The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi Gang

Looking for any cheap 8 string for learning Hawaiian music.

What would be a common (easier to find and reasonable) 8 string lap or legged model to look for?

I can be searching for something better while I learn

thx!

Bob

Morrell's & Blue Star's are among the cheapest new lap steels. Here's a link to Elderly Instruments: http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/185N.htm

Resale value for these however, is likely to be nil.

You can still find reasonably-priced used y 8-strings of higher quality (Rickenbacher, Fender, etc.) through other channels ...
E-Bay, the Forum, etc.

I don't think the Blue Star is an 8-string though.

One of our brother Forumites (Ernie Pollack?) sells the Morrell's on the Buy and Sell section of the Forum.

My advice is to go with a 6 string. Most of the great Hawaiian music was made with only 6 strings. You can always "graduate" to 8 if you feel you need more strings.

Here's one, click here E-mail me if your interested.

I'm with Bill L. on this one. A 6 string will have more forgiving string spacing for developing your slants. Most Hawaiian playin' is melody work anyway with a few well placed harmony notes thrown in. I rarely even use strings 7&8 on my C6/A7 tuning when I play JB arrangements. Full strums are rare and even his bass runs are done on strings 4,5 and 6.

Strings 7 and 8 do make a nice anchor point for my pinky though

Some very good advice here, Bob. Six strings will take you very far with Hawaiian music - some of the all-time greats never needed more. In fact, the only tuning that cries out for eight strings is B11th, IMHO. I forgot to mention Chandler's lap steel - it's a very nice sounding axe with some real design flair: http://www.chandlerguitars.com/lapsteel.html

Thanks, Guys

Maybe I should practice on my old Magnatone and get the JB Course?

Is the JB Course C6, 6 string?

Does he play on a 6 string?

Thanks a lot,

Bob