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Topic: First Multibender Lap Steel |
Paul Mageau
From:
Maine, USA
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Posted 15 Sep 2024 7:16 am |
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I've wanted to build an instrument since I was a kid. Well, finally after retiring I now have the time to do that so I made this six string lap steel that I dedicate to my Dad who played lap steel in a dance band back in the 40's. His guitar is next to mine - A Vega Commander.
I designed this in Fusion360, cut parts on my CNC and CO2 laser.
The body wood is Yellow Birch(I am making another in a more interesting wood  ). The shape was inspired by the Gibson(shape) and Duesendburg(split level top) Lap Steels.
The fretboard is made of Wenge and is magnetically attached so the fretboards cab be swapped out. The thinking there was to be able to install "helper" fretboards that would be good for a beginner to have helper guides on the fretboard as well as being able to sky change the aesthetic of the fretboard. All of the inlay is Mother of Pearl and Abalone.
The slotted headstock plate is made of Bolivian Rosewood and the inlay is a fine mica powder.
For the hardware, the bender is a Duesenburg Multibender. The nut is a Gretsch Lap steel replacement nut. The tuning keys are Schallers. The volume and tone knobs are D'angelico styled knobs.
The pickup is a Gibson P90 wired like a late 50's P90 Gibson setup.
This took while and I made a dozen prototypes out of XPS insulation foam board, 2x10 lumber and then finally Oak and Birch. Next will either be a really nice Ribbon Sapele or Paduak.
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Joe Bill Moad
From:
Oklahoma
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Posted 15 Sep 2024 7:12 pm Wow!
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Quality unsurpassed!
Great Looking Instrument!
Jbm
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Don’t Worry About The Mule! Load The Wagon! |
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Paul Mageau
From:
Maine, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2024 6:35 am
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| Thanks Joe! A definite labor of love |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 16 Sep 2024 9:15 am
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Beautiful work Paul!
The only thing I'm not a fan of is the slotted headstock.
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Mark |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2024 11:07 am
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Really nice work and design!!!
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E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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Ross Shafer
From:
Petaluma, California
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Posted 16 Sep 2024 5:41 pm
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| Nicely done, kudos! |
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Tim Toberer
From:
Nebraska, USA
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Posted 17 Sep 2024 3:24 am
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| Looks like a very well designed guitar and very attractive! I like the fretboard idea, hmmmmm. |
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Paul Mageau
From:
Maine, USA
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Posted 17 Sep 2024 2:01 pm
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| Thanks everyone! I appreciate it. |
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Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 30 Oct 2024 11:32 am
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delete, redundant.
Last edited by Jim Pitman on 30 Oct 2024 11:33 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 30 Oct 2024 11:32 am
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I personally like a slotted headstock. It positions the tuning knobs where they should be.
Nice work! |
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