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Author Topic:  building something different
Dennis Brown

 

From:
Gowen, Mi. USA
Post  Posted 7 Sep 2009 3:17 pm    
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This is a little creature I'm trying to bring to life. It's a solid aluminum lap, slide, dobro simulater. The hollowed out area leaves only a .030 bottom. A sound post from bridge to the thin bottom
simulates a dobro sound. I have alumitone pick ups and a piezo with pre amp for a variation on tones and sounds. Still experimenting with several crazy thoughts. Also making one to replace the pad on the single neck double body pedal steel it's only 3/4" thick. If the pad is installed with velcro, It could be removed at any time for the six string creature.
Any thoughts? Dennis Rolling Eyes


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Lee Gillespie


From:
Cheyenne, Wy. USA
Post  Posted 7 Sep 2009 4:22 pm     Lap steel
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HMMMmmm.... interesting. Great to think out of the box.... Please keep the forum informed of the progress. Lee
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chas smith R.I.P.


From:
Encino, CA, USA
Post  Posted 7 Sep 2009 5:19 pm    
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Always nice to see some creative thinking.
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Stan Schober


From:
Cahokia, Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 7 Sep 2009 7:13 pm    
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Verrrrrrrry slickkkkkkk.

Nice work !!!

How about some sound bites ??
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Tom Pettingill


From:
California, USA (deceased)
Post  Posted 7 Sep 2009 7:58 pm    
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Very cool Dennis Cool
_________________
Some misc pics of my hand crafted steels
Follow me on Facebook here
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Dennis Brooker


From:
Iowa, USA
Post  Posted 8 Sep 2009 4:47 am    
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Keep going - I to can't wait to hear some sound samples - Anyone named Dennis is always going to be doing something different Wink DB
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Bill Hatcher

 

From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
Post  Posted 8 Sep 2009 5:52 am    
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Nice work! What are you doing your machine work with?
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Dennis Brown

 

From:
Gowen, Mi. USA
Post  Posted 8 Sep 2009 10:42 am     creature
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Thanks for the cool comments guys. The plan is to take it with me 10/04/09 to Michigan. My son is doing the machine work at his place of employment. Until then I'am trying to wire up two alumitones, one piezo, Piezo/magnetic outboard mixing preamp, three mini switches,9volt battery and of course a battery disconnet type 1/4" jack. I find myself stumped on this.
It should give one heck of a variation for the twang and tones if I can figure it out. (Could use some help on this.) Open to helpful suggestions and ideas if you wish to share them. Confused Dennis.
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Stan Schober


From:
Cahokia, Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 8 Sep 2009 12:46 pm     Re: creature
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Dennis Brown wrote:
...trying to wire up two alumitones, one piezo, Piezo/magnetic outboard mixing preamp, three mini switches,9volt battery and of course a battery disconnet type 1/4" jack.

is that actually becoming inboard ?
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Dennis Brown

 

From:
Gowen, Mi. USA
Post  Posted 8 Sep 2009 1:41 pm     Good Q.
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Hello Stan. The item discription calls it a ONboard piezo/ magnetic pickup mixing amp. The instructions call it a OUTboard mixing preamp. I just want the dang thing to work when it comes together. So if you want to call it a INboard, thats good for me to.
Very Happy Inboard it is.... Thanks Stan, enjoy your evening.

Dennis.
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Dennis Brown

 

From:
Gowen, Mi. USA
Post  Posted 8 Sep 2009 2:17 pm     whats in a name.
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Hello Dennis Brooker. Yep, something in that name!
Idea Does "D" stand for oh-oh? Rolling Eyes

Hey Bill, my son is doing the surgery with a CNC.
near Grand Rapids, Mi. (long distance) but the cost
of his labor is is priceless.
Have fun, Dennis
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Stan Schober


From:
Cahokia, Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 8 Sep 2009 7:13 pm     Scheemmmmattic...
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You have a schematic waiting in your inbox...
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Mark Bracewell


