The Steel Guitar Forum

I have been working on a Lap Steel holder to make it possible to play standing. I have used the one used by Roosevelt from the Lee Boys as my plan. The back will be about the size of a Washboard, with a top platform to hold the lap. Attached to a guitar strap, this just might work out fine.

I know my Blueprint art is crude...(Hey, I'm a lap steel player)

Here is the one that Roosevelt with the Lee Boys uses that I am using as my plan...

Looking forward to seeing what you get cooked up

Wouldn't it be easier to just sit down?

It probably would Erv...but I want more in a live show.
Plus, our band plays a pretty aggressive show live, and I know it is easier to interact with the crowd standing up.

There was a steel player on the Grand Ole Opry who played an electric Gibson standing up and it looked like he just used a dobro strap. I think it was Cousin Jody.
He always wore bib overalls and didn't have any teeth.

Erv Niehaus wrote:There was a steel player on the Grand Ole Opry who played an electric Gibson standing up and it looked like he just used a dobro strap. I think it was Cousin Jody.
He always wore bib overalls and didn't have any teeth.

You are correct.

Here he is! But according to Jody, he's playing a biscuit board, not an electric Gibson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjGXFnKLbk8

You might want to talk about this with Mark Roeder (Deluxe 34 Stands).

Part of his business is making Tents I am certain he is familiar with Lighter Weight Materials, Bending, Tubular Aluminum and this sort of information.

Hope you eye deer works out to Fruition.

Here's what Mark was demoing at his booth... he was right next to Ram guitars, who made the guitar. Great stuff...

If you don't mind drilling a couple of holes in the bottom of your guitar- as you can see, my '53 Oahu Diana is already pretty beat up.

This is a piece of refrigerator tubing along with a couple of clamps. The tubing slides right in, and it fits me perfectly when standing. I've played dobro for a long time, so I am used to this, and it is much more fun than sitting down when the rest of the band is standing.

I have no mechanical abilities, so if I could do this, anyone could...

That's cool Greg...I like it. I don't want to drill my Nationals tho, they are in almost time capsule shape...I don't want to drill em even for a strap button.

And yes George & Stephen, Mark with Deluxe 34 is great...he has already helped me with my X-Stand that I use now.

Terry VunCannon wrote:That's cool Greg...I like it. I don't want to drill my Nationals tho, they are in almost time capsule shape...I don't want to drill em even for a strap button.

Yeah, would not want to do this on a pristine instruments, but if that isn't an issue, this is a workable solution that is fully removable if needed.

Terry - I like the idea of what you drew. Not sure why the panel that rests against you needs to be so long, though. Wouldn't 3-4 inches be enough to keep the platform stable? Could you cut it off right under the connection for the support brace?

I'm envisioning it like the sides of a squareneck reso. My stand-up steel (the Strap Steel -- see my avatar) is less than 3" deep, and it stays in place just fine.

On the other hand, a longer panel offers you some sponsorship opportunities...

Didn't MSA build a lap steel that had a couple of shafts and a pad that extended in and out from the guitar ao you could play it standing up? I forget what they called it.

Erv Niehaus wrote:Didn't MSA build a lap steel that had a couple of shafts and a pad that extended in and out from the guitar ao you could play it standing up? I forget what they called it.

Yes, it was called the freedom bar

this is all unnecessary. i've played my rick b6 with just a strap,standing. if you're all so handicapped, mount it on your walker.


edit--i thought that would be funnier ..!!

chris ivey wrote:this is all unnecessary. i've played my rick b6 with just a strap,standing. if you're all so handicapped, mount it on your walker.

Quite helpful as always.

I've done some jams using a walker on which I installed extended legs to match a comfortable stand up playing height; looks like a regular walker with a lap steel resting on top, only higher. The original walker unmodified rubber hand grips hold my lap steels without slipping. If someone bumped into the set up I suspect it could push off the steel, though the four legs hold it stable. I even had a Native American design apron made to attach on the front for fun decoration. I need to figure a way to hold the apron on more securely if I want to use it again. Another neat thing about it is that it folds nicely & is pretty convenient to transport.

I'm posting some more pictures of the rig that I came up with, as some people have asked for more details.

Here it is attached:


You need a couple of tubing clamps like these:



They are attached to the plate (which is screwed to the bottom of the guitar) using a couple of wing nuts. When the clamps are attached, they look like this:



Then you get some bendable copper refrigerator tubing, bend it to the right shape, and insert it into the clamps. Note that the ends of the tubing will be flush with the sides of your guitar.

You will need to spend a little time in a decent hardware store to get the right thickness tubing and clamps- I actually had to order the clamps online, as my local store did not have the right size.

Any questions, let me know. I'm really happy with this system- it is very stable and you can remove it anytime.

just leaves a few screw holes.

I played out with the Lap Tray prototype, and it works great. Got to fine tune it, make a couple of changes...then I will post more pictures.

Pretty neat set-up Terry. Looks like it came right out of Woodshop class. Is your tray very heavy?