The Steel Guitar Forum

This custom lap steel, a modernized design, the "Steelocaster",was excellently engineered for me by Bob Littleton of West Coast Steel Guitars to my specification. Some forumites had asked some while back for photographs of the design, and I have been tardy in getting them. Late is better than never, so here they are.

The Steelocaster sports custom 8-pole pick-ups (made by Jason Lollar), the distance to between the pole pieces was engineered to be the same as in a Stratocaster and the neck was broadened within reason for an acceptable string separation. There was no need for a whammy bar (Steel players do not whammy,whatever else they do!). All else is identical to a Strat.

The Steelocaster is a delight to play, very responsive with the three pick-ups, with a characteristic timbre that combines the fluidity of a lap steel with a Hank Marvin/Mark Knopfler tone. I tune it to A6th with an E on top.






The complete set of pics can be found at

http://gallery.mac.com/kaydas

Kay

Thats very cool Kay. I'll bet its a blast to play

very nice. eight strings on a strat is formidable.
interesting o see a brass saddle. your reasons?
also, is this a lap style or standup?

That thing looks awesone!
The big question, as asked above, standing up or sitting down? I did mine for standup.
http://webpages.charter.net/zmonkees/miscpics/

(sorry about the dragons head pic, dont know how that got in there....)

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What a beautiful guitar!!!
Kay please, in which HSGA stuff can we hear it play ?

I call mine a "Lapstrat". Besides the "Redneck", I also installed a Hipshot Trilogy changer and a roller nut:

Great looking Strat Kay.

I was blown away when I saw the bridge because I just designed one in brass that is quite similar in shape and function. Is it (the bridge) one piece or two?

Also, do you mind telling me what the nut material is? Looks like it might be bone in the pics.

As always, thanks for sharing.

Wow, what a nice job! This is cool, I'm building myself an 8 string lap steel, using a 3/4 sized Telecastor body (home grown alder with walnut and brass fret board), and a True-tone pickup I had Jerry Wallace build for me. Since it is a "Telecastor Lap Steel" I call it The T-Slapper for short.

I'll post pix when I'm further along.... building in my "spare" time .

Anyone out there thought of a "Les Paul" lap steel?.... seems the mahogany/maple body coupled with the humbuckers would give super sustain.

David Wren wrote:Wow, what a nice job! This is cool, I'm building myself an 8 string lap steel, using a 3/4 sized Telecastor body (home grown alder with walnut and brass fret board), and a True-tone pickup I had Jerry Wallace build for me. Since it is a "Telecastor Lap Steel" I call it The T-Slapper for short.

I'll post pix when I'm further along.... building in my "spare" time .

Anyone out there thought of a "Les Paul" lap steel?.... seems the mahogany/maple body coupled with the humbuckers would give super sustain.

I believe our Steinar has a Les Paul type of slide guitar.

This is a LP'ish single cut I've been working on.
Mahogany body and neck, 5/16 maple top, rosewood fretboard, MOP markers, thin low profile standard fret wire.

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Very nice looking rig Kay.

I've been using brass for bridges and nuts for quite a while. Usually get them chromed, like in an old frypan, but they look nice in natural brass, with a clear-coat to hold off the tarnish. I've used Corian for nuts, but not for a bridge. Corian isn't as hard as bone, but seems to work fine.

thanks for the comments (randy,andrea, andy, keith, erv,david,tom, bill and hopefully not forgetting anyone). erv, you have a fine steel guitar there; andy, your guitar joined at the hip is reminiscent of junior brown.

by the way, the luthier was bob littleton and the credit for the guitar should go to him. i called him tonight and left a message, he will be able to answer some of the more complex questions. let me give them a first try...

* SADDLE: a one piece brass, standard on West Coast guitars. i feel it gives a color balance with the fretted keyboard and away from too much "silverware". bill, your idea of coating it is good.

* BRIDGE: is one-piece bone. bob's standard guitars have a brass bridge. i do not know if there is a difference in tone one against the other. for steel, you might agree that too much brightness is unnecessary.

* SITTING/STANDING: i do prefer playing standing, the guitar sits horizontal comfortably on a keyboard stand.

* EIGHT STRINGS: yes, 8 strings on a strat was a challenge, bob fitted in two truss rods.another reason for the simple brass saddle.

* EXAMPLE TUNES (FOR ANDREA):
1. Stardust (this version on my website is my prefered version):
http://web.mac.com/kaydas/iWeb/kaydas/h ... 3A98F.html
2. Isle of Golden Dreams:
http://www.hsga.org/membersrecordings/K ... Dreams.mp3
3. Pua'mana:
http://www.hsga.org/membersrecordings/K ... uamana.mp3
4. Lei of Crimson:
http://www.hsga.org/membersrecordings/K ... rimson.mp3

Much aloha,

Kay

nice, very nice.

thank you for sharing, Kay
unmistakable strato sound!!!
I like Pua'mana (what this word means?)

ciao andrea,

"pua'mana" vuol dire "sea breeze".

visto che sei appassionato del suono dello stratocaster, devi anche visitare (se non ormai), questo sottoscritto sito dedicato al suono degli Shadows:

http://groups.msn.com/TheShadows-ForumItaliano

ben ascolto!

kay

In response to Randy and Keith, I used brass for the bridge because I like the tone of brass. Brass is has been used for years to make trumpets, cymbals, bells, etc. The bridge shown is two piece held together with socket head screws from underneath.

Bob Littleton
West Coast Steel Guitar

Thanks for the response Bob.
Really nice workmanship on that Strat.

Wow it sounds as good as it looks (which is saying a lot).

What is the width of the neck at the nut ?
What is the string spacing ?

WOW! That is gorgeous!
I missed this thread. Man that is one finely crafted instrument. Its not until after you look at her a while you realize "hey that strat has 8 strings!" She's in great hands, that's for sure!
Nice axe Kay!

All you need now is an 8-string Hipshot Trilogy to put in that big space behind the bridge. (It's made to fit a Stratocaster.) Then you will be able to retune to any of dozens of different tunings at the flick of a few levers.

Alternatively you could fit some palm levers and have the advantages of a pedal steel.