A Poor Man's Stringmaster - Guyatone D-8

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 13 Jan 2014 11:28 am

Think deeply before buying a six-string lap steel. I, myself would never buy one. You need at least seven strings, unless all you're playing is slide guitar.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 13 Jan 2014 2:02 pm

I actually prefer the simplicity of 6. Think of what Cindy Cashdollar, Greg Leisz, Mike Auldridge, David Lindley, and Jerry Byrd could do with 6. Sometimes 6 are enough, other times you need 10 - it all depends on what you want to play.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 13 Jan 2014 4:35 pm

Yeah, you can make a lot of music on 6 strings... I think JB said that. I can understand Alan's point of view though. A lot of players who switch over to 8 strings after playing 6 strings say they will never go back to 6 again. But there are times when a lightweight 6 string lap steel is perfect for your needs. I wouldn't rule out any configuration of strings, necks, etc.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 13 Jan 2014 4:48 pm

Of course, you can manage on six strings. You could manage on two if you had to, but why limit yourself?

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 13 Jan 2014 4:53 pm

I wouldn't rule out any configuration. 6-string lap steel is lighter, easier to carry around. There are times when that is a consideration. I often reach for my 6 string lap steel instead of my 8 string. And sometimes I'm in the mood for 10 strings or 8, it just depends... . Just my opinion.

Jim Williams · Post by **Jim Williams** » 13 Jan 2014 10:17 pm

I have three six strings already, and like playing them. An 8 string would be nice, but I'm getting this one at a bargain...much less than any eight string I've seen. I would like an 8 some day but to be honest I would be happy to ever master the six string. I like lap steels, especially console types, so I will probably add the guya to the family. This ones not quote as pretty as Doug's though.

Jim Williams · Post by **Jim Williams** » 22 Jan 2014 8:03 am

Well, I did it. Went ahead and made the deal on the old Guyatone. A question for Allen ( or anyone else who has done it). This one is a little less than pristine condition with a few battle scars. I'm sure I will just play it like it is for a while after a little cleanup and new strings but if / when I decide to strip it down and repaint at some point, what is the best procedure? Use a paint remover of some sort or just smooth it out with fine sandpaper and re prime and paint several coats? Here are a few photos. (Photos courtesy of the seller)

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 22 Jan 2014 8:40 am

Welcome to the Guyatone Club, Jim. I'm sure you'll enjoy playing your G'tone. Scratches and dings on a guitar never bothered me. I like to see good, honest wear on a guitar.

Jim Williams · Post by **Jim Williams** » 22 Jan 2014 8:57 am

Thanks Doug, all of them I've heard have a beautiful tone, so I'm sure I'll be pleased.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 22 Jan 2014 9:44 am

Jim Williams wrote:...A question for Alan ... if/when I decide to strip it down and repaint at some point, what is the best procedure? Use a paint remover of some sort or just smooth it out with fine sandpaper and re prime and paint several coats?

First, remove all the hardware until you just have the wooden body. Use a paint stripper. Then wash in soapy water until you're sure all the stripper is inactive. Leave out to dry in the sun for a week, then spray about three undercoats and three or four topcoats. Then leave out in the sun for a week for the topcoats to be thoroughly dry. Allow each coat to dry before applying the next, and take time over the spraying, otherwise you'll get runs and have to strip it down and start all over again.
Clean the hardware, using chrome cleaner. Put everything back together and pray that it still works.

I was at first reluctant to refinish mine, despite many marks and blemishes. My mind was made up one day when we had an earthquake, and the instrument fell from on top of a Sho-Bud onto the concrete floor of my den. It was as though the angels were giving me the inspiration to go ahead.

Jay Fagerlie · Post by **Jay Fagerlie** » 22 Jan 2014 12:20 pm

That thing looks like it's had a great life Jim, are you sure you want to remove it's 'badges'?
Every one of the marks, dings, etc. has a story behind it....

I have old instruments with plenty of battle scars, I could never 'do the deed'.....

Of course, that's me, and I don't think these Guyatones will ever command the "Fender" money...but to each his own....

(My belief is that I am a steward on my instruments, I take as good of care of them as I possibly can while they are in my possession, waiting for the next person to assume the responsibility)

Jim Williams · Post by **Jim Williams** » 22 Jan 2014 12:43 pm

Thanks for the tips Alan. I'm not sure I will ever get around to doing the refinish but I just wanted to know how to do it if I decided to go that path. I definitely want to take the tuning pan out and clean it up as much as possible. I know what you mean about the battle scars...I have my dad's old '37 Gibson which he at some point had put a thick coat of black paint partially over it with a brush...really nasty. I tried removing some of it just to mainly see if there was still a finish coat underneath. The paint came off, but the finish was gone, so I kind of wish I had just left it alone. At any rate, it is covered by a home-made pick guard that he had fashioned for the guitar so I guess there's no really damage done.

