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Topic: Jantz Lap Steel - Winnipeg Manitoba |
Michael Greer
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 20 Oct 2015 10:42 am |
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Recently brought this Jantz lap steel back home to Canada.
Thanks to George Lake for previously posting history about these late 1940's early 1950's
Steels made by Mr Jantz in Winnipeg.
This one appears to be the "dark wood " version.....another unique feature is the handmade tone/volume knobs......note the small red/green/yellow dots
If there are any more of these steels that have survived would love to hear about them
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Robert Zaporzan
From:
Honolulu, HI
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Posted 21 Oct 2015 12:17 pm
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Yes. I have a 7 string Jantz, as does SGF member Terry Barnett. We both hail from Winnipeg where these were made, but mine resides now in Hawaii, with me. We both replaced the PUPs, as these were very heavy and very non-functional. Put in a Bill Lawrence Hot Rails PUP, designed for 10 string pedal guitar, and it fit the existing space with a tiny bit of routing. If you can't locate one, contact Wayne Link, of Linkon Guitars in Winnipeg. I believe he may still have one or two lying around.
If you are playing it, not just collecting, you might want to try removing that metal handrest. I did so on mine on an unrelated matter, and discovered, to my surprise, that the volume almost DOUBLED. Another benefit is free access to the Tone pot for boo wah shenanigans. Impossible to do with that thing in the way. Also, you have more room to pick nearer the bridge, which gives you wider tonal variations. I love mine, and many of my friends here have played it: Bobby Ingano, Jeff Au Hoy, and Greg Sardinha. They all gave it two thumbs up. It will tide me until I can get a nice frypan of my own. For now, I am happy with this instrument. |
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Michael Greer
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 23 Oct 2015 6:41 am
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Robert
thanks for the tips regarding pickup and the metal hand rest.
The pickup in mine is also dead and at some point I plan try my hand at installing a replacement.
The weather in Hawaii is most certainly better than Winnipeg in the winter.....no need for engine block heaters there!!
take care
mike |
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Robert Zaporzan
From:
Honolulu, HI
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Posted 23 Oct 2015 12:32 pm
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Michael: as yours is a 6 string, the aforementioned PUP may be a tad wider than you need. I do recommend this style of PUP, nonetheless. I find harmonics ridiculously easy to hit, as compared to say, a P-90, or the Supro style wraparounds. Unless the tone and vol. pots are beyond redemption, I recommend keeping them, as you won't be able to find anything close to how these were built in the 40's-50's. The twin blades are also noise cancelling (really humbuckers), so there's that as well.
I originally took the handrest off because of grounding issues. I was getting something almost akin to boowah when I took my hand off the rest. This amused me briefly, then I began to experiment. After I got the solder off the bolt that fastened it from the inside cavity, I made the volume discovery. Good luck, and let me know how it goes. |
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