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Topic: Would this work as a lap steel-Vibracell One piece neck? |
Dave Sky
From:
Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Posted 16 Apr 2007 4:53 pm |
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http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Switch-Midnite-Xpress-Electric-Guitar?sku=511799
Switch Midnite Xpress Electric Travel Guitar Features:
Vibracell One piece neck & body
Scale: 20-1/4" 20 Frets
Ebonite fingerboard
Grover tuning machines
Humbucking pickup at the bridge position
Coil Tap Switch
Single Volume Control
Single Tone Control
On/Off Volume Control for built in Personal Amp
Tune-O-Matic Stop Tailpiece
Any opinions? Other Switch guitar models have high ratings.
Dave |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 16 Apr 2007 9:24 pm
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For the $199 USD price, you could buy a couple of different "budget" lap steels. This guitar could be used as a lap steel by putting a Hawaiian nut extender on it, but I think you'd get a better sound out of a real lap steel.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 16 Apr 2007 9:50 pm
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The scale length is a little shorter than normal at 20" intonation will be more difficult.
Actually I have been considering a Squier Mini Strat, to use as a lap steel. Available from the same website www.musiciansfriend.com at $99.00 and the scale length is 22.75" with 3 pickups and lots of tonal possibilities!
Dom |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 16 Apr 2007 10:03 pm
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After extolling it's virtues in my previous post, I quickly ordered a squier mini-strat for myself to beat the rush... and even better I got free shipping!
Dom Franco |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 17 Apr 2007 2:37 am
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I did a Google search for "Les Paul mini" and several very cool looking instruments came up.
The Epiphone Les Paul "Pee Wee" looks good for a lap guitar also. |
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Dave Sky
From:
Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Posted 17 Apr 2007 12:09 pm
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Switch Music emailed a response to my inquiry about turning the travel guitar into a lap steel:
Our tech actually did turn it into a lap steel guitar. We do say that you modify it at your own risk and can not suggest what you should do, but it has been done. Thanks, Switchmusic.com, Inc.
I was interested in this guitar because of the man-made-material body and built in headphone amp. Dom, thanks for pointing out that the scale is too short for me.
Thanks Brad for the input. What budget steels were you referring? Was it the new SX lap? Has anyone heard this one?
Dom, please post your impressions of the mini Strat. It looks like it would be great for travel.
Bill, I have thought of the “Pee Wee” but the reviews of it complain of neck flex. I love how it looks.
Thanks everyone for the input. I’ll keep checking for a cheapo travel lap. Let me know if you run across anything interesting.
Dave |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 17 Apr 2007 12:48 pm
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Well, the SX LG1 lap steel is certainly an option.
I just picked up a Gretsch Electromatic lap steel on eBay for $140 including shipping. It's a Valco made lap steel from 1948. The only thing that needs to be fixed on it is the built-in cord, which I'll be replacing with a standard guitar jack. Otherwise it works fine, sounds great, and plays like a dream.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 23 Apr 2007 6:20 pm Squier Mini-Strat
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As requested, here is my Impression of the Squier Mini-Strat as a Lap steel conversion:
Wow what a nice little guitar! Right out of the box it played great. Easy action, Fret ends were finished nicely. (To protect the little one's fingers no doubt) Awesome Fender tone, with standard 3 single coil PU configuration and 5 way switch.
Way better than the grown up version! (Squier Strat)
I added a raised nut, adjusted the bridge tail pieces a little higher,(With the conviently supplied allen wrench), changed strings to my prefered gauges and "presto, changeo" It's a fine little lap steel.
The tone is definetly Fendery, and the scale length is perfect for slants. I would have liked a little wider string spaceing, but I can fix that simply with a wider raised nut.
The output is strong, though not as loud as my Valco equiped Silvertone lap steel, but that is to be expected.
For $99.00 + the 5.00 nut (free shipping)I have a great little lap guitar, and did I mention that it looks really kool!
Dom Franco |
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Dave Sky
From:
Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Posted 24 Apr 2007 9:59 am
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Thanks for the info Dom. I will check one out. They look fun to play.
What does it sound like with just the bridge pickup?
Dave |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 24 Apr 2007 11:51 am
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It is pretty bright with just the bridge PU, but also has plenty of low end. I did adjust the height of each PU to balance out the volumes.
The pickups are full size, so any strat type pu could be installed if you wanted too.
Dom |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 30 Apr 2007 7:51 pm
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| You can use any electric guitar as a lap steel just by adding a nut riser. I think that's the way most players come to the lap steel. I've never understood why a plank with a pickup commands high prices. A lap steel is the simplest instrument anyone could build. You don't have to worry about string buzzing against frets, or any of the problems which luthiers experience. |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 30 Apr 2007 9:12 pm
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Yes, I agree that you can use any guitar as a lap steel with a raised nut, but I guess the beauty of this mini- is the scale length and overall small size.
A full size Strat would have a much longer scale, and some players may even prefer that?
I like a shorter scale myself.
Dom |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 1 May 2007 7:06 pm
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| You can always shorten a scale, by interrupting it with some sort of capo (a bar under the strings ?) but you can't lengthen it. I would rather have a scale which is too long. Once you place a bar on the strings it's only as long as the sounding distance between the bar and the bridge. I rarely use open strings, so, for me, you could add a yard to the string length and it would make no difference. |
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