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Topic: good lap-steels for a beginner to start on? |
John Pelz
From:
Kettering, Ohio, USA
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Posted 18 Mar 2004 6:28 pm |
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I was wondering if anyone might have any suggestions on a decent lap-steel for a beginner such as myself to start on. (Morrell's "Little Roy Wiggins" 8-string model looks pretty neat. Thoughts/opinions? Any other suggestions? I'm interested in any & all opinions.)
Is there any reason a beginning student couldn't start off with an 8-string lap steel, or would it be more advisable to start off with 6-string model?
Any advice on the pros/cons of steels attached to (or that rest on) stands, as opposed to those that simply rest on the lap?
Price would be a factor, of course. I'm very aware that you get what you pay for, so I'm willing to shell out an amount appropriate for a decent starter, without getting in over my head. I think I can do a little better than the steel I've currently got, and some of those lap steels in the "Buy and Sell" section have got me thinking-- and drooling.
Thanks for any advice/help. |
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 18 Mar 2004 7:45 pm
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There's a Chandler on eBay right now, I've had one of those and it's not bad at all.
A little on the bright side of the tonal spectrum, and quite narrow string spacing (for a 6-string), but if you can live with that you'll get a lot of guitar for your money.
As for playing with the steel in your lap as opposed to using a stand/legs,- I think it's easier to keep a relaxed playing position when using stand/legs, and it's also easier to use volume or other pedals.
(But resting the steel in your lap looks much cooler....  )
6 vs 8 strings? I don't know, I started with 6 and has had a tough period of getting used to 8, but if you're a total beginner it could well be that it's just as 'easy' to start on an 8-string. I really don't know, but if that's where you can see yourself going in the future, maybe you should get one right away. Others will probably offer more advice on this.
Steinar
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www.gregertsen.com
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John Pelz
From:
Kettering, Ohio, USA
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Posted 19 Mar 2004 3:29 pm
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Thanks for the link, Gerald, I missed that thread the first time around.
And thanks very much for your advice, Steinar. Your comments were helpful, and are helping me to form ideas on what I'd like in a lap steel. I like your website, by the way-- it's very well designed. "Waltzing Eliza" is a very pretty song. |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 19 Mar 2004 4:48 pm
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Thanks John, I've finally started recording what will hopefully be a CD within the end of the year, and I need all the encouragment I can get! (Yes, "Waltzing Eliza" will be on it, but in a better recorded version).
Steinar
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www.gregertsen.com
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 20 Mar 2004 9:19 am
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| Why not consider getting an old Rickenbacher six or seven string? Be sure to get the prewar model with the strings thro' the body and large pickup. Play it for a couple of years and if you don't like it, SELL IT, and get all if not more money for it, than you originlly paid for it. It's not a toy nor look-alike model of something else. It was the trend setter for decades and has lost none of its superior qualities during all of these many years. Just a tho't. |
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Chuck Fisher
From:
Santa Cruz, California, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 20 Mar 2004 1:36 pm
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I agree with Ray in principal, but a stringmaster or a gibson pre-war eh seem a good bet as well, all good investments and great learning tool in one. like 500-800 bucks
btw 6 string Morrell pro sounds good, Wiggins 8 pickup sucks and is too narrow for the strings. |
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John Pelz
From:
Kettering, Ohio, USA
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Posted 20 Mar 2004 3:12 pm
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Thanks very much to everybody who has been offering advice on good lap-steels to start out on! All the suggestions are helping me to formulate an idea of what to look for in a steel, what I'd like in one, and also what to stay away from.
Your comment was very well-taken, Ray (Chuck, too)-- the concept of the investment/appreciation-aspects of a vintage lap steel never ocurred to me, and is definitely something that I'll be keeping in mind. I'm pretty content for the time being to just keep poking around & listening to any & all advice that gets offered before I even start trying to make up my mind. That's sometimes tough, though, when I see all these nice-looking lap-steels kicking around.
In the meantime, though, my ears are still open to any more suggestions that anyone might want to offer... |
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Denny Turner
From:
Oahu, Hawaii USA
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Posted 21 Mar 2004 6:28 am
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John,
Duane Dunard has an add on the buy/sell/trade BB here for a National Double Neck. In that ad is a link to his website. On his website he has what appears to be a nice Supro for $150. You'd be hard pressed to beat that deal if that Steel is working OK.
