new lap steel opinions for beginner

Steve Richards · Post by **Steve Richards** » 4 Jan 2006 5:06 am

Just starting out on lap steel. Totally new. How do the Artisan EA-1 and Goldtone compare? Is an shorter or longer scale length better or worse to start out with?

All advice is welcome and needed!!

Steve

Steve Richards · Post by **Steve Richards** » 4 Jan 2006 5:08 am

Sorry - meant to type Artsian EA-2

thanks again

Steve

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 4 Jan 2006 6:21 am

a short scale increases the odds of making those slants.

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 4 Jan 2006 9:08 am

Hi Steve,
The Artisan is a good starter steel. It's inexpensive and has a surprisingly good sound. It has a 21" scale, which is kind of short.
IMO the best scale is 22 1/2" with 3/8" string spacing. Not everyone will agree with that, a lot of guys prefer a longer scale like 24 1/2".

Donald Ruetenik · Post by **Donald Ruetenik** » 4 Jan 2006 11:00 am

I'd get the Artisan if I were you. It's a good starter and you can keep it around after you've graduated into a better lap steel. Just make sure you get a black one.

Stanford Lane · Post by **Stanford Lane** » 4 Jan 2006 11:28 am

Go with the Artisan. Buy it from Musician's Friend. Your initial investment is low, while at the same time you have a guitar that you can use with or without legs.

Steve Richards · Post by **Steve Richards** » 4 Jan 2006 2:05 pm

Thanks for the advice. Is the Artisan similar to the Carter Starter as far as its purpose is concerned?

While I'm ordering I suppose I need to get a tone bar, which one? Another set of strings that work well with this instrument - which tuning and string gauges would y'all recommend is best to start with, I am familar with most of the basic chords on a standard guitar.

I suppose that I would also need some type of instructional material for whichever tuning. Any thoughts here.

I did get me one of those nut extender thing - a - magigs that I was gonna use to convert a Gibson 333 to steel but I decided not to. Would it work as a nut replacement for the wooden nut thats on the Artisian?

How do you think the Artisan would sound through a little mid-seventys Fender Silverface Champ amp with a Weber speaker in it?

And if I wanted to what would be a reasonable pickup for it?

thanks alot for all the pointers so far!

Steve

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 4 Jan 2006 2:23 pm

Is the Artisan similar to the Carter Starter as far as its purpose is concerned?

If you mean does the Artisan offer an inexpensive way to get started, the answer would be yes.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>
While I'm ordering I suppose I need to get a tone bar, which one?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> http://www.well.com/user/wellvis/steelbars.html

Another set of strings that work well with this instrument - which tuning and string gauges would y'all recommend is best to start with, I am familar with most of the basic chords on a standard guitar.

I'd start with open E tuning (bass to treble E B E G# B E) using a set of regular guage electric guitar strings (.013 to .056). If you're looking to play Hawaiian, try C6 tuning (bass to treble C E G A C E) using the strings sold through this forum (click on the Strings link at the top of the page for more details).

I suppose that I would also need some type of instructional material for whichever tuning. Any thoughts here.

Lots of good stuff out there. What do you want to learn?

Would (a nut extender) work as a nut replacement for the wooden nut thats on the Artisian?

Probably not. You won't need to replace the nut anyway. It works just fine as it is.

How do you think the Artisan would sound through a little mid-seventys Fender Silverface Champ amp with a Weber speaker in it?

It should sound great!

And if I wanted to what would be a reasonable pickup for it?

You're jumping the gun. Don't worry about upgrading the instrument until you know whether or not you like the sound of the instrument as it is.

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

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 4 Jan 2006 2:34 pm

"Thanks for the advice. Is the Artisan similar to the Carter Starter as far as its purpose is concerned?"

-to expand on what Brad said.. The Carter Starter is an entry level Pedal steel guitar, just as the Artisan is an entry level Lap steel guitar.So they are similar in that they are entry level instruments, but they are completely different kinds of instruments

I scored an old fender 6 string lapsteel for two hundred at a guitar show to get me started. Beware Musicians friend. Good prices..lousy service and items listed in stock are commonly out of stock IMHO based on my experience.

edited for lousy spelling[This message was edited by Ben Jones on 04 January 2006 at 02:37 PM.]

Donald Ruetenik · Post by **Donald Ruetenik** » 4 Jan 2006 3:55 pm

As far as instructional material is concerned, George Piburn's DVD/CD courses are about the best. Forget the paperwork, Piburn shows you how to do it on video. He'll get you up and running and playing cool licks 'right off the bat'. http://www.georgeboards.com/index.html#Instructions

Steve Richards · Post by **Steve Richards** » 4 Jan 2006 9:12 pm

Well did I mess up?

