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Topic: Joe Delaronde's Steel |
Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 17 Mar 2005 7:56 pm |
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I was asked to host these photos and sound clip ... 
And here's ride on the Skateboard.
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 17 Mar 2005 8:05 pm
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 17 Mar 2005 8:18 pm
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Eggsalant!!!
Beautiful and creative work. A total 180 from the "Beaver Log".  (which I love)
Tony Hawk, eat your heart out!
What is the 9 string tuning?[This message was edited by HowardR on 17 March 2005 at 08:21 PM.] |
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Joe Delaronde
From:
Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted 17 Mar 2005 8:23 pm
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Thank you.
I'm using a C6th with a high D (for now)
The board is pretty stable so far. I've had the strings on it for 6 days now with very little de-tuning. Mostly new string stretch.
Thanks to Dean Neeley for the 705 pickups he so graciously gave me and Terry Farmer for donating the Stromberger tuners and actually helping me design this critter. You guys are the greatest. And I met them here on the forum. What a family!!
I added a "lap board" on the bottom side and put on some felt (sticky one side stuff) to prevent slipping of my lap. The frets I printed out on the computer.
The scale is 22 1/2". That's all I could get out of it. The 9 strings are spaced the width of a regular 10 string so they would fit the pickup and are 7/16" off the fretboard.
This is a fun instrument to play.
Thanks to Billy Jones for helping me with the electronics end and for sharing his "secret" Boo-Wah switch with me.
Thanks Terry Farmer for getting Rick to post this.
The Rhythm tracks are made on Biab.
Joe
[This message was edited by Joe Delaronde on 17 March 2005 at 08:46 PM.] [This message was edited by Joe Delaronde on 17 March 2005 at 08:50 PM.] |
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Terry Farmer
From:
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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Terry Farmer
From:
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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Posted 17 Mar 2005 8:39 pm
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| And many thanks to Rick for hosting and posting Joe's photos and sound clip! This Forum is priceless! |
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Joel Newman
From:
Smithsburg, Maryland, USA
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Posted 17 Mar 2005 9:59 pm
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| ohhhh just sooo cool!!!! Outstanding!!One question tho . . .How does that nut shunt off the strings to the tuners at such an angle,(I guess namely the 9th and 1st string),and not crimp the string? |
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 17 Mar 2005 11:02 pm
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Very creative Joe and a beautiful job!
Your craftsmanship amazes me.
Take a bow my friend.
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John Bushouse
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Posted 17 Mar 2005 11:16 pm
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| I love the look of those Steinberger tuners. What's the thickest gauge string you're using? |
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Howard Tate
From:
Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 18 Mar 2005 2:05 am
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That looks and sounds great. Love the playing too.
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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum S12U, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3
http://www.Charmedmusic.com
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 18 Mar 2005 3:31 am
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Your welcome, my pleasure ...
How do y'all like those Steinberger tuners ... ???
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Joe Delaronde
From:
Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted 18 Mar 2005 7:20 am
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Joel....The first design had the strings go straight down over the nut and through the board, then to the tuners which at that time were installed upside down. The idea was to hide the strings for cosmetic & curiosity sake.
I had machined the grooves in the nut & bridge using a sharp "V" cutting tool. This proved to be not a good idea. I discovered while pulling the strings over the nut, they would jam in the V groove. I re-machined the nut & bridge grooves with round bottoms. Solved that problem.
Next problem was the second 90 degree bend on the underside. I tried placing a rounded steel shaft to eliminate the sharp bend. Could not bring the string up to pitch without it breaking first.
So I reluctantly installed the tuners right-side-up, and machined a small adapter bracket to attach to the nut. Inserted roll pins for string guides. Problem solved.
John, on this tuning the largest string is .044, but the tuner will handle past .060.
Rick, I'm finding the lock down nut sometimes turns with the tuner knob. This loosens the string a bit and causes slipeage. However, I think a little graphite may fix this problem.
You have to treat this tuner like a keyless tuner. When installing strings, you must pull them TIGHT by hand and then lock them down. When the tuner knob is turned to tune the string, the locking mechanism is pulled down inside the barrel. If the strings are not pulled tight enough, the tuner might run out of travel before the string is up to pitch. This is the dilema of all keyless tuners.
