extender now. Thanks everbody.

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GFI Ultra D-10, Airline 6-string lap steel
steelsanta@aol.com
steelsanta@aol.com

James Shelton · Post by **James Shelton** » 6 Mar 2006 8:06 pm

Scotty's Music in Stl carry the riser nuts.

they don't cost much, lot's of fun on my tele

http://www.scottysmusic.com/

George Rout · Post by **George Rout** » 9 Mar 2006 8:35 pm

I know where there's a box full of riser nuts!!! Geo

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 10 Mar 2006 1:21 am

That big box is full of the other kind of riser nut, a little piece of bent metal with six grooves - I find both kinds to be useful, depending on the application. Musician's Friend carries these. I have several solidbody electrics lying around in a variety of bizarre tunings, with bass strings on top and drone strings and so forth, and the bent-metal risers are better for this because the grooves are all the same size. Another killer mod is to put a piece of 3/4" pipe or even a 3/4" bar in between the bridge and the first pickup. It raises the strings way up so you can really go fast, fierces up the tone, and it doesn't throw the frets so far off you can't compensate easily enough.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 10 Mar 2006 8:22 am

I picked up a couple of riser nuts off of ebay a while ago. They are solid brass! And no, they are not for sale.

Erv

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 10 Mar 2006 10:18 am

<SMALL>Where can I get the raised nut to convert a standard Harmony guitar to dobro</SMALL>

I bought my first raised nut at a music store in Mangum, Oklahoma in about 1945, along with a flat bar.

My first upgrade was in about 1947 to a single-neck 6-string hawaiian guitar that I bought from Sears & Roebuck, (or maybe it was Montgomery-Ward)...I'm not sure!

....but whatever, you are on the right path!

www.genejones.com

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 13 Mar 2006 7:48 am

I remember when I was first learning to play, I tried to convert my acoustic into a dobro style guitar.

Took a chunk of cedar and used my grandfather's metal grinder on it. Ground a big chunk out of my thumb in the proccess too. Must have been sered closed because I never saw any blood.

The project was ugly but it did the job. Today, I sell those raiser nuts but ratter than order one, I'd probably just go down to the hardware store and buy a little piece of aluminum angle. I also have lots of dobro sized bone blanks here. I might just nock of the guitar's nut and replace it with a new bone.

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Gary Shepherd

Carter D-10

www.16tracks.com