Alan, yes I read most of this thread researching the Guyatones and saw your post about your mishap. I guess I kind of have a thing about instruments...I don't so much mind things that are wrong when I get them, but I hate to know others were added since I've had them. I know they are chunks of wood and pieces of metal but somehow it almost seems these things are more than just pieces and parts. Sometimes you wish the old instruments could talk and reveal their histories. I'm sure there would be some tales fit to be heard there.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 22 Feb 2014 4:37 pm

- edit -

Jay Fagerlie · Post by **Jay Fagerlie** » 23 Feb 2014 5:05 am

Doug-
How about a demo of your 8 string with the other two positions of the rocker switches?
My Guyatone sounds it's best with both pickups on.

The first video you hit the switches- then the video ends!!!

DOH!

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 23 Feb 2014 9:12 am

Jay, I like the sound of the neck pickup only. It has a bright, 'nasal' tone. Both pickups on is a good sound too, just a little too 'bassy' for me. It's just a matter of personal preference.
Same thing with my D-8 Guyatone. I tend to prefer the sound of the neck pickup only (on the two-pickup neck).

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 23 Feb 2014 1:44 pm

Isn't it strange that when I posted that I bought a Guya D8 steel guitar in 2001 the negative replies about the Japanese made steel flooded in. When I posted a video of a song I played on the Guya, the replies were nothing short of insulting(it was removed rather quickly ).

Now however, it seems that there are many of these steels out there that people love. Doug has proven that in the hands of a real steel guitarist, these Japanese made steel guitars have a great sound coming out of them.

Yes, mine seems to be the forerunner of the GuyaTone. It's just plain Guya (no "Tone"); however, it has a solid wood body, is in pristine condition and has a great sound. It's manufactured date

I have no idea. Some say pre WWII, some say a rejected experiment from a plywood factory. What ever is said, I love the sound of the guitar.

Above all, it is great to see this thread coming back time after time.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 23 Feb 2014 1:58 pm

Les, yes, this thread seems to have become the flagship for Guyatones! As far as the G'tone in 2001... old guitars, like all antiques, go in and out of fashion. Who would have thought that Teisco guitars would ever become something cool and desirable back in the 60s? When I was a teenager Japanese guitars were considered cheap junk. I used to buy them for $10 each at local pawn shops, paint them, drill holes in them, and throw them in the dumpster. Now they are considered collectable. All it takes is one or two big time players using a certain brand of guitar to change things in the eyes of buyers, players, and collectors.

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 24 Feb 2014 1:29 pm

Hey Doug:

What is your E13 tuning? I think you have an F# in there so maybe I'll try that on one of my Frankensteels.

Lenny

Jim Williams · Post by **Jim Williams** » 24 Feb 2014 1:43 pm

I enjoy mine quite a bit. It is the only lap I have that has dual pickups, so it has a little more flexability at the press of a button. Some things I like better with both pickups, others only with one. I've seen a couple on Ebay recently, but not at the kind of deal I got on this one.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 24 Feb 2014 8:11 pm

Len Amaral wrote:Hey Doug:

What is your E13 tuning? I think you have an F# in there so maybe I'll try that on one of my Frankensteels.

Len, yes, I have a low F# in my E13 tuning. Here's my current setup. The bottom 6 strings are the same as E9 PSG. The tuning has some nice, low 7th and 9th chord sounds, but overall it's not as versatile as C6 IMO.

[tab]
E .014
C# .017
B .018 plain
G# .024 wound
F# .026
E .030
D .034
B .036
[/tab]

Veit Doehler · Post by **Veit Doehler** » 29 Nov 2014 6:30 am

Hi everybody, Iâ€™m a long time lurker and new poster. And I am a brand new member of the club of Guya owners. My 8-string with the label â€œGuya Musical Productsâ€ arrived today. It is a solid wood model, stained translucent red. It has two pickups with slotted black covers. They look exactly like the pickups of Doug Beaumierâ€™s guitar on page 1 of this thread. I cannot see, whether there are individual pole pieces for each string, but there is an amazing problem which I cannot explain:

The guitar sounds perfect as long as either one of the two pickups is switched on. But as soon as I am activating the two pickups together ONLY the fifth string is hardly audible any more. All other strings are still ok. And this happens only, when the two pickups work together. Does anyone have an idea what the problem might be?

Thanks in advance.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 29 Nov 2014 11:21 am

That's a new one on me. I've never heard of it before. $:\$

Stephen Cowell · Post by **Stephen Cowell** » 29 Nov 2014 1:18 pm

Take a small magnet and verify the polarity of all the pole-pieces... that one might be reversed.

Jan Viljoen · Post by **Jan Viljoen** » 29 Nov 2014 9:52 pm

Hi Blokes,

I found another Guya S8 solid wood on legs in good condition.
I changed the pots and knobs as well, but it plays well.

Heres a photo with my Sierra S10.

Peter Funk · Post by **Peter Funk** » 30 Nov 2014 6:38 am

My Guya 6-String arrived in July. Although it must be assembled in the 70s, it looks like new

Here are some pictures:

And here is, how it sounds (plugged directly into a Zoom H4n: Beyond The Reef)

The Steel Guitar Forum

A Poor Man's Stringmaster - Guyatone D-8

Guyatone S8