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Topic: Building a single neck lap steel ? builders manual ? |
Larry Lenhart
From:
Ponca City, Oklahoma
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Posted 6 Apr 2016 5:50 pm |
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I have seen many threads where you guys are building your own lap steels, and the results look great !
I have considered doing this and I think I have an overly simplistic approach to it. I could use one of the necks from my Stringmaster T8 as a guideline for the wood base and neck and routing. I have quite a bit of wood working experience, but am not a pro. Then a person would need pickups (I like the type of pickups on the stringmaster), a fretboard, tuners, electronic components, nut, etc. Could all of those things be purchased, and would you save any money in the long run (labor would be free). I would think the pride of doing it might make up for the money. Like I said I am sure that I have overlooked many obstacles and simplified this process way too much, as I have never done it, but I would like your input. Does anyone have a building manual, or is there such a thing ? (I want to keep it fairly simple, if possible) Thanks in advance.
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Zum Encore, Remington D8 non pedal, Hallmark Mosrite clone, Gretsch 6120 DSW, Gretsch G5210T-P90 Electromatic Jet Two 90,1976 Ibanez L5, Eastman archtop, Taylor Dreadnaught, Telonics pedal, Squire Tele, Squire Strat, Fender Tonemaster, Gold Tone 5 string banjo, Little Wonder tenor banjo, 3 Roland cubes 30s and 80, Carvin combo bass amp |
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Michael Maddex
From:
Northern New Mexico, USA
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Posted 6 Apr 2016 7:22 pm
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I have picked up some lap steel plans and building instructions over the years. They are out there. They are also all to be taken with a grain (or more) of salt. They were mostly written by hobbyist woodworkers with limited musical skills. Your own experience in both arenas should be plenty. Parts for six-stringers are everywhere; eight strings are much rarer.
You might find some friends and info here:
http://steelguitarbuilder.com/forum/index.php
Traffic on the Builders' Forum is light and slow, but we are a friendly, helpful bunch when we do show up.
In my experience, if you build to save money, you may be disappointed. If you build for the pleasure of it and to have an instrument that you can be proud to show off and play, then I don't think that you can go wrong.
HTH. Good Luck with your projects.
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"For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert." -- Arthur C. Clarke |
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Gary Rue
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 7 Apr 2016 4:43 am parts
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| Larry, Having gone down this road I think you will find the tuning plate (pan), machines and pickup plate the most difficult. I found a sting master tuning pan on ebay for a 125.00. with no tuners. Early tuners have larger diameter string post. Newer tuners are narrower and have too much play and slant the post. The original string master tuners did not fit tight to begin with. Forum members always surprise me with what they find and have done so you are in the right place to build your own guitar. I recommend making a good template off your string master, Keep your wood block perfectly square to cut your head stock angle, Then cut the width, and practice on some junk wood routing the channels on each side of the finger board and use a new bit. No fun getting a good finish in the channel. As Michael said,You will spent more than you can buy a guitar for but it is a joy to bring an instrument to life. Good Luck. |
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George Piburn
From:
The Land of Enchantment New Mexico
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Peter Jacobs
From:
Northern Virginia
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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Posted 7 Apr 2016 6:09 am
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Building a steel can be a lot of fun. As has been mentioned, do it for the fun of the experience, not a cost savings venture.
My best advice would be to grab a sheet of poster board and draw it out full scale first. Draw a straight line down the middle and mark your bridge and nut location to your scale. Everything else will reference off these landmarks.
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Some misc pics of my hand crafted steels
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