I actually built two of these SK-8_Brds. The other has Grover tuners with a 705 E9th pickup compliments of Dean Neeley.
Thanks for the interest.
Joe[This message was edited by Joe Delaronde on 18 March 2005 at 07:32 AM.] |
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Loni Specter
From:
West Hills, CA, USA
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Posted 18 Mar 2005 7:52 am
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| I want one! Cowabunga! |
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Joe Delaronde
From:
Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted 18 Mar 2005 9:33 am
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The SK-8-Brd weighs in at 9 lbs. I'm having a shoulder strap type case made with attached skateboard wheels so I can also pull it around.
Joe[This message was edited by Joe Delaronde on 18 March 2005 at 04:05 PM.] |
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Jeff Strouse
From:
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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Posted 18 Mar 2005 10:04 am
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| Cool! |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 18 Mar 2005 1:27 pm
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| Kowabunga, Joe. Real nice, visually & sonically. |
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Terry Farmer
From:
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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Posted 18 Mar 2005 4:16 pm
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| Rick, the Steinberger tuners are kind of tempermental and have to be tweaked to get them to operate smoothly. Graphite does help. Also, as Joe mentioned, you have to pre tension the strings. Quality and actual size varies from set to set. I had to buy two sets of six to get eight. The first set was just a little bit different than the next set. I finally took them off of my AlumaKoa and put regular Grovers on. Less hassle. They're unique though and when they work, they work great. |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 18 Mar 2005 4:31 pm
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I was thinkin' they were good "space savers" ...
I have job ... which basically is gonna end up bein' a "Pedal-Pan" ... that I thought may benefit from them.
But just y'alls comments ... makes me wanna stay with my mini-rotomatics.
Thanks ... and watch that thang ... you two guys could break a hip or something ...  
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Aiello's House of Gauss
My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield
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John Bushouse
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Posted 18 Mar 2005 5:20 pm
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I really, REALLY want those Steinbergers to work well. But Terry, your experience corraborates what I've heard from other luthiers.
Guess I'm staying with Gotohs on my current project. |
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Joe Delaronde
From:
Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted 18 Mar 2005 8:44 pm
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If I have problems with the tuners, I have a keyless set designed to install. No problem. And the strings will go through the body like Terry & I first planned.
Joe |
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Dan Sawyer
From:
Studio City, California, USA
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Posted 19 Mar 2005 10:55 am
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| So, did you actually use two skateboards to make this instrument? |
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Joe Delaronde
From:
Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted 19 Mar 2005 11:51 am
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Dan
I made two SK-8-Brds, but used one board for each instrument. And, yes, they are actual "off the shelf" every day skateboards. I bought blank boards with no hardware. Cost me $30 each. They are 7 ply maple expoxy laminated. These boards are STRONG........
A while back there was a posting about another fella who had made one, but left all the hardware on. I didn't know this at the time of designing my SK-8-Brd. I was mostly curious if the board would be strong enough because it was a good size for a lap steel.
This steel wasn't built as a novelty, but as a practical playing instrument. And it is just that. Also there was no cabinet/body to build and the finish is already there. Not for the people who like spit and polish. This is a rough and tumble instrument. Ideal for picnics and such, or at the cabin. If you have a small battery powered amp, you can go anywhere and have fun.
That being said, it sports professional hardware and plays in the same manner.
Joe[This message was edited by Joe Delaronde on 19 March 2005 at 11:57 AM.] |
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George McLellan
From:
Duluth, MN USA
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Posted 21 Mar 2005 11:17 am
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Joe, you've done it again!! I'm looking forward to hearing it in Winnipeg next month.
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SUAS U' PHIOB
Geo
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 21 Mar 2005 1:12 pm
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Joe, what's next? Perhaps a windsurfer lap steel? Or a hang glider lap steel?
I wouldn't put it past Joe's abilities! |
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Joe Delaronde
From:
Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted 21 Mar 2005 8:05 pm
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Geo, we'll see you there.
Howard.............I have something up my sleeve, but I have to find an original or should I say the real thing to make it out of. 'till then.
Joe |
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