| Author |
Topic: New Lap Steel - Something's not right |
Alexandre Tikhanoff
From:
California, USA
|
Posted 28 Sep 2015 10:09 pm |
|
Hi all... so, I just got my Oahu Diana in that I ordered last week. I'm brand new to lap steel, but it seems off. The string heights aren't level... are they supposed to be?
I need to apply considerable pressure in order for the middle strings to not buzz like crazy. I can't play all the strings simultaneously... I can say, play the first 2 strings, or the 2nd and 3rd... or 3rd or 4th. so on.
Any advice on what to do?
Or, any luthiers in Riverside, CA?
TIA. |
|
|
 |
Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
|
|
|
|
Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
|
|
|
|
Bob Thomason
From:
Georgia, USA
|
Posted 29 Sep 2015 5:13 am
|
|
It's important that the nut slots be cleanly cut, no burrs or ragged edges. This will cause buzzing,use a stop in front of the nut to set the string height. I score the nut very lightly just enough to hold the strings.
_________________
Got time to breathe,got time for music
Brisco Darling |
|
|
|
Joe Burke
From:
Toronto, Canada
|
Posted 29 Sep 2015 5:55 am
|
|
I've had this same issue twice: Once with a new lap steel, and once with an old dobro. With the lap steel, I took it to a guitar shop and he got the strings to an even height. With the dobro, I had to replace the nut.
I suppose it's not an uncommon issue. But I bet your Oahu sounds great! |
|
|
|
Alexandre Tikhanoff
From:
California, USA
|
Posted 29 Sep 2015 11:36 am
|
|
Thanks for the recommendations! I think I'll give Blackie Taylor a call and see if they can work on it for me. Would hate to do more damage.
@joe, it's a little rough, and I'm sure I overpaid for it, for the condition it's in, but it does have a nice warm tone. I chased after the Diana because every time I'd heard it played it had exactly the tone I was looking for. |
|
|
|
Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
|
Posted 29 Sep 2015 12:12 pm
|
|
I'd suggest that before you have any nut work done, settle on a tuning and a string set for that tuning before you have it dialed in. Different tunings need different gauges and even in pre packaged string sets, the gauges can very a little.
_________________
Some misc pics of my hand crafted steels
Follow me on Facebook here |
|
|
|
Alexandre Tikhanoff
From:
California, USA
|
Posted 29 Sep 2015 12:28 pm
|
|
| Tom Pettingill wrote: |
| I'd suggest that before you have any nut work done, settle on a tuning and a string set for that tuning before you have it dialed in. Different tunings need different gauges and even in pre packaged string sets, the gauges can very a little. |
That's a tough one, since I'm new to it. I know C6 is recommended, but I'm more after this type of sound:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw6XvISAPjQ
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAypnmdiCEk
Less country country.
I'm not sure what tuning they're using, nor that I should start with an unconventional one. Though I have a hard time as it is remembering scales/etc on the guitar with standard tuning that I've been playing for years. I should probably pick a tuning that I'm going to stick with. |
|
|
|
David Venzke
From:
SE Michigan, USA
|
Posted 29 Sep 2015 3:47 pm
|
|
| If you want to wait until you've settled on your tuning before getting the work done, another option is to raise the strings that are too low by using aluminum foil in the nut slots. You just need to raise them enough to eliminate the buzzing. |
|
|
|
Alexandre Tikhanoff
From:
California, USA
|
Posted 29 Sep 2015 9:14 pm
|
|
| David Venzke wrote: |
| If you want to wait until you've settled on your tuning before getting the work done, another option is to raise the strings that are too low by using aluminum foil in the nut slots. You just need to raise them enough to eliminate the buzzing. |
Thanks for the tip, I'll give that a shot. |
|
|
|
