The Steel Guitar Forum

Hmm, that link i just provided is bogus.
Auction on ebay(expired)
??
Bye,
Ryan

Hey all,
I haven't been on the forum in a while, so I thought I'd post a couple more images. The Koa topped ash one
seen first is currently on ebay(posted 10/29/07). The rest are recently sold builds.

Take it easy guys,
Ryan Rukavina

Very nice as always. Can you tell me what kind of pickup is in the one for sale?

Incredible, Ryan. One fine day I'll be able to afford one.

these are very pretty....makes me want to try to make something myself....what seven string pickups are available these days?

Very nice, I like the organic rough look on the first two.

Ryan: I love your imagination and I'm exciting to see someone doing exotic things in lap steel design. I'm hoping your explorations will also give us some new tones as well. While I love many of the old vintage tones, I would also like to see the instruments tonal potentials explore more fully. It may open up the steel world to a new styles of music new players, and new audiences.

Steve Howe should order a double-neck from you. It would go well with the Roger Dean stage backdrop of a Yes concert.

Thanks all,
That's a Jerry Wallace TT-6 w/3/8" spacing in the first koa topped ash one. Jerry was gracious enough to build the pickup for me in a manner in which I could apply the koa veneer. The next 8-srting I'll have complete will feature a cocobolo pickup veneer instead.

Peace guys,
Ryan Rukavina

Howdy all,
Here's the 8 string ash w/koa top. I went purpleheart instead of cocobolo for the PU veneer.


Link to sale:
Ebay Sale

Happy Holidays,
Ryan

Wow, what a stunning looking guitar. Very, very cool.

I bought it's brother. It just arrived a few hours ago. I haven't had a chance to plug it in yet but it plays great and looks stunning. I really can't wait to get home & play it .

You know--some people "just get it,"---you are definately one of those, Ryan!

Your killin me Ryan. One of these days I'm going to loose control and buy one.

My new Rukavina definitely sounds as good as it looks. Here are the specs:

Body: BUBINGA body w/ASH and PURPLEHEART center strips.
Neck: BUBINGA set neck, w/ASH and PURPLEHEART center strips.
Fingerboard: WALNUT with PURPLEHEART binding & ABALONE inlay dots.
Scale Length: 22 1/2".
Pickup: Jerry Wallace TrueTone-8 (3/8" pole piece spacing). .
Bridge: Hand Made of STAINLESS STEEL and PURPLEHEART ---- 3/8" string spacing.
Nut: Bleached Cattle Bone --------3/8" string spacing.
Knobs: Black knurled metal knobs.
Control Cover(s): BUBINGA
String Retention: -Polished Stainless Steel Ferrules on top.
-& an inset PURPLEHEART strip on it's belly, to receive the string's ball ends.
Tuning Machines: Chrome Mini-Grover's
Output Jack: 1/4" Switchcraft barrel jack; placed near the hip to keep your cable away from your feet(a pet peeve of mine)
Finish: Several applications of Tung oil, rubbed out with carnauba finishing wax.

The woodworking is excellent. It came with a very nice gig bag as well. I've never heard a True Tone pickup before and find that I like the tone a lot. It's a bit warmer and more focused sounding than my Supro and sounds very nice clean and distorted. I've mainly played 6 string lap steels until now and I find the 3/8" string spacing to be very comfortable. I've mainly played around with it at home so far but I can tell it's going to be a very nice compliment to my Supro Comet .

I purchased the first 8 string lap steel that Ryan built and also had him to build me a 6 string that is almost a twin to the 8 string, as is shown in the photos. Both have Jerry Wallace TT pickups. The quality and workmanship of his instruments are outstanding and I couldn't be happier. Ryan goes all the way toward pleasing the buyer when doing a custom build and you could not find a person easier to deal with. If you want a lap steel guitar, whatever the style and design, Ryan is your man.

I almost hesitate to say this, but my main criticism is that he doesn't charge enough for his beautiful work. I love that I can afford an instrument as nice as the one I received. The woodworking is comparable, though, to lap steels I've played that are 2 or 3 times the price he asks. My only theory is that if he sells more instruments because they are affordable it's better for him than not having as many sales for an expensive instrument.

Very cool, Michael...It's great to hear that you're happy with it, both in appearance and tone!..that's the ultimate goal. Of course, I can't recommend the True Tone PUs enough, and they have a sound that is plenty sweet on the ears, so my continued kudos and credit to Jerry Wallace and his PUs.

Stay in touch Michael, and please feel free to send a recording my way if/when you capture some music with your band mates...always curious to hear what my guitars are saying.

Best wishes with your music, thanks for the Forum post, and enjoy the Holidays!

Thanks Michael,
Ryan

Michael Papenburg wrote:I almost hesitate to say this, but my main criticism is that he doesn't charge enough for his beautiful work. I love that I can afford an instrument as nice as the one I received. The woodworking is comparable, though, to lap steels I've played that are 2 or 3 times the price he asks. My only theory is that if he sells more instruments because they are affordable it's better for him than not having as many sales for an expensive instrument.

I will also encourage him to start charging more for these works of art....right after he finishes building mine.

and mine

Brian Hoskins wrote:

Michael Papenburg wrote:I almost hesitate to say this, but my main criticism is that he doesn't charge enough for his beautiful work. I love that I can afford an instrument as nice as the one I received. The woodworking is comparable, though, to lap steels I've played that are 2 or 3 times the price he asks. My only theory is that if he sells more instruments because they are affordable it's better for him than not having as many sales for an expensive instrument.

I will also encourage him to start charging more for these works of art....right after he finishes building mine.

I totaly agree, Ryan should charge more, after he has buildt me a 8 string ( i bought the koa/ash 6 string pictured i Ryans post above)

I am pleased with my 2 lap steels made by Ryan. They are a delight to play. Also, I am the owner of the first 8 string lap steel made by Ryan. Both of my guitars are rather plain compared to the more elaborate ones he has made but they are sort of like me, plain.

Ryan has been working on a six string custom for me since March.
I haven't heard from him in a while. Hope everything is well . . .

Bought a Rukavina 8 string lap new from reverb.com about a month ago. It was sent from Ryan Rukavinas shop directly. Grade A construction, fit and finish. He didnt respond to email, probably to busy working on guitars.


So far I've tuned it as the top 8 of a standard E9. Just need more hours in the day to spend time on it.

Wow, a thread that has been sleeping since Dec 07,
gets awakened 8 yrs later.

And I am glad it did, it was great to see Ryan's beautiful and unique instruments.