this has got to be the prettiest lap steel I have ever seen! alot of attention placed in every area of design. Contour of scratch plate follows neck line edge etc. etc. etc. A Very Fine piece of Craftmanship!!
Congratulations on producing a video without droning on about stuff for half the run time before we actually see some building. I'm planning a build and done of these are over an hour long and consist of some really long and boring speeches. Excellent job. I think my build will be based on this one.
Unfortunately not yet. I made it as a gift for a friend and gave it away before recording it. The single coil pickup and passive circuitry were what I had left over from another project and worked fine but humbuckers seem to be a more common choice. The Mahogany body gave plenty of sustain. I did try it out through an amp and even without effects it sounded pretty good.
You're right, It is strung with a standard set of electric guitar strings (.10s I think) As with nearly all the components used, the strings were what I had available at the time. I tuned the guitar to the nearest open tuning (E,B,E,G#,B,E. I think) which sounded good to me but I'm no expert. There's a website called buildyourguitar which has some useful tips. Good luck with your build.
Thanks for commenting. I was pleased with the end result. As for warping; I don't know for sure as I built it as a gift and gave it away pretty much as soon as it was dry! I doubt it would warp though. The wood was nicely seasoned and because you don't need to get your fingers around the neck it can be made much thicker than on a normal guitar.
For what it's worth; there is no need to use an adjustable "intonation" bridge on a steel guitar. Here is why: On standard guitars, intonation is a problem; and the more sensitive the "ear" is, the more it can drive a musician crazy. IE: when the strings are pressed down on the frets, it changes (stretches) the tuning. Worse: the poor intonation is NOT the same on every string. Thus you must adjust each string in perfect intonation, individually to stop this malady. NONE of this is needed on a steel guitar; because the straight bar does not push down; but... even if there is a tiny bit; simply use the bar to correct the infinitesimal intonation. In most cases, it is so small that most players do not hear it. Again, what it's worth. Also, no disrespect meant atoll.
I second this comment. Just take out the compensated saddles and install solid piece of straight brass or similar for the bridge, and it would be perfect. Oh, and do the same for the Nut. I'm not sure how long that wood nut will hold up to playing. That guitar has so many things going for it, such BEAUTIFUL and FINE craftsmanship. Change out the nut and bridge, and this steel would be PURE ALOHA. These comments were absolutely meant to be supportive feedback, and no offense was intended at all. Such fine craftsmanship! I love that headstock and fingerboard. The wood is gorgeous!
First class job, except the pickup is too far from the bridge..Check out Fender Stringmasters, Gibson and Rickenbacher steels and the like, they ALL have the pickup as near the bridge as possible to minimise the difference betwixt the transient and the sustained signal. Counts for a lot in the mix.. The perceived volume of the transient determines the overall placement within the soundfield of the mix, and obviously a higher ratio will make the steel to APPEAR to have less sustain.
Basil, I had indeed noticed that most people build these with just a bridge pickup. I was going to build one but with only a neck pickup...because I am after a more mellow tone. So are you indicating that's not a good idea? I don't understand your discussion about transients.
Volume knob is a little too close to the bridge. The tuners could have been space a little more and angled inward to avoid the 3rd and 4th strings rubbing against the 2nd and 5th tuning pegs, but other than that it's a really nice build and good selection of wood. I'd give it a 6 out of ten.
It stared out 840mm x 120mm x 37mm and the finished instrument ended up not much shorter or thinner and about 150mm across at its widest point. Hope that helps
Are you kidding me?
This one looks better than all the stuff fender, gretsch and duesenberg makes!
so creative
this has got to be the prettiest lap steel I have ever seen! alot of attention placed in every area of design. Contour of scratch plate follows neck line edge etc. etc. etc.
A Very Fine piece of Craftmanship!!
Congratulations on producing a video without droning on about stuff for half the run time before we actually see some building. I'm planning a build and done of these are over an hour long and consist of some really long and boring speeches. Excellent job. I think my build will be based on this one.
Great job!
wow .
great.i am just starting to build one.i was browsing the net and found you.thanks.
les
Amazing work. True piece of art you have created.
Well that came out looking just beautiful, brethren!!! Love all the wonderful woodgrain!
Unfortunately not yet. I made it as a gift for a friend and gave it away before recording it. The single coil pickup and passive circuitry were what I had left over from another project and worked fine but humbuckers seem to be a more common choice. The Mahogany body gave plenty of sustain. I did try it out through an amp and even without effects it sounded pretty good.
