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Topic: Converting a strandard acoustic to lap steel |
Malcolm Leonard
From:
Rhode Island, USA
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Posted 9 Jan 2006 5:32 am |
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In days gone by,converting a spanish guitar into a more or less "poor man's Dobro"was often done by placing a higher,accessory not atop the stock nut and retuning the guitar to (I guess) G major.
Two questions please:
Does this conversion place extra,undesirable stresses on the neck or bridge,or whatever of a guitar designed to use light gauge strings only?
And,is it customary to installl a higher bridge saddle when doing this conversion?
Thanks,
Malcolm |
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Malcolm Leonard
From:
Rhode Island, USA
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Posted 9 Jan 2006 5:36 am
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Oops!Did not mean "strandard" guitar;meant standard!Gotta give up those all night picking sessions and get some sleep!Gettin to old for that stuff!
Malcolm |
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Keith Cordell
From:
San Diego
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Posted 9 Jan 2006 6:07 am
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| You might want to check out Kelly Joe Phelps video, or any of the articles written about his setup. He uses a Gibson J-45 with a riser nut and makes some great music with it |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 9 Jan 2006 7:03 am
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| A higher saddle couldn't hurt but yes, it does produce extra strain on a roundneck instrument that could eventually warp the neck. That's why squarenecks were invented. People have been using nut extenders for 100 years so, depending on the specific instrument, I wouldn't advise you not to try it. But I wouldn't put a nut extender on a high-end guitar. You can still find cheap acoustic squarenecks - Bernunzio just sold a nice Oahu for under $200. Personally, that's the tack I'd take. |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 9 Jan 2006 7:25 am
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Malcolm, I have a '30s May Bell parlor guitar set up with extension nut and tuned to open-D, and never had any problem with it,- it sounds sweet. 
Steinar
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www.gregertsen.com
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Fred Kinbom
From:
Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
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Posted 9 Jan 2006 7:37 am
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Malcolm,
I bought a round-neck Oahu acoustic lap slide from the 1930s on eBay for only $81 - it has an extension nut and aluminium bridge by default and sounds great! The neck is warped and the top too, and it could never be used as a standard guitar, but as a "poor man's dobro" it is great value for money.
Fred[This message was edited by Fred Kinbom on 09 January 2006 at 07:39 AM.] |
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Malcolm Leonard
From:
Rhode Island, USA
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Posted 11 Jan 2006 12:15 am
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Just wanted to thank all who answered this post.
Malcolm |
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