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Topic: Chandler Steels, what do you think of 'em?........... |
Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 2 Nov 2008 9:50 pm |
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I've got a couple of Hawaiian gigs coming up so I was looking for a reasonable priced lap steel to bone up on a little C6th. I have an old Regal which was made in Chicago but the string spacing is really wide, I don't think I could ever get used to it.
I stopped by the local Guitar Center today to look at one of those Gretsch lap steels and I saw a used Chandler for $229 which seemed like a pretty good deal as I think they go for around $350 new. It was a trade in and in like new condition. I took it home and restrung it and I think it's going to do the trick. The pickup sort of resembles an old Gibson P/U in a lot of ways.....
Does any one out there have one of these or an opinion on them? Since the scale is 23 1/4", what would be the best string gauges for a B6th tuning? It'd be (high to low) D# B G# F# D# B.
I have a C6th on it right now but my first Hawaiian gig is this Saturday and since I'm used to the E9/B6 thing it'd be easier just tuning it to B6th.......JH in Va.
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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!! |
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Craig Stenseth
From:
Naperville, Illinois, USA
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Posted 3 Nov 2008 4:37 pm
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Jerry,
I would think a set of strings for C6 lap steel would be fine for your guitar 1/2 step lower, since your scale is a tad longer than some lap steels. You could probably go up .001" or .002" in thickness as well.
(like on this site http://pedalsteelmusic.com/strings.html ) |
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 4 Nov 2008 3:40 am
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Craig, thanks for the info........JH in Va.
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!! |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 4 Nov 2008 8:38 am
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My opinion: they're nice steels for the money; well made with nice aesthetics, quality components and a bright, P90-sounding pickup. The scale length isn't the big issue so much as the width of the fretboard - it's really far too narrow. I had one for a few years but sold it for mostly this reason.
For a few dollars more, I'd recommend the Asher Electro Hawaiian Jr. After you swap the pickup and upgrade the electronics, it would be hard to find a better new steel in that price range than the Asher.
There are also still vintage guitars out there that IMHO, will sound better than the Chandler but for what you paid you could change the pickup and still have a good deal, financially speaking. |
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Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 4 Nov 2008 2:06 pm
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| Andy Volk wrote: |
My opinion: they're nice steels for the money; well made with nice aesthetics, quality components and a bright, P90-sounding pickup.
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For a few dollars more, I'd recommend the Asher Electro Hawaiian Jr. After you swap the pickup and upgrade the electronics, it would be hard to find a better new steel in that price range than the Asher. |
Coincidentally, I have both of these guitars for sale! An Asher Electro Hawaiian Jr. with upgrades in excellent shape and a Chandler RH-2 that's a bit beat up. Drop me an email if you're interested!
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Primitive Utility Steel |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 5 Nov 2008 5:03 am
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I love the Chandlers, myself. And the neck width and string spacing are a big part of the reason why. It's the most playable electric steel I've ever had. I currently have a studio 6. But don't go there unless you love your RH2 as much as I loved mine.
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Amor vincit omnia |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 5 Nov 2008 8:05 am
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That's a great deal on the Asher. I think the Chandler is a fine guitar, but the Asher provides a lot more bang for the buck.
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Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 5 Nov 2008 12:34 pm
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I took it to the gig last night and left my pedal steel at home so I'd have to either sink or swim and to my surprise it worked out very well. The reason I liked the Chandler was the close string spacing, more like a lead guitar. I just put an A/B switch coming out of my effects board and put a Tele in one jack and the Chandler in the other and it was great. I have an old Regal lapsteel but the spacing's way too wide..........I think this one's a keeper for sure.
I'll be using it again tommorrow night. I think the choice of B6th worked out much better for me than C6th as I wasn't confused about chord positions at all.......I'm thinking of adding some Keith/Scruggs pegs on strings 1 and 5 to raise them from D# to E so I can get a form of an E tuning with the F# in there. I think that might be useful.........JH in Va...
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!! |
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