From:
Willow Glen, California
Post  Posted 8 Sep 2009 8:55 pm    
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I have always felt that a luthier should befriend a machinist at any opportunity, but you actually made one. That's foresight! Well done. Wink
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Rick Collins

 

From:
Claremont , CA USA
Post  Posted 9 Sep 2009 5:43 am    
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Dennis there are already "fry pans".
Call this one, "The Boat Oar".
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Dennis Brown

 

From:
Gowen, Mi. USA
Post  Posted 9 Sep 2009 9:34 am     shape?
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It does look somewhat like a boat oar. Now that the shape is running thru my head, it sorta looks like the paddle my dad used on my rear end, it had holes in it to. Those things hurt when you put holes in them.
Why did you have to go there Rick? Laughing

Thanks for the comments, and Stan I thank you for all your help. Dennis.
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Stan Schober


From:
Cahokia, Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 9 Sep 2009 10:12 am    
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You're welcome.
Let me know if you need to revise it in any way.
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James Fleming

 

From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 9 Sep 2009 1:05 pm    
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Dennis,

Do you have any new photos? Looks like you have a fretboard right behind that cold miller lite, how about a photo of that.(the fretboard, not the beer)

This looks like a cool project.

Chris Fouke at Industrial Guitars builds a lot of Aluminum Lap Steels. He is a nice guy and might be of some help with some of your technical questions.

http://www.industrialguitars.com/contactinfo.html
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Dennis Brown

 

From:
Gowen, Mi. USA
Post  Posted 9 Sep 2009 3:55 pm     Hi James
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Hi there James, look close, I hope thats a Pepsi. (I didn't tell my wife I took). The Miller Lite comes from my own (shop)fridge. There should be a can somewhere in the pics. The fret board you mentioned is something I used on my pedal Steel's back neck in the 80's in place of the C6th. I really don't remember where it came from.
James, I thank you for your help, It all adds up.
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James Fleming

 

From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 24 Sep 2009 6:12 am     Which Alumitone?
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Hey Dennis, I am rebuilding an old Bronson Lap Steel and am toying with the idea of new electronics.

Which Alumitone model pup have you chosen for your guitar.

I see a lot of guys on the forum go with Bass Bars.

Is that something you only need when dealing with 8 ,10 and 12 string guitars, or is it a tone issue for Steel playing?

Thanks,

Jim
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Dennis Brown

 

From:
Gowen, Mi. USA
Post  Posted 24 Sep 2009 11:22 am     alumitones
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James, I went with the single coils because they where on a clearance table at my local candy store and I also wanted one close to the bridge and one close to the neck. This along with a piezo and pre amp should give a variety of sound for a variety of music. I bought two, three packs. enough for three guitars of this type.
You might ask the other fellers there opinions, They can help you much more than I. Very Happy
Have a great time. Dennis
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C. Brattain


From:
Balch Springs, Texas, usa
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2009 8:54 am    
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GREAT IDEA, I would like to hear what it sounds like.
www.texasguitartradingpost.com
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Dennis Brown

 

From:
Gowen, Mi. USA
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2009 5:02 pm     Hello.
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Thank you, Stan Shober Just finished up the wiring on the thing. I recieved it yesterday. He's been a great help. I'm going to Michigan for a week and I should have something in a couple of weeks. (I hope).
Dennis
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Dennis Brown

 

From:
Gowen, Mi. USA
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2009 5:03 pm     Hello.
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Thank you, Stan Schober Just finished up the wiring on the thing. I recieved it yesterday. He's been a great help. I'm going to Michigan for a week and I should have something in a couple of weeks. (I hope).
Dennis
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Stan Schober


From:
Cahokia, Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2009 7:59 pm    
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You're welcome !
( Gee, I guess I did such a good job, he said it twice...) Very Happy
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Dennis Brown

 

From:
Gowen, Mi. USA
Post  Posted 1 Oct 2009 8:59 am     Twice?
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Yep, It was worth repeating myself, don't double dare me to do it again...... Rolling Eyes ( whoooops)
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