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Topic: A History of the Mobile Steel Guitar |
Dan Campbell
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 22 Sep 2023 4:54 am |
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Mobile Steel Guitar:
A Historical Perspective
The history of the mobile lapsteel/slide guitar goes back to the origin of the modern acoustic/electric guitar. There have been 4 attempts that I am aware of to build an acceptable mobile steel guitar:
1. Melobar’s Powerslide
2. Peavey’s Superslide
3. Megan Lovell’s Beard ElectroLiege lapsteel
4. Caladesi’s Mobile Steel Guitar
Melobar’s Power Slide:
“In the mid ’50s, Smith, an inveterate tinkerer, began to develop an idea for a steel guitar that could be played comfortably while standing. He swapped ideas with builders in the area such as Leo Fender and the Dopyera brothers, Ed and Rudy. By the mid ’60s, Smith’s idea had developed into a few experimental instruments that he branded the Mel-O-Chord, which then evolved to Mel-O-Bar… Walt Smith’s patent for the Melobar was granted February 11, 1969, three days before financial issues closed the Mosrite factory. An estimated 300 had been made” Vintage Guitar Magazine.
https://www.vintageguitar.com/40225/the-story-of-melobar/
Peavey’s Super Slide:
“The editors of Guitar Player magazine have honored the Peavey Power Slide, a next-generation slide guitar instrument ergonomically designed for maximum playability, with its prestigious Editors Pick Award. The eye-catching Peavey Power Slide is a reimagining of the lap steel and slide guitar concepts, combining elements of both in a patent-pending design exclusively from Peavey. Unconventional and revolutionary, the Power Slide can be played from a seated position like a lap steel, while standing like a traditional guitar, or even horizontally while standing with its unique three-point suspension and special Y strap. This radical design provides unprecedented neck access in the horizontal playing position”.
https://peavey.com/c/Article-ID-548
Megan Lovell’s Beard ElectroLiege lapsteel:
“The Beard Electro-Liege: created by Megan Lovell, built by Paul Beard, and featuring a custom horseshoe pickup by Lollar Pickups. ‘Necessity is the mother of invention.’ The Electro-Liege is a Lap Steel with a purpose—built for the live stage—a Lap Steel guitar designed and structured to be played standing up; light enough to be carried with ease, and with a rich sound, powerful enough to fill an arena.
As one of the forefront Lap Steel players on the music scene today, Megan Lovell has channeled her passion for slide guitar exclusively into raising public awareness for the Lap Steel guitar. After over a decade of touring with her band Larkin Poe, from rock clubs to stadiums, Megan decided to take her road-hardened insights and pour them into a brand-new design for the perfect standing Lap Steel.”
https://electroliege.com/pages/about
Caladesi’s Mobile Steel Guitar
One year after the ElectroLiege was introduced, Caladesi Guitars released its version of the Slide/Lapsteel Hybrid guitar called a “Mobile Steel Guitar.” It has a number of innovations never before seen on any mobile stand-up steel including a sliding ergonomic “belly body” so the player can get access to the upper frets with the bar. Also, a concave curved stabilizer bar attached to the belly body, increases the width at that critical point from 1.75 to 2.5 inches. This extra width along with the concave curve provides extra stability and slows the guitar forward 120 degrees from horizontal. It comes in three basic models: Blue Note 1 (BN1), Blue Note 2 (BN2), and Blue Note 2B (BN2B). BN1 has one pickup, BN2 has two pickups, and BN2B has two pickups and benders. The addition of the benders technically turns this instrument into a “mobile pedal steel” since the benders perform the same function as pedals or knee levers. https://caladesiguitars.com/stand-up-steel/
It would be interesting for others to weigh in on their experiences and thoughts. Perhaps there are other attempts to make a Mobile Steel Guitar that I am not aware of so I would appreciate having that information. |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 22 Sep 2023 5:19 am
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Peter Jacobs and his mobile steel......
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 22 Sep 2023 5:55 am
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| The MSA Superslides had a "bellybar" feature that was very similar. |
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 22 Sep 2023 6:32 am
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Does Jr. Brown ever play his git-steel with just a strap? I only recall seeing it on a stand or in his lap. That would be a bit of a monster as a "mobile" guitar.
I guess it goes without saying that you're talking about electric steel guitars. Acoustic guitars being played on a strap with a steel in a horizontal orientation goes back more than 100 years and of course resonators played in that orientation are also steel guitars, right?  |
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Dan Campbell
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 22 Sep 2023 7:05 am great suggestions - keep it up
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I know Asher makes a "belly body" bar but I didn't know that MSA superslides did as well. I also know that Peavey made a belly bar extension to add to their superslide. I also know that Melobar made an outrigger and when I talked to Ted from Melobar a couple years ago he mentioned this. The primary reason for the belly bar is to get the guitar far enough away from the player to be able to play it comfortably. Melobar also actually goes back 100 years as Walt Smith was good friends with the Dopyera brothers and also Leo Fender.
I do think that attempts to make an electric mobile can fall into two basic categories: (1) attempts to take a lap steel guitar and do something to it so you can play it as a mobile steel (not just a stationary steel on a stand). (2) attempts to design a steel guitar from scratch in order to work exclusively as a mobile steel. I believe only three guitars (Melobar's Powerslide, Peavey's superslide, and Caladesi's Mobile Steel) were designed from scratch with "form should follow function" in mind. All three have patents or in the case of Caladesi a utility patent pending status.
In my case, I took 4 years and built over 40 bodies in research and development in order to come up with my design. |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 22 Sep 2023 7:12 am
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| Quote: |
| I know Asher makes a "belly body" bar but I didn't know that MSA superslides did as well. |
It was called the Freedom Bar.
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Dan Campbell
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 23 Sep 2023 8:11 am Jr. Brown's guit-steel
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Thanks Bill for your question about Jr. Brown. I am sorry to say I did not know about his guitar. Here is a link to a YouTube video of him playing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ako-WpbzK3c
This video also illustrates the versatility of the lapsteel in playing blues. I actually believe the slide blues guitar market is the biggest market for mobile steel.
I don't believe you could play Jr. Brown's git-steel without a stand--or at least play it for very long. It reminds me of Melobar's Ted Smith's double neck https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oGcJa8cEQU
Ted has told me that this version of the Melobar steel works really well and actually better than the single neck Melobar steel. |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 24 Sep 2023 10:43 am
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| The Harmos offered an optional "Belly Bar"........ |
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Peter Jacobs
From:
Northern Virginia
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Posted 25 Sep 2023 5:31 am
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I used the Melobar Outrigger for several years before I had my blue steel built. It was a smart and simple way to make stand-up playing practical.
Lap King also has a belly bar that Jason calls the "Stage Hand." -- looks like a clever solution.
_________________
Peter
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www.splinterville.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@splinterville6278/videos |
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Dan Campbell
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 25 Sep 2023 7:04 am Thanks Howard & Peter
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A big thank you to Howard for bringing my attention to the Harmos. I didn't know you could get a belly bar for it or that Jerry Douglas has played one.
Also, thanks to Peter for pointing out that Lap King also has a belly bar--below is a couple pics. I also enjoyed watching Peter play on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8aUb0jEnSU
All of this tells me that there is a lot of interest out there (and has been for quite a while) for the chance to play steel guitar not only standing up but also with the ability for the player to be mobile.
I would like to hear from other steel players on this subject.
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Dan Campbell
From:
Florida, USA
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