Built keyless C6 Lap Steel / Practice Board

Glenn Demichele · From: (20mi N of) Chicago Illinois, USA

Did this with hand-tools and silver-solder from hardware store parts (except for pickup, fretboard and output jack).

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Franklin D10 8&5, Excel D10 8&5. Both amazing guitars! Homemade buffer/overdrive with adjustable 700Hz "Fender" scoop., Moyo pedal, GT-001 effects, 2x TDA7294 80W class AB amps, or 2x BAM200 for stereo. TT12 and BW1501 each in its own closed back wedge. Also NV400 etc. etc...

Tim Toberer · From: Nebraska, USA

Really cool! I love the minimalistic design.

Sam Weisenberg · From: Philadelphia

I like this design. Can you post a photo of the bridge end?

Glenn Demichele · From: (20mi N of) Chicago Illinois, USA

Attached is a picture of the bridge. The head and bridge are both made of 1/2" Aluminum U-Channel. I made the head out of 2 pieces cut into an "L" side by side because 1). I needed the travel for the tuners, and 2). Using only 1 or 2 nuts as the tuning traveler along the screw didn't work because the string tension is pulling the nut off-axis causing the screw to bind up, making it difficult to turn. My solution was to use 1/2" threaded hex spacers which prevented this, and I needed more space to fit these.
When tuning it up however, I found that the tuned strings went flat when I tightened another one. Some of it might be the flimsy Aluminum, but I think most of it was the "L" at the headmost end of the guitar lifting against the wood screws and leaning toward the bridge. I epoxied square Aluminum spacers to help prevent this from happening. In retrospect, the head should be made of a U instead of 2 L's.

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Franklin D10 8&5, Excel D10 8&5. Both amazing guitars! Homemade buffer/overdrive with adjustable 700Hz "Fender" scoop., Moyo pedal, GT-001 effects, 2x TDA7294 80W class AB amps, or 2x BAM200 for stereo. TT12 and BW1501 each in its own closed back wedge. Also NV400 etc. etc...

John Hyland · From: South Australia

Well done. In my pedal steel project I too have used hardware angles and nuts and bolts.

I have a couple of comments though.

Did you consider heavier wall thickness (3mm) angles as it looks like, from the tuner end photo, the leg is deflecting a little despite the addition of the side blocks.
For longlevity, cap head socket screws would be preferable to the Phillips head screws. https://www.mcmaster.com/products/socket-head-cap-screws/

As an aside I have success gluing alum to thicken legs. A single length glued on the outside of the the bridge leg might work instead of what looks like individual epoxied blocks by aiding deflection and allow the fixing screws to be closer to the up leg.

J D Sauser · From: Wellington, Florida

It's an idea that has long sat on my "To-Do" list, as I travel a lot, mostly by air and I could really use something which fits into a checked suitcase or even carry on or just throw it into the trunk of my car.

I just got so many projects, I need to talk to my live-extension Doctors!

Good for you!... J-D.
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Was it JFK who said: Ask Not What TAB Can Do For You - Rather Ask Yourself "What Would B.B. King Do?"

A Little Mental Health Warning:

Tablature KILLS SKILLS.
The uses of Tablature is addictive and has been linked to reduced musical fertility.
Those who produce Tablature did never use it.

I say it humorously, but I mean it.

Jacobus De Bruyn · From: NSW, Australia

I agree with a travel board. Great concept, simple but affective. All you need to travel is a small earplug mini amp and you set.

Johnie King · From: Tennessee, USA

Who needs keys!

That’s cool keyless !!

J D Sauser · From: Wellington, Florida

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