The Steel Guitar Forum

I just picked up a 1965 Carvin D8Hg-5B 8 string console. I keep going back and forth on modifying it. I play 6 string dobro tuning (GBDgbd) and really want to avoid the alphabet soup of lap steel tunings.
Modifications I am thinking about making are, getting a 6 string nut made for it with even 3/8 inch string spacing. Replacing the Kluson deluxe 4 to a side tuners to newer 3 to a side. Changing the single coil pickup (even though it sounds great) to some sort of humbucker to eliminate hum.
Part of me doesn't want to change it though. I know it's not a collector's item or anything. I would like to make it my main player.

It's hard enough to find a Carvin steel in good condition. I'd sell it and get an instrument - maybe a custom one - that meets your needs.

I understand that. But selling the Carvin won't bring me enough return to buy what I'd want. A 6 string console steel and preferably 25 inch scale. I don't think Carvins are in high demand.

I do appreciate trying to keep it in stock condition although it had been altered before I got it. Someone glued a strip of wood on the treble side near the control panel. I suppose it was a finger rest. Not sure I can remove it without damaging the finish.

But the Carvin is neither of those. Modifying it into a 6-string, 22.5" steel makes no sense when you can get one all day long for less than the value of the Carvin.

A 6 string 25 scale console for less than the value of the Carvin? You must be talking low quality Chinese or something. If not, clue me in. I'm guessing I might get. $350 for the Carvin if I found the right buyer and to me it's worth more than that. Btw doesn't have to be 25 scale ( the Carvin isn't) but I'd prefer it.
I got the Carvin because I got a good deal on it, not because it wss exactly what I wanted.

Btw, I do appreciate your input. I need to consider all options and appreciate new ideas that I might not think of. Btw I do have an inexpensive peavey powerslide that i really like. It's just kinda goofy looking and not a console.

Maybe add a couple of strings on the bottom to modify your existing favorite tuning?

GDGBDGBD? Or leave the bottom slot empty and just add a low D for DGBDGBD?

Or just play around with the “alphabet soup” for a while now that you have an inexpensive 8 string?

I think a lot of players, looking for an affordable (as in $500 or so) S8 guitar as an alternative to high priced Fenders and Ricks, would love this. It's a beautiful little steel and I would hate to see it lost to eternity. And I believe some Carvin pickups are highly prized among guitar players. If I hadn't just bought a Rick DW-16 I would be very interested.

As far as a 25" console S6? I don't know of any. You can always convert a 6 string electric guitar with a nut extender. Or just play this one with 6 strings.

I could put together a 25" scale 6 string console but it would cost about $750. $500 for a Morell custom 6 for $500 and buy legs for $250.

If I go 8 string I would probably go G6 one step lower than A6 just to keep the notes at the same frets.

I have a nice Melbert 6 string to swap for the Carvin!

Regards
Jim

No guarantees but I'll consider that. PM me some pics and details. Does it have adjustable legs? Standard 3/8 string spacing? Scale length? I'm ok with 22.5 but would prefer 25.

Sitting here watching the movie. Hank Williams the show he never gave. Think I'll tune the 8 string G6

it may not be a big deal collector's item, however, I know as I've been on a near daily search for 8 strings on the internet that one in this price range rarely comes available, which is too bad. I know I would have stuck it out instead of switching to regular guitar if I had an 8 string when I started, and think thats the same for many. unfortunately the 2 extra strings also adds 500$ most of the time which is why people don't have many.

At the amount of change you plan on doing to the guitar, buy two pieces of aluminum for a bridge and nut, drill some holes and attach all that to a 2x4 and you could get a similar result, or convert a more similar lap steel, or get a kit. However, I personally think you could get more than you think it's worth even though you stated what that number is. And as you've seen on this thread, there are plenty of people who'd be dying to trade a lap, possibly of more value, all you'd have to do it put it in the classified section.

All I'm saying is it seems like there would be a few more options than listed, and finding 8 string steels is hard enough.

On a completely different note though, I do think you should keep it and put it in G6 with 8 strings, I think you'll find it's not really an "Alphabet Soup". The A6 and G6 variations have the entire range of the dobro root-third-fifth, plus that added 6th note, which means a good number of licks already transfer over, but it makes doing some things way easier! Almost all the "6" tunings follow the
6th - Root - 3rd - 5th - 6th - Root - 3rd - 5th
With the entire set shifting based on whether your top note is the 3rd, or 5th. Meaning your low note is either a 5th, or 6th.
When you thinking about it as intervals, it becomes your playing the same scales, different tunings and notes. It's worth the dive to be able to play them Hank or Eddy Arnold licks!