Stunningly beautiful.
Thanks for the kind comments. I'm hoping to find time to put up a video of my homemade Banjulele soon.
Beautiful styling
MUITO LINDO A GUITARRA HAVAIANA GOSTEI PÁRABENS MEU IRMÃO E AMIGO QUÊ DEUS TI ABENÇOE EM NOME DE JESUS AMEM....
Great, thanks for your help! I'll probably go with single coil I think, but it's surely not too hard to fit humbuckers with a little alteration.
You're right, It is strung with a standard set of electric guitar strings (.10s I think) As with nearly all the components used, the strings were what I had available at the time. I tuned the guitar to the nearest open tuning (E,B,E,G#,B,E. I think) which sounded good to me but I'm no expert. There's a website called buildyourguitar which has some useful tips. Good luck with your build.
Very
beautiful...... excellent.
Nicely done, would really like to hear it in action.
Thanks for commenting. I was pleased with the end result. As for warping; I don't know for sure as I built it as a gift and gave it away pretty much as soon as it was dry! I doubt it would warp though. The wood was nicely seasoned and because you don't need to get your fingers around the neck it can be made much thicker than on a normal guitar.
Beautiful, two thumbs up
Nice work Men
Nice Job
nice job
For what it's worth; there is no need to use an adjustable "intonation" bridge on a steel guitar. Here is why: On standard guitars, intonation is a problem; and the more sensitive the "ear" is, the more it can drive a musician crazy. IE: when the strings are pressed down on the frets, it changes (stretches) the tuning. Worse: the poor intonation is NOT the same on every string. Thus you must adjust each string in perfect intonation, individually to stop this malady.
NONE of this is needed on a steel guitar; because the straight bar does not push down; but... even if there is a tiny bit; simply use the bar to correct the infinitesimal intonation. In most cases, it is so small that most players do not hear it.
Again, what it's worth. Also, no disrespect meant atoll.
I second this comment.
Just take out the compensated saddles and install solid piece of straight brass or similar for the bridge, and it would be perfect. Oh, and do the same for the Nut. I'm not sure how long that wood nut will hold up to playing.
That guitar has so many things going for it, such BEAUTIFUL and FINE craftsmanship.
Change out the nut and bridge, and this steel would be PURE ALOHA.
These comments were absolutely meant to be supportive feedback, and no offense was intended at all. Such fine craftsmanship! I love that headstock and fingerboard. The wood is gorgeous!
Explendida!
Thanks
Sweetness
Добрый вечер , мы с Украины!
First class job, except the pickup is too far from the bridge..Check out Fender Stringmasters, Gibson and Rickenbacher steels and the like, they ALL have the pickup as near the bridge as possible to minimise the difference betwixt the transient and the sustained signal. Counts for a lot in the mix.. The perceived volume of the transient determines the overall placement within the soundfield of the mix, and obviously a higher ratio will make the steel to APPEAR to have less sustain.
Thanks for that, You learn something new everyday! If I build another I'll take your advice.
Basil,
I had indeed noticed that most people build these with just a bridge pickup.
I was going to build one but with only a neck pickup...because I am after a more mellow tone.
So are you indicating that's not a good idea? I don't understand your discussion about transients.
Tenho muita vantade de aprender a tocar guitarra havaiana, comprei uma mais não sei nem afinar.
Good eye my Man ............. JRW .... How does that wooden nut sound? ............. JRW
Volume knob is a little too close to the bridge. The tuners could have been space a little more and angled inward to avoid the 3rd and 4th strings rubbing against the 2nd and 5th tuning pegs, but other than that it's a really nice build and good selection of wood. I'd give it a 6 out of ten.
Good work! She's beautiful. Does the neck warp without a truss rod?
Is there any dimensions anywhere.
The bolt hole is plugged. Lmao
im going to be building one of these, can someone please tell me how this is tuned, it looks like there normal gauge strings
awesome what size board was that please
Any video of how it sounds?
What where the dimensions of the original block of wood?
It stared out 840mm x 120mm x 37mm and the finished instrument ended up not much shorter or thinner and about 150mm across at its widest point. Hope that helps
Thanks a ton this information has helped a bunch.
Nice guitar, but worst compressed audio file i've ever heard
Headstock is a little too cut down. Strength...splitting.
And that music...too bad the tape didn't totally get eaten before.