The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi folks,

I wanted to share a couple of phone shots I just took of my new lap steel, which I got today from Joseph Yanuziello. Like all his work, it's a beautiful design, it's custom, and the workmanship is pristine. But the real joy came when I plugged it in. It's warm, clear, fat, full, and has wonderful sustain. The sustain surprised me, because I thought it was going to be more on the acoustic side, which it still is (it's chambered, including a lot of the neck), but long notes are surprisingly easy to come by. The harmonics are loud, the top string is stronger than I'm used to (a good thing!) and doesn't wimp out, even way up the neck.

Joe is a friend of mine, and I love his work. So this is not an unbiased review. But I have played a ton of lap steels over the years, and I've converted several guitars to play lap style. This guitar (and a bakelite Ricky I got from JW) is without doubt the best of the lot.

Don Rooke
Toronto

Nice one, what kind of pups?

Lindy Fralin. Joe makes the covers by hand. (And the knobs, bridge, tailpiece.)

Don's article on Joe Y in the recent Fretboard Journal is a great read and an even more wonderful visual presentation. Don's photography is stunning.

Don, congratulations and play it great health!

Thank you my friend. I feel like you with your beautiful Clinesmiths.

Spectacular guitar, Don. Congratulations! Joe does stellar work and his design sense is elegant.

Congratulations, Don! I look forward to hearing you play this thing.

Thanks Andy and Brad.

Brad, I'll be playing it with Doug Paisley tomorrow night in Toronto - see you there :) Bring a coat.

That's beautiful Don! Flame/curly maple drop top, is it over mahogany?

That's right Mark.

Looks beautiful! Turn it up so we can hear it in Seattle!

Thanks Orville, I'll try. At least I won't need to be heard over the 12s... ooops, sorry :)

Mark,
1960s mahogany, Joe says. So it sounds like I should be able to play Motown on it?

It sure is nice to see some of Joe's handy work up close. A great luthier and and an overall really nice person. Joe hotrodded (sp) a couple of my resos a few years back when he was in Toronto. They still play as bright and loud as they did after he worked on them. Enjoy.

Really nice workmanship, and ideas on the hollowed body & neck !!

Donald Rooke wrote:Mark,
1960s mahogany, Joe says. So it sounds like I should be able to play Motown on it?

I like that chambered design.

Beautiful guitar and, as Mike Neer said, excellent article about one of my favorite luthiers in the FJ. Joe's work is consistently inspiring.

Where is the pickup selector switch on that beauty? I assume the two knobs are "volume" and "tone".

Those knobs are carved by hand!

Yes Don, '60s mahogany and Motown. I'd like to hear you cut loose on this guitar on I Heard it Through the Grapevine.

Thanks guys.

Samuel, sInce I use a volume pedal, I opted to have a tone knob and a pickup blend knob. In the middle (detente) position of the blend, when the two single coils are equal, it's humbucking and is dead quiet.

Josephs guitars are on my wish list with Asher, they are few and far between in the UK but I managed to have a close up look at one of his reso,s a few years back and quality and tone were superb.

Lee

Well, this lap steel is a beauty for sure. But, you could put a board with a nail and a string together and Don would make it sound amazing.

So stoked that my old Ricky make the cut along side this one.

Don has managed to get me lusting for Joe's instruments as well.

Clearly a master builder.