I ordered the Artsian, a 2 DVD Cindy Cashdollar instruction set, a monster straight to angle guitar cable, and a Musician Friends Lab Steel starter kit.

Somethings I ordered in order to get the free shipping.

thanks and I still need all the help I can get!

Steve

Jack Knight · Post by **Jack Knight** » 4 Jan 2006 11:51 pm

Was it black?

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 5 Jan 2006 12:58 am

I think your off to a good start Steve. I've got both of Cindy's videos too and there's enough there to keep you busy for awhile.

Steve Richards · Post by **Steve Richards** » 5 Jan 2006 1:05 am

Yes, I made very sure that I got a black one!!! Does Metalic Black play as good as a regular Buddy black one would?

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 5 Jan 2006 1:16 am

Cindy teaches using an 8 string high C6 tuning - ACEGACEG lo2hi.
It's an excellent instructional, that's for sure.

Donald is right about the George Piburn (Georgeboards) DVDs. They use the C6 tuning and fast track you to playing right away.

For E tuning (EBEG#BE) and G tuning (GBDGBD) 6 string lap steel, Arlen Roth's video is chock full of riffage for blues, rock, and some Hawaiian.

It's good you're getting the black one.
The red and blue are both pretty, but black is black . .

Tony Harris · Post by **Tony Harris** » 5 Jan 2006 1:40 am

Steve, when I started a few years ago I decided to learn one tuning only, and looked around for the best one. I think the C6 is the most versatile - good for country, Hawaiian, jazz, and it's instant Western Swing. Have fune!

Tony Harris · Post by **Tony Harris** » 5 Jan 2006 1:41 am

I mean FUN! Ha! Ha!

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 5 Jan 2006 6:12 am

No, you didn't mess up. The right angle plug is all you need; sounds like you're off to a good start.

I wonder, tho:

Musician Friends Lab Steel starter kit.

I think it will work all right as long as it's a black lab.

Black counts if it's the base coat! The sparkles will give it extra, well, sparkle.

Steve Richards · Post by **Steve Richards** » 5 Jan 2006 7:32 am

I'd really like to thank everybody for all the great support!!

On a C6 tuning lo to high E G A C E could I use the same set of strings and gauges for an E tuning E B E G# B E .013 to .056?

Where could I find some E tuned songs to listen to. I do admit though that having the Amin in C6 seems appealing, but I don't want to jump the gun.

I need to focus on basics

Thanks again

Steve

Donald Ruetenik · Post by **Donald Ruetenik** » 5 Jan 2006 7:57 am

You can get strings sets on this website:
http://pedalsteelmusic.com/strings.html

Just scroll down to the 'LAP STEEL SETS' and your all, well, set. And buying products from this SGF helps support it, too.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 5 Jan 2006 9:26 am

"Is the Artisan similar to the Carter Starter as far as its purpose is concerned?"

Well I guess you could say as far as its purpose, yes-to get your foot in the door on learning an instrument.

As far as where it stands in relation to other instruments in its particular corner of the steel guitar family-I would say the Carter Starter is higher up the scale toward being a pro-level instrument than the Artisan is.

There is this talk of tweaking and modifying an Artisan, which has been discussed on other threads a bit-if you put a nice pickup in there, and better tuners, etc., why not just buy a better lap steel to begin with?

It's like the comparison for dobros these days: For a number of years there was a huge gap between a mediocre dobro and a pro model guitar. So folks would buy Regals and "hot rod" them with a Quarterman cone, quality bridge, and bone nut instead of plastic. If you didn't do it yourself and took it to a luthier that knows dobros and got the setup all dialed in you would be out around $200 additional over the base price of the instrument.

Now you can buy off the shelf a Goldtone Beard and not deal with all that extra hassle for a reasonable price.

A basic Artisan for the cheapo price with a set of quality strings is a good way to go to decide if you want to get serious about the lap steel-but I sure wouldn't pour any additional money into the thing.

------------------
Mark
[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 05 January 2006 at 09:29 AM.]

Kevin Brown · Post by **Kevin Brown** » 5 Jan 2006 10:10 am

Just been through this journey myself and posted a similar query.
Im now the proud owner of a mot oahu 6 string from fellow poster Dan Peterson. They were recomended by Rick Alexander and I am delighted with it. Had I not have had this advice I might have gone for the Goldtone lap, if you have a chance do an AB next to the Artisan its the only way to 'compare' the difference Im afraid

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 5 Jan 2006 10:20 am

I too have the Cindy Cashdollar videos. It was a little disappointing to me when the main song she focuses on teaching uses the 7 and 8 strings alot and my lap steel only has 6 strings, its kinda like "why bother to learn this when I dont have the strings she's talkin about?". i really do need to go back thru those videos tho and give them another chance.

also she goes into some Speedy West bar slammin stuff that seems beyond beginners level trickery...very cool tho.