The Steel Guitar Forum

Could someone tell me what the metal part of the lap steel is called that is on the far right end that the strings lay in, in grooves, to keep them in place and equally spaced? Thank you,

Leila

That would be the bridge.

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

Thanks Steiner,

I was just trying to prove that there IS such a thing as a stupid question. Just wish I hadn't been the one to ask it.

Just in case someone else comes in here, I've heard the Fender Stringmaster laps are pretty lightweight. From what I'm reading here on the Forum, I'm seeing a lot of good things said about the ones made in the 50's. Are they better than the ones Fender made in the 60's and 70's? Thanks,

Leila

<SMALL>I was just trying to prove that there IS such a thing as a stupid question</SMALL>

and I've proven numerous times that there is such a thing as a stupid answer.

HowardR,

Thanks for your empathy. Yes, misery does love company, so thanks for sharing my shame. I sure have a lot to learn, and its great having the search option and all those past posts to learn from, but sometimes I think I just need some bare bones basics.

That would be the bridge. Hmmm...
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"They met on the bridge at midnite,
But they'll never meet again...
For one was an east bound heffer,
The other, a west bound train!"

George,

Now if we can't just keep this whole conversation at the high intellectual caliber with which it began I don't know what I'm going to do.

Did the cow survive?

Here's one that I've always wondered. When is it a saddle and when is it a bridge?

-Travis

Its a saddle when its on a horse, not a cow. (And you thought I had limited knowledge.) ha!<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Leila Tuttle on 09 March 2005 at 09:19 PM.]</p></FONT>

Saddles are those adjustable thingys that individual strings rest on. The bridge is the whole entire apparatus.

"Thingys". I love that technical talk.

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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum S12U, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3
http://www.Charmedmusic.com

Back to the stringmaster question for a minute. I have several both 50's and 60's single, double and triple necks. I believe there are differences in tone due to the age of the pickups and seasoning and maybe differences in the wood used. There is also some difference in tone from the number of necks. This may be due to the overall mass of the amount of wood in each. But is one better than another? Hard to say as I see that as individual taste. I like the tone of my '59 single neck best and the '57 triple neck after that. My '62 double has a totally different tone but it still is very hearty. So I guess you'd have to say it's subjective. Could have something to do with the amp (Vintage Fender) as well and the room size (small).

Oh well, just my two cents worth.

I recommend the stringmaster if you can get one.

Kobe

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Gibson D-8 Console Grande - Stringmaster T-8 - Alkire EHarp D-10
Fender Super Reverb
kobe@austin.rr.com
http://home.austin.rr.com/kobeco

Bridge, nut, binding post, fahnstock clips, terminal strip, used 'em all...

What's the last thing to pass thru the bumblebee's mind as he hits your windshield at 70 MPH?<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 10 March 2005 at 10:06 AM.]</p></FONT><FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 10 March 2005 at 10:07 AM.]</p></FONT>

Umm... a burst of air?

Which Stringmaster don't matter to this Stingmaster no more.

Karl,

Your answer helped. I guess its a matter of what one's ears like to hear. Although I'm glad you didn't say any particular decade was better than another in Fender's tone making business.

Now I just don't understand what bees have to do with bridges and cows.

Ray-- that would be his bee-hind, I'll bet.

Stephan wins! Leila, I and a few others here laughed pretty hard at the cow poem, just had to add something to continue the levity

The only recent steel that I've seen with grooves over both the Nut ‘and Bridge’ is the Remington Steelmaster! Are there any others? Usually the Bridge-Spacing is determined by the Anchor-Point!! I have a Website for questions like this, but; my site didn't come with built-in answers¡

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“Big John” Bechtel
’49-’50 Fender T–8 Custom
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15” Eminence

Here's a song my dad used to sing (he played it on the piano, only on the black keys):
Bill Grogan's goat was feelin fine;
Ate three red shirts right off the line.
Bill took a stick and broke his back;
And tied him to a railroad track.

The whistle blew, the train drew nigh;
Bill Grogan's goat was bound to die.
The goat cried out in mortal pain,
Coughed up the shirts and flagged the train.

Now if it just had a bridge, it'd make a great steel tune!

Charlie,

That was a wonderful poem.

How well I remember the only song my Dad could play on the piano, "Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, I'm goin out an eat worms!"........ He sang it too!