Aloha,
Denny T~ |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 21 Mar 2004 7:06 am
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I just picked up a new Gretsch G5700 lap steel off ebay for $237.50. It is a retro model that was popular in the 30s & 40s. A real nice looking and sounding guitar.
Erv |
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Jimmie Misenheimer
From:
Bloomington, Indiana - U. S. A.
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Posted 21 Mar 2004 7:17 am
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| John, keeping in mind that we are speaking of starting out here, "Musicians Friend" is selling a 6 string model - called "Artisan" for about 80$ in their catalog. This is what I made my double - 6 out of. I work in a music store, so I knew I could unload them if I didn't like them. I was very surprised at what I got. I slightly altered mine, and they're really neat little rigs. I am always looking for Fender Stringmasters, but until I find one, these work just fine. I think that one of these would get you going - and then some - without spending alot of money. Jimmie |
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John Pelz
From:
Kettering, Ohio, USA
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Posted 21 Mar 2004 11:23 am
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In the hope that it may help others in their comments to this thread, I just thought I'd mention which way all my poking around & getting opinions is currently leading me:
Basically I guess I'm interested starting off with an 8-string lap steel, and of the kind that Jim Cohen very aptly calls (over in the "What's in a name?" thread; "No Peddlers"-section) a "stand-up steel guitar." Specifics beyond that are still up in the air. Just FYI.
Jimmie, what do you think of the phono-jack placement on the "Artisan"? I'm completely new to the lap-steel, so I don't even know about correct hand position yet (a local player very kindly offered to give me some informal lessons, just to get me started off right-- I'm looking forward to seeing his collection of steels!-- and hand-placement is a topic that I hope to cover), but it seems to me that the phono-jack is located in a bad spot that might get in the way of the player's right wrist. Or do lap steel players usually play further up the neck, away from the bridge/saddle? Shouldn't the jack be placed on the other side of the strings, over with the volume & tone knobs?
Thanks again for all the help & advice. |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Mar 2004 11:33 am
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For me it's an absolute necessity to have access to ALL areas of the strings, ranging from picking soft tones way up on the neck to sometimes even muting the string by the bridge for that 'reggae' sound.
So a jack getting in the way of my picking hand is a total no-no for me.
Steinar
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www.gregertsen.com
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John Pelz
From:
Kettering, Ohio, USA
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Posted 21 Mar 2004 11:53 am
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Thanks for the advice, Steinar; your point is well-taken. I suppose it wouldn't be that hard to move the jack to the other side of the strings, but, given the hassle, and the aesthetic issue of having a hole in your guitar  (unless you filled in the hole, machined a new piece, etc.), I figured it wouldn't take TOO much money to start looking at the next grade of lap steels.
I WAS originally thinking about an Artisan, Jimmie, especially, as you point out, "we are speaking of [a player who's] starting out here," and the Artisan's price is most affordable.
But after poking around a bit, it seemed to me that for not a whole heck of a lot more money (OK, maybe 2-3 as much, but, given the Artisan's base price of $79.99 at Musiciansfriend.com, that still isn't bad), I could start looking at some decent lap steels like the abovementioned Supro, Chandler, Morrell Pro, etc. (Altho, admittedly the latter guitars are 6-strings, and I'm pretty set on getting an 8-string. Does searching for an 8-string jack up the price significantly over a similar 6-string model?) |
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Jimmie Misenheimer
From:
Bloomington, Indiana - U. S. A.
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Posted 21 Mar 2004 12:35 pm
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| John, I must admit that I mounted the jack on the double 6 that I built on the side of the body, between the necks. I too am someone that can't stand to have anything in the way of my right hand. That is why I would prefer a Stringmaster over say a Fender Profesional. While this would bother me, it wouldn't bother everyone. You have to start somewhere to develop your personal likes, and dis-likes. Also, while I know that I am greatly in the minority on this, I am also one that alteration of a new instrument doesn't bother me - as long as it does what I need for it to do. Now if my hands would just do what they need to do... Jimmie |
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Loni Specter
From:
West Hills, CA, USA
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Posted 21 Mar 2004 6:33 pm
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| You can get right angle jack cords at any music store. Problem solved. |
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