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Topic: Guitar shaped bodies |
Tom Keller
From:
Greeneville, TN, USA
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Posted 6 May 2022 1:06 pm |
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| Why do most builders prefer the slab style body as opposed to the guitar shaped body? I have always preferred the older Rickenbacker and Gibson guitar shaped bodies. |
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Brad Davis
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 6 May 2022 4:57 pm
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| I think I've heard these referred to as "hula" style bodies. A few builders in recent years have continued to make them. Why they are less common, I don't know. Perhaps they're just considered by some to be old fashioned. Plus it's aesthetic only, adding costs and labor to cut guitar-shaped sides while serving no real function. |
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David Matzenik
From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
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Posted 6 May 2022 10:47 pm
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One of the cool things about solid body steel guitars is that you can do anything you like with the shape, as long as you get functionality sorted out.
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Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother. |
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Glenn Wilde
From:
California, USA
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Posted 7 May 2022 7:23 am
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| I like the Weissenborn shaped ones, Chandeler, Luna, Asher.... I need to get me one. |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 7 May 2022 7:32 am
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I agree with David. The shape has little to do with the ability to make music. All guitars need to have certain dimensions in place, so as long as those requirements are followed the shape is unimportant. However it should be comfortable to play and knobs etc should not be in the way of the bar or fingers........here are 3 lapsteels from the 30's, and from the same manufacturer, Audiovox. 2 hulas and one pretty extreme shape for that era. I'm sure all play about the same.........it's a vanilla, chocolate...tomato, tomahto kind of thing. Not every one likes the same thing.
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Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Brooks Montgomery
From:
Idaho, USA
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Posted 7 May 2022 9:21 am
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I always thought 1/2 of a dobro shape would be good idea for a lapsteel. That way it would work standing up, but would still be somewhat more compact than a full guitar shape.
I do have an Asher with the belly bar which works great….but ….
:::====U-U shape might be nice.
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A banjo, like a pet monkey, seems like a good idea at first. |
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Robert Allen
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 7 May 2022 7:49 pm Body shapes
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I've made dozens of shapes over the years. As long as the parts fit the shape doesn't matter.
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John Drury
From:
Gallatin, Tn USA
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Posted 10 May 2022 11:58 am Re: Guitar shaped bodies
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| Tom Keller wrote: |
| Why do most builders prefer the slab style body as opposed to the guitar shaped body? I have always preferred the older Rickenbacker and Gibson guitar shaped bodies. |
Tom,
I made a couple during the pandemic and just worked around material that I had, always thought the Montgomery Ward "Rocket" looked cool! Tried to copy it.
Fry pan was an easy build, My next one will be a Rick B copy.
_________________
John Drury
NTSGA #3
"Practice cures most tone issues" ~ John Suhr |
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