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Topic: Did I get a good deal on this Gibson lapsteel? |
Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 11 May 2014 1:28 pm |
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I was hoping to find tuners that had "Kluson Deluxe" stamped into the metal like the remaining three original on the guitar have.... I think the ones from Kluson might have that or don't they?...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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Stefan Robertson
From:
Hertfordshire, UK
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Posted 14 May 2014 3:53 am
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WARNING HARSH REVIEW FROM PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
As a collector the piece is great.
As a player piece - I played it before back when the London Reso Centre still had a shop. Was truly unimpressed. I actually was more impressed with more modern builds as opposed to brand name. Everything about it sounded terrible. It was like the mellow version of the Gold tone cheap-o six string.
Range was low, pickups distorted in the higher register, tuners, and knobs cheap. Hate to say it but you bought History.
GOOD NOTE: History of Gibson = Priceless
I know everyone in here is going to scream at me just because it says GIBSON. But for playability I'm just saying its "Pants". Sorry.
Even the pickups on the Chinese £99 Lap Steel sounded superior in range. Doubt me. Test it and see. And I hate the sound of that Chinese 6 string instrument. 
For $200 bucks you can have fun. Be careful with it because it'll probably be worth a lot more as times elapses.
_________________
Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com
"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist" |
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David McAnelly
From:
California, USA
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Posted 14 May 2014 7:42 am
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| I bought a BR9 for $25 back when they were considered garage sale junk (some might argue that they still are). It has the shortcomings the Stefan describes. However, I found that for rock and blues, the thing really kicks butt. The distortion doesn't matter and in fact can actually be an asset. When I was playing with a group at the old Gram Parsons festival in Joshua Tree, i ended up using this instead of some other steels which I consider to be superior for general use. Especially when some extra distortion is added, this thing really screams. It is not what you want for Harbor Lights, though. |
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Stefan Robertson
From:
Hertfordshire, UK
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Posted 14 May 2014 10:13 am
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Makes you wonder though that we make excuses for crap quality builds for Lap Steel Guitars but wouldn't think twice to call it rubbish if it were a normal guitar.
Eg.
Vintage guitar tuning heads - not staying in tune longer than a song or two.
Pickups - muddy and not being able to hear full range of instrument
Knobs - cheap plastic that breaks off easily or numbers that are marked incorrectly
String spacing - uneven
Output - low output with lots of noise.
Pickup - not differentiating tones in low or high ranges clearly.
Imagine these attributes were in a guitar. Would we be so forgiving or would we accept it's just not made well.
Something to think about.
_________________
Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com
"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist" |
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Stefan Robertson
From:
Hertfordshire, UK
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Posted 14 May 2014 10:16 am
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I get the sense we forget distortion should be an effect "optional choice" to colour ones playing. Like a spice.
Rather than distortion due to a bad pickup.
_________________
Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com
"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist" |
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David McAnelly
From:
California, USA
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Posted 14 May 2014 10:23 am
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| Oh, I agree in general. It's just that I did find a use for this instrument and it works well in a limited way. |
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 15 May 2014 1:48 pm
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I went ahead and ordered a set of tuning pegs from Stewart/MacDonald yesterday for the guitar. The salesman said they were of superior quality to the originals so that's good........JH in Va.
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!! |
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