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Topic: Intro & compensation calc (laps don't need it... right...?) |
Spencer Cook
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 14 Mar 2015 11:08 am |
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Hey there,
This is my first post. I've been reading the archives and love this place, it's a great resource. I've been playing for about a year now and am really excited about the lap steel. I've tried to play a variety of instruments over the years but due to my physical disability, nothing has worked until now.
I'll be posting a few questions about lap steel design and construction; I'm in the process of building an 8 string. I'm a furniture designer and architect by trade so making my own instrument feels necessary.
First question:
I've read many of the heated discussions on compensation, here and elsewhere. For laps, it doesn't seem to be necessary due to fact that we don't bend the strings to the fret. HOWEVER... I found this:
http://liutaiomottola.com/formulae/compensation.htm
I've tried plugging in different sets of numbers and the calculator always seems to indicate that some fairly significant compensation is required. It's a tool that designed for acoustic guitar, obviously, but I figured that if I set the action height close to zero, it would be a good approximation of a lap steel. What do you guys think? I've emailed the site's owner and will report back. |
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James Hartman
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 14 Mar 2015 11:57 am
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"Compensation", as you've surmised, is literally compensation for the extent to which a given string sharps out when it's stretched, as you press it against the fingerboard.
The strings on a lap steel do deflect a bit from bar pressure, and consequently sharp out a bit (in a mathematical sense), but the intonation issues that exist with fixed-fret instruments aren't relevent. So, not a problem. |
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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Posted 14 Mar 2015 12:18 pm
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I've found that string sets with a large variation from smallest to largest could benefit from a little compensation, but in practice it really makes no difference. If you think about it, we are playing by ear and naturally adjust bar position and compensate on the fly.
_________________
Some misc pics of my hand crafted steels
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 14 Mar 2015 12:29 pm
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Get your major info on the subject here (eg. the answers above) because there's a chance I'll be getting an email from RM Mottola about this and I'll just tell him what the people here are saying.
RM is a lifelong hometown friend of mine. He knows his stuff, big time. I'm sure he can plug in his theoretical knowledge into this question but lap steel is not his thing.
Ultimately, compensation is done with the bar. Well selected string gauges prevent huge discrepancies in tension, one place where bar pressure could have uneven affect on pitch, across the strings.
But even here, I've said too much---experts live here and I'm not one. |
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Spencer Cook
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 14 Mar 2015 12:58 pm
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| Thanks, that's what I thought. I have a machinist friend who's going to CNC mill the bridge and nut I'm digitally modelling now. It would be fun to incorporate micro adjustments but only if it were necessary. |
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