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Topic: 8-string student Steels? What are the better/worse models? |
Eugene Cole
From:
near Washington Grove, MD, USA
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Posted 30 Jun 2010 11:19 am |
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I am looking for a student-priced 8-string. It can be acoustic, electric, or a practice-board.
What are the merits and foibles of the various models that have a street price of $525 or less and are readily available online or in stores? Yes $525 is a bit above the upper range of many students; but I wanted to give a little more wiggle-room given that 8-strings always seem to come at a somewhat higher price.
Listing the models & makers you are aware of would be helpful. Talking about why you do or don't like a particular model would be very helpful.
_________________
Regards
-- Eugene <sup>at</sup> FJ45.com
PixEnBar.com
Cole-Luthierie.com
FJ45.com
Sierra U14 8+5 my copedent, 1972 MSA D10 8+4, and nothing in the Bank. 8^) |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 30 Jun 2010 11:29 am
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The least expensive eight string lap steels currently being made are the Morrell and Gold Tone. Of those two, I prefer the sound and construction of the Gold Tone.
Links above are links to Elderly Instruments in Lansing, Michigan. You may find these same guitars cheaper elsewhere, but Elderly has good photos of both instruments.
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Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Joe Kaufman
From:
Lewiston, Idaho
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Posted 30 Jun 2010 3:00 pm
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| For that price you could find the occasional used D8 console instrument if you are patient. Guyatone consoles often sell right at the top of your price range. |
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 30 Jun 2010 10:53 pm
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| Look in on ELVA WEST and his TRADEWIND Guitars...he makes both 6 and 8 string models and will build to your specification at a very reasonable cost. He lives in Anaheim CA. (Google Tradewind Guitars)- or - e-mail him at: elvawest@sbcglobal.net |
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Eugene Cole
From:
near Washington Grove, MD, USA
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Posted 30 Jun 2010 11:35 pm
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| George Keoki Lake wrote: |
| Look in on ELVA WEST and his TRADEWIND Guitars...he makes both 6 and 8 string models and will build to your specification at a very reasonable cost. He lives in Anaheim CA. (Google Tradewind Guitars)- or - e-mail him at: elvawest@sbcglobal.net |
I am thrilled and amazed to know that someone is building 8-strings for under $525. At that price I have to investigate the option.
I got to a blank web page at http://www.tradewindguitars.com/ so I guess that I will have to email him.
Thanks for the tip
Edit July 1: the correct URL is actually http://www.tradewindsteelguitars.com/
_________________
Regards
-- Eugene <sup>at</sup> FJ45.com
PixEnBar.com
Cole-Luthierie.com
FJ45.com
Sierra U14 8+5 my copedent, 1972 MSA D10 8+4, and nothing in the Bank. 8^)
Last edited by Eugene Cole on 1 Jul 2010 10:05 am; edited 1 time in total |
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G Strout
From:
Carabelle, Florida
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Posted 1 Jul 2010 8:02 am
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| They come up on eBay from time to time. I see 8 strings in your price range on there quite frequently. There are a couple of Gold Tones and a Melobar currently listed that are 8 strings. |
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Paul DiMaggio
From:
Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 1 Jul 2010 8:19 am
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| Allen Melbert steel guitars are well made reasonably priced 8 strings. http://www.musonmt.com/ |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 1 Jul 2010 9:12 am
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Thanks for pointing out the Allen Melbert guitars, Paul. Those are pretty nice instruments as well, especially for the price.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Stephen Calhoun
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 1 Jul 2010 4:00 pm
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Bob Allen's Melbert guitars, of which I have a 6 string version, has got to be one of the best kept secrets in the lap steel world.
It's a player's guitar at a great price; made in the USA by a really nice guy. I reach for my D Melbert as much as my E Fouke Indy Rail.
_________________
slide avant-gardist, experimentalist, echo surfer
two 1970-ish Fender 400, Fouke Industrial Rail, Allen Melbert 6, Rondo SX -- everything one way or the other through Guitar Rig/Logic/Apple/synthesizers/iPAD. ...sometimes out to a Tech 21 Trademark 60 1x12
recording as Kamelmauz.bandcamp.com |
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Tracy Sheehan
From:
Fort Worth, Texas, USA
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Posted 2 Jul 2010 2:10 pm Re: 8-string student Steels? What are the better/worse model
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| Eugene Cole wrote: |
I am looking for a student-priced 8-string. It can be acoustic, electric, or a practice-board.
What are the merits and foibles of the various models that have a street price of $525 or less and are readily available online or in stores? Yes $525 is a bit above the upper range of many students; but I wanted to give a little more wiggle-room given that 8-strings always seem to come at a somewhat higher price.
Listing the models & makers you are aware of would be helpful. Talking about why you do or don't like a particular model would be very helpful. |
Eugene. I made a comment on this and put it in the wrong place. IF you get a Morrell lap steel from the factory and it is defective don't expect any help. Tracy |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Tom Franke
From:
Arizona, USA
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Posted 2 Jul 2010 4:55 pm
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| I am a new player, too, so I can't compare different makes, but I can say that the Melbert 8 string I got is really nice--well-built with good quality components. The web site was listed above and is well worth a visit. |
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