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Topic: Help with first lap steel purchase... |
Michael Kolesa
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 9 Apr 2008 1:18 pm |
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Hi gang,
I've been lurking here awhile and thought the time was right to jump in; after all, we are finally getting some spring weather here in Toronto! I'm a long time guitarist who plays both acoustic and electric for enjoyment at home... I grew up in the classic rock era but over time expanded my interest to include a little bit of everything. Today I listen to mostly alt-country/singer-songwriter type music, and have an appreciation for classic/traditional country as well. Although I'm not an accomplished musician, I do enjoy picking up an instrument and trying to get something out of it, and the idea of getting a lap steel has been on my mind a lot. Even though it would be an instrument just used at home I'd still like something with a respectable build quality (my acoustics are from a boutique maker and by electric is a Gibson Custom Shop), so I probably wouldn't be happy with the really cheap-o instruments out there. The next step up seems to be an instrument like the Chandler RH-2, the Asher Junior, and the Gold Tone. I was hoping someone would be able to compare/contrast these three or give me another suggestion. I'm aware of the Dynalap as well but am not really taken with its' looks. One concern I have is that the Asher and Chandler only come in 6 string versions and I'm guessing I'd be better off starting with an 8 string if it's going to be my 'only' instrument.
Thanks in advance! |
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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Felix Blevins
From:
Dunlap, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 9 Apr 2008 2:35 pm
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| Have you checked out the Rukavina 8 string steel in the Instruments For Sale section? I have two of his custom made guitars and they are great guitars.They are built comparable to the other better built lap steels now being built, in my opinion. |
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Roman Sonnleitner
From:
Vienna, Austria
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 9 Apr 2008 11:15 pm
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Chandler has a website. The Studio 8 sells for $999.00, I think. I like their guitars. They also have a studio 6 for 700 and some odd dollars. I have found that I prefer six strings to eight. Almost everything I do is easily done on six. The additional two strings are usually just in the way. It may be a good idea to start out with an 8 string Morrell and a six string Artisan. Cheapo guitars until you decide what you want to do.
_________________
Amor vincit omnia |
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Mark Mansueto
From:
Michigan, USA
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Iain Carmichael
From:
Scotland
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Posted 10 Apr 2008 2:49 pm
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| Welcome to the SGF, Michael. A beginner, I bought my first lap steel about 6 months ago after spending hundreds of hours trying to get my head round the options. I ended up buying a superb wee National 6-string for $400 from a forumite, a Rickenbacher B6 on eBay, and- in order to have a guitar that was both modern and an 8-string- I bought a West Coast Hawaiian. For sheer value for money I reckon you can't whack the West Coast. It's a real quality instrument for not much more than $600. Strongly recommend it. You can hear it played on the HSGA site- Members' Audio section. The site is accessible by googling "West Coast Guitars". BTW,I'd have been lost without the help of the kind and knowlegeable guys on this forum. Good luck! |
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