I also highly recommend trying G6 on the 8-string. I have an 8-string resonator in G6. It maintains the classic resonator tone, the grips aren't too different, and the 6th tones give some cool extra options. I have a couple of 8-string consoles with A6 on a neck, just one whole tone up from that; it's a classic tuning with the same intervals. And that old Carvin is a very cool steel, I'll bet the pickup sounds great.

I do understand about being used to the bit wider string spacing. But I wouldn't bitch this one up - you might be surprised how often reasonably priced 6-strings with the wider spacing pop up. There's a concurrent thread about "What happened to the lap steel market?" I'm seeing some bargains these days.

The Carvin has the original hard case and legs so maybe it's worth more than I think. The plastic holders for the tuners have a part broken off but still holds the tuners with no problem.

The tuners work but a couple of them are real stiff. Have to use a tuning peg winder to tune. I've cleaned and lived the tuners which helped some.

Yes the pickup sounds great but hums like crazy with the fluorescent lighting at our church.

Listening to the non pedal steel on the Hank Williams movie I watched last night inspired me to learn more steel guitar riffs than just trying to play like an electric dobro. Pretty sure he was using some tuning with a sixth in it.

Don't imagine there are replacement parts available. Doesn't effect the playability so....

For most Hank stuff, the earlier is going to be a few different steelers, like some Jerry Byrd in C6. Those licks will be obtainable mostly on the G6 neck. To play the stuff from 1950-52, Don Helms used E13, which is a high 3rd tuning, with the low '6' being raised to a 7, although I think he rarely touched the bottom two strings then. That tuning is really high! So don't be surprised if to play some of those licks in G6 you'll be an octave down

Ok, your intervention worked.
The Carvin stays as is.
Got it strung up G6 8 string and it sounds good that way.
The learning curve won't be that steep this way coming from dobro. Just learning to not hit that 6th when I don't want it.

I can already scat around playing chords on you're cheatin' heart and when I aciddentally play the 6th it still sounds good. Having a straight bar minor chord will be nice too. I'll be using some C6 and A6 learning materials to pick up some tips and just playing to some old country chord progressions with Band in a box.

I still have my dobro and Peavey powerslide tuned GBDgbd although the powerslide might get changed to DGDgbd at some point.

Jumping in the deep end without swimming lessons but I do have a life time of playing other instruments behind me.
I'm 63 and have been having problems in my upper arms(Rotator/bursitis) which make it painful to play my bass, guitar and banjo so the dobro and steels are really a blessing at this point

i have a triple neck console, that i had to have some work done on mine is noisy at higher volume inside the guitar there is not any shielding under the pickups, i bought the guitar to try out c6 a6 and different e 13th, ps live in texas but i am a missourian myself. i believe your guitar is a lot newer than mine stewart mcDonald has a shielding paint. I understand your wanting to keep your dobro tuning at first the a in the high c6 threw me also

Here's mine. An early 50's S8 with a really nice MOTS covering. Had to have Tom Brantley rewind the pickup and I replaced the cracked plastic bridge and nut with aluminum angle pieces. I rarely gig with it but it makes me smile to play it. Glad you're keeping yours intact. You probably would have had to route the body or somehow raise the bridge in order to replace that low profile single coil with a humbucker. Experiment with different orientations of your guitar in relation to your amp to reduce hum. I believe it's supposed to be best if the coil of the guitar pickup is at a right angle to the amp's power transformer. That or pick up an EHX hum debugger.

Raymond, we just moved to southeast Missouri from Illinois last year. Absolutely love it here for many reasons. Have a friend here in town that moved back here from Texas. Don't remember the town.

Bill, beautiful guitar. Mine is a '65 vintage. First year of the sunburst finish. Metal nut and bridge.

Christopher Blood wrote:I could put together a 25" scale 6 string console but it would cost about $750. $500 for a Morell custom 6 for $500 and buy legs for $250.

If I go 8 string I would probably go G6 one step lower than A6 just to keep the notes at the same frets.

EGBDEGBD is cool, I used that on a 10 string and added E and G to the top. The 8 string version, Low to High is: B D E G B D E G

I really liked the tone. Lower than A6 and super-phat sounding. Learn to think of it as two different tunings, G6 and Em7. Learn to avoid the E notes and then learn to use the minor chords. lots to fool around with.