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Topic: First home-built lap steel |
Andy Henriksen
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 21 Nov 2017 7:13 pm |
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I started this thing in January. I nearly had to do everything twice and several things 3 times, to figure out the right way to get what I wanted, but I mostly got there. There are several visible flaws that are all my doing, but it’s all asthetic stuff, so I can cope.
It sounds real nice based on the first 5 minutes of playing. The lollar console grande pickup has a clear chimey attack, and a rich tone. Sustain seems decent, but I haven’t A/B’d against my other guitars.
Bah! Sorry about the upside down pics. They were right before I uploaded em...
Last edited by Andy Henriksen on 21 Nov 2017 9:22 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Ron Simpson
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 21 Nov 2017 7:24 pm
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| Beautiful work. |
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Ken Campbell
From:
Ferndale, Montana
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Posted 21 Nov 2017 8:27 pm
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| Most impressive! |
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Mick Hearn
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 21 Nov 2017 11:22 pm
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Very nice. What diameter rod are you using for the bridge?
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MSA Classic 12 string Universal, Remington Steelmaster D8, National D8 Console x 2, George Boards Lap Steel, National New Yorker. |
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Tim Russell
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 22 Nov 2017 1:56 am
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Looks awesome!
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Sierra Crown D-10 |
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Andy Henriksen
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 22 Nov 2017 4:03 am
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Thanks everyone!
| Mick Hearn wrote: |
| Very nice. What diameter rod are you using for the bridge? |
1/2â€. The bridge and nut are both made from cheap aluminum stock from Lowes or HD. |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 22 Nov 2017 4:44 am
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Very nice build Andy. Did you use walnut and maple?
What do you mean...upside down picture? Isn't that the bottom????? 
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Joe Elk
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 22 Nov 2017 4:54 am
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Very nice Andy!!
Joe Elk Central Ohio |
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Andy Henriksen
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 22 Nov 2017 5:53 am
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| Bill Groner wrote: |
Very nice build Andy. Did you use walnut and maple?
What do you mean...upside down picture? Isn't that the bottom????? |
d'oh!
Yeah, black walnut and sugar maple. I still have about 6' of the maple slab left, so I'm sure another something will come of that someday. |
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Nic Neufeld
From:
Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted 22 Nov 2017 6:48 am
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That's quite lovely! The bridge design is very aesthetically pleasing. Strings held in their spot by tension I assume, or is it slotted?
The fretboard looks like it was slotted with maple fillers, is that the case?
Someday I'll take a swing at doing this. I've built a lot of Warmoth guitars (cheating, I know) so it's a little trickier given my lack of woodworking expertise and equipment, but we'll see, maybe someday (or I'll pilfer an old body and use it as a base). |
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Larry Phleger
From:
DuBois, PA
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Posted 22 Nov 2017 7:47 am
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Beautiful job, Andy. What tuning are you using on it?  |
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Andy Henriksen
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 22 Nov 2017 9:00 am
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| Nic Neufeld wrote: |
That's quite lovely! The bridge design is very aesthetically pleasing. Strings held in their spot by tension I assume, or is it slotted?
The fretboard looks like it was slotted with maple fillers, is that the case?
Someday I'll take a swing at doing this. I've built a lot of Warmoth guitars (cheating, I know) so it's a little trickier given my lack of woodworking expertise and equipment, but we'll see, maybe someday (or I'll pilfer an old body and use it as a base). |
bridge isn't slotted (probably should be). And yep - the "frets" and dots are maple. For the dots, I made a rough "pencil" out of maple at the saw and router table, then sharpened it in an electric pencil sharpener, which made the perfect tapered plugs.
I was several years in the thinkin' phase of this before I actually bought a piece of wood. It was fun, and super frustrating at times! I won't be doing another one soon, but when I do, it should be much faster and easier.
Larry, my default is C6 w/ a high G. But I'm thinking of trying (again) A6 on this. |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 22 Nov 2017 9:24 am
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Andy, what finish did you use on it? That picture of the bottom side, the darn thing looks perfect.
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Andy Henriksen
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 22 Nov 2017 9:28 am
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| Bill Groner wrote: |
| Andy, what finish did you use on it? That picture of the bottom side, the darn thing looks perfect. |
Thanks! It has a dozen very light coats of "tung oil finish" with high grit paper up to #0000 steel wool in between. Topped it off with some paste wax. |
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Paul Arntson
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 22 Nov 2017 9:53 am
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Beautiful! I bet it sounds as good as it looks!
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Excel D10 8&4, Supro 8, Regal resonator, Peavey Powerslide, homemade lap 12(a work in progress) |
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Nic Neufeld
From:
Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted 22 Nov 2017 10:38 am
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| Tung oil finish, is that the Formby's varnish blend? I've used that for a number of guitars and generally liked my results from it. Yours seems to have an especially nice finish though (mine occasionally seemed a bit rough in comparison), with somewhere between a satin and gloss effect... |
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Andy Henriksen
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 22 Nov 2017 11:21 am
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| Nic Neufeld wrote: |
| Tung oil finish, is that the Formby's varnish blend? I've used that for a number of guitars and generally liked my results from it. Yours seems to have an especially nice finish though (mine occasionally seemed a bit rough in comparison), with somewhere between a satin and gloss effect... |
Yep - Formby's. The finish is not quite as nice in person, for sure. Certain areas are duller/less glossy than others. And I have a lot of little scratches that I think happened just sliding around on the bench during sanding and stuff (custom relic job). But it still looks pretty nice. Thanks! |
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Steven Cummings
From:
Texas
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Posted 23 Mar 2018 4:19 am
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Yep.... it is purdy!
Can you tell us more about how you did the machine head and how you joined it all to the neck?
Nicely done mate
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Lookin' on the sunny side.... |
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Chris Walke
From:
St Charles, IL
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Posted 23 Mar 2018 4:50 am
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| Looks real nice to me! Beautiful work. |
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George Piburn
From:
The Land of Enchantment New Mexico
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Posted 23 Mar 2018 5:47 am Awesome Build
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Congratulations Awesome Build looks dandy.
1 constructive comment = if you invest into real brass nut and bridge parts same exact design just better material, your over all tone will be completely better to an extreme extent.
The home center aluminum is low quality for steel guitar parts , for Aluminum you want 6061 alloy , Brass 360 or 385 alloy. Both can be found online in short stock cuts. eBay is a good resource for short stock too.
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GeorgeBoards S8 Non Pedal Steel Guitar Instruments
Maker of One of a Kind Works of Art that play music too.
Instructional DVDs
YouTube Channel |
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