Weissenborn Lapsteel Guitars Demo-Vintage vs Contemporary

Being on a roll demoing some old vintage guitars this week, I figured it's a good time to compare some vintage lapsteels with a modern day one as well. Here are 2 1920's Weissenborns--a Weissenborn style 3 and a Kona style 4. They are compared with a favorite modern day 'Weissenborn' style 4 Lapsteel built by New Zealand Luthier/musician Paddy Burgin. This one is in Walnut, and though you may notice a bridge pickup attached, all these instruments are unplugged for this demo. As in the prewar guitars previously posted, you may notice a defined purity in the 2 vintage Weissenborns(again something to behold), but I do love the full, rich tone of the Burgin! :) Enjoy, Ken

[@Caligari...]

Very Nice , Great sounding instruments and playing also . Thanks

[@bratzmich6465]

I am not afraid to say that I liked the 3rd one (the Burgin) the most. I feel that a Weissenborn should deliver the fullest, most balanced and richest tone ever possible. The rest is up to the player. He is in control of (and responsible for) all that huge tonal wealth.
Oh - and thank You for making this video!

[@Kensmusicvideos]

Thanks much for taking a listen, and your comments-I appreciate different folks perspectives.

[@hurley1940]

Thanks Ken for that great presentation. What a difference in the sounds coming from each. I’m 82 and still learning valuable lessons.

[@joshuakemblebluegrass838]

Nice! I like the tone of the first one the best.

[@Kensmusicvideos]

Thanks for your listen and comment!

[@paddyburgin565]

Great to hear this Ken. Thanks for sharing.

[@robertmpowell1122]

Good to hear this - thank you!

[@2193191]

Thanks for this excellent comparison in a controlled environment. Hard to pick a winner (it would be just personal preference) but it's a very interesting video. Great job.

[@sugarbeet56]

Thanks for the fine comparison. I have a Kona model 3 that is nearly identical to yours in both appearance and sound.

[@JimmyBrobeck]

Excellent playing Ken.

[@JimmyBrobeck]

I hope you have the opportunity to play/hear a Brauchli hollowneck someday. His fretboard angle and carbon fiber bracing give his instruments special audible characteristics. I prefer his fixed bridge hollowneck, but his floating bridge makes tones that might be better for ensemble playing.

[@StevesSlideandJazz]

Try a Richard Wilson Koa. Mine is perfect!

[@ZachKopkaZake]

You own those guitars?

[@peternein]

thank you .....i would love to ask you ......which weissenborn do you like better ?

[@Kensmusicvideos]

I love them and love playing them both, but there's something unexplainable that draws me more often to the style 3 regular model. That said, I used the kona on all lap steel tracks for my last album...go figure! It really comes down to a personal preference thing I believe. Do you have a preference from this comparison?

[@peternein]

Thank you so much for replying !
I truly believe I love the first one .....the style 3 regular as well ‘
And what’s amazing is .......I just got a style 3 regular and getting ready to put the strings on it. Tomorrow !!!! Had the original strings on it ‘
I found you a couple weeks ago and found one just like yours !!!!!! Mucho.Love new friend ! Thank you for sharing your energy and for comparing ...... I Loved this video ~*~
Would love to talk with this on the phone one day if that is possible ‘
Blessings ~*~