Hi everybody,
I’m gonna have a friend of mine build me a six string lapsteel shaped as a telecaster. I do have a few questions so I can have it built to the best quality we can make it!
I am curious if there’s a type of wood that would be best? (Sustain, tone, etc.)
Also could I use any standard 6 string guitar pickups? Or does it need to be lapsteel specific? I was thinking of using those humbuckers with a split coil as this lapsteel will be for real rocking songs my band likes to do, and the single coil would be a nice twang that I could switch to once in a while.
Is there a Scale length that’s best? I’ll keep it in Open D and would like the strings to be taught enough to really rip on them and not go sharp. The low D string would be my biggest concern. I’m hoping I could get it sized to a telecaster; If it was shaped the same size as a telecaster I could play it standing and throw it in a case and call it good.
Is there any other things I should be considering in this build?
Thank you in advance!
Cody Coombs
Lap steel build questions
Moderator: J D Sauser
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Cody Coombs
- Posts: 130
- Joined: 31 Dec 2019 9:29 pm
- Location: Washington, USA
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Tim Toberer
- Posts: 605
- Joined: 23 Oct 2021 11:58 am
- Location: Nebraska, USA
Glad to see someone with a lap steel project! Lots of pedal builders here. My first build was an 8 string using plywood and a 6" can resonator. I love it! I like blade pickups. All depends on how much you want to spend, a cheap Strat single coil would probably still sound fine. For choice of wood, I would suggest Poplar or Pine. Harder materials may sustain more. No need to use anything fancy, especially if painting. If staining maybe Maple or Cherry? I would just make sure it is setup well. I like 22.5 scale length but my next guitar will have a 23" because it is a happy medium.
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Cody Coombs
- Posts: 130
- Joined: 31 Dec 2019 9:29 pm
- Location: Washington, USA
-
Tim Toberer
- Posts: 605
- Joined: 23 Oct 2021 11:58 am
- Location: Nebraska, USA