The Steel Guitar Forum

I am posting this as many of you have students or friends who want a cheap lap steel to get started. Or you want something to leave in the car. Years ago folks said the black model sounded the best, and I don't know how good the red model is compared to it. LOL

I do not know how long they will be on sale.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/folk-tr ... nd-gig-bag

Only a 21-inch scale? No thanks.

GeorgeBoards sells the low cost solution

22.5 Scale RetroFit Kit for Rogues <<Click<<

Jack Hanson wrote:Only a 21-inch scale? No thanks.

I tend to agree but Georgeboards sells a nut, bridge and fretboard kit for $20 to convert it to 22.5".

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lap-Steel-Guit ... :rk:3:pf:0

Personally, I'm more inclined to bring back a cheap vintage lap steel from the dead but with the Rogue on sale, George's kit is an attractive option.

Edit: Ha! You beat me to the punch by a minute, George.

Bill Sinclair wrote:

Jack Hanson wrote:Only a 21-inch scale? No thanks.

I tend to agree but Georgeboards sells a nut, bridge and fretboard kit for $20 to convert it to 22.5".

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lap-Steel-Guit ... :rk:3:pf:0

Personally, I'm more inclined to bring back a cheap vintage lap steel from the dead but with the Rogue on sale, George's kit is an attractive option.

Edit: Ha! You beat me to the punch by a minute, George.

Those conversion kits work very well.

That was my first lap steel.
Put a new bridge and nut on it, installed a nice Epiphone pickup and it does OK for itself.
I like the little bugger.
It's not pretty or sophisticated but neither am I.

Just did the gb retrofit on my Rogue. Worked out great. I got the $20 kit, but made my own nut/bridge. The nut/bridge that came with the kit turned out to be excellent templates and I'm glad I went that way.

Brad Richard wrote:Just did the gb retrofit on my Rogue. Worked out great. I got the $20 kit, but made my own nut/bridge. The nut/bridge that came with the kit turned out to be excellent templates and I'm glad I went that way.

Another Thumbs Up for the GeorgeBoard retrofit kit! I have the pre-Rogue Artisan and with a new pickup it's a pretty cool beginner set up.

Question for you guys that have one of these lap steels. Is the head/neck flat enough to move the nut up maybe 3/4" or so? It would make the break angle of the string sharper. If that could be done the bridge wouldn't have to be moved so far down the body. I was thinking maybe doing these 2 mods and then making it a string through. I don't have it yet but thought maybe you owners could check yours out for me ahead of time.

Thanks!

Bill, here's a closeup of my Artisan (same as Rogue). It's maxed out, but having been around the cigar box scene for awhile it never ceases to amaze me what people invent. I'll probably pickup one just to operate on!

Hello Bill from George -io

We purchased one to do a feasibility study on if it could be lengthened to 22.5,

The final came out to; the nut moves back to where the channels start or maybe a little over. Less than 3/4 ".
So getting the bridge all the way back is close to the rear edge.

With 1/2 angle material you could easily create hold down holes for both pieces , and down holes on the bridge side for the string through's.

Unless you plan to replace the chrome plate it has to move back.

You can go with metal N&B directly to the top, and create a new pickguard - control plate.

For our clients that want to crank up the quality even more
we offer new Milled Brass Angle nut and bridges pre cut to the good widths to fit and hold down holes for #4 oval head screws pre drilled and countersunk by the mill operator.

Bill - what I didn't care for is my hands felt kind of squished together (I'm used to guitar, banjo and dobro). The extra 1.5" helps. Also, the strings just felt a bit slack with the shorter scale. Also, I think I just kind of like tinkering with my equipment

Bill, you will hear a lot of opinions about scale length. Some find bar slants are easier at short scale. As the scale gets longer its hard to slant the bar and still stay in tune. Now some prefer long scale for the sound and extra sustain (that can be debated). I prefer 24 or 24 1/4 scale but I find slants on the low frets difficult. Over time you may find that short scale works just fine for you. If the strings don't feel tight enough, just go with heavier gauges.

Bill, you will hear a lot of opinions about scale length. Some find bar slants are easier at short scale. As the scale gets longer its hard to slant the bar and still stay in tune. Now some prefer long scale for the sound and extra sustain (that can be debated). I prefer 24 or 24 1/4 scale but I find slants on the low frets difficult. Over time you may find that short scale works just fine for you. If the strings don't feel tight enough, just go with heavier gauges.

I also started with an Artisan. 40 bucks used, with a Stevens bar. Man, that was a lot of fun. Eventually went to a Dynalap 8 but the Artisan makes a good beater/loaner guitar after "graduation."

I grabbed one as well - here on Monday. I am going to lengthen the scale and add a rail pickup and 7th string with one of these Steinberger-type tuners dead-center on the headstock (which is ridiculously thick). I want it flush with the back of the neck so I'll probably have to remove 1"...but that's what's great about a $69 steel, spare parts and an empty workbench.

I talked with Bert about this song he is playing on his Harley Benton Slider. Yup, one more name for a Rogue.
He lives in the Netherlands and that is what they are marketed as. Other than the control knobs it's a dead ringer for a Rogue or Artisan.

For $69 he sure makes it sound nice!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZr6sz3 ... w&index=29

I bought this one not too long ago. Had to replace the tuners since one broke. Works for me, but I don't know any better

I added a 7th string - tuned it to C6 (Low C to High G) and it's become what I call my "Mo-ped" (they're fun to ride until your friends find out). It's a great travel size and was my intro into the lap steel world. At $70 Rogues are the perfect gateway "taste"...not sure I've even seen them sell for less than that used!

Very cool, Tom. Have fun!

Here is my scratch built "Rogue" 22.5 " scale, string through and modded headstock.