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Post new topic Acoustic Regular Guitar Conversion To Steel Guitar
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Author Topic:  Acoustic Regular Guitar Conversion To Steel Guitar
Mike Dexter

 

From:
Derbyshire, England
Post  Posted 27 Jul 2023 1:51 pm    
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On a regular acoustic guitar converted to a steel guitar--by raising the nut--

a)Should all 6 strings be parallel from nut to bridge?
b)What should the string height be from fret board?
c)Same goes for electric lap steel?

Many thanks.
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Noah Miller


From:
Rocky Hill, CT
Post  Posted 28 Jul 2023 2:56 am    
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A) As with Spanish guitars, there's usually a small increase in spacing from nut to bridge. This is done for ease of playing, and if you're doing your own conversion work, it's down to personal preference.

B) As long as the strings comfortably clear the frets and there's a solid break angle over the nut, it doesn't matter.

C) Same for acoustic and electric steels.
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D Schubert

 

From:
Columbia, MO, USA
Post  Posted 28 Jul 2023 1:04 pm    
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The cast-metal Grover extension nuts are pretty hard to beat for an inexpensive conversion.
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Gene Tani


From:
Pac NW
Post  Posted 29 Jul 2023 5:06 pm    
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I also used the cast metal grover nut raiser, worked well. The tops of strings need to be level otherwise you'll get buzz on lower height strings. Also mind tension, people have gone to dobro tuning/gauges, woops reso tuning and substantially increased string tension.
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Paul Seager


From:
Augsburg, Germany
Post  Posted 4 Aug 2023 12:24 pm    
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Mike,

a) not really (read on)
b) enough that the tone bar is not hitting the fretboard.

I've gone this route with a couple of acoustic guitars. Basically a nut raiser, like the aforementioned Grover, sorts out most of the initial challenges.

Once you've established that the instrument sounds ok, you can "flatten" things at the bridge end later. Either with a new saddle or just filling the old one.
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Bayern Hawaiians: https://www.youtube.com/@diebayernhawaiians3062
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Paul Seager


From:
Augsburg, Germany
Post  Posted 4 Aug 2023 12:24 pm    
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Mike,

a) not really (read on)
b) enough that the tone bar is not hitting the fretboard.

I've gone this route with a couple of acoustic guitars. Basically a nut raiser, like the aforementioned Grover, sorts out most of the initial challenges.

Once you've established that the instrument sounds ok, you can "flatten" things at the bridge end later. Either with a new saddle or just filling the old one.
_________________
\paul


Bayern Hawaiians: https://www.youtube.com/@diebayernhawaiians3062
Other stuff: https://www.youtube.com/@paulseager3796/videos
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

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