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Topic: Some questions from a newbie....please... |
Scott Kilpatrick
From:
California, USA
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Posted 20 Jan 2009 9:53 pm |
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Hi all, Im a newbie to lap steel and to this forum. I have a few questions but just a bit about myself first. Ive been playing guitar for 26 years. For many years I have noodled around with a finger slide on my guitars, mostly for cutting backing tracks. After many years I have decided to invest in a lap steel...so I started researching and finally decided after a month or so on a National New Yorker for several reasons...so I won a 1947 model on ebay and I am expecting it any day...so here go the questions:
1. Stings...I want to restring it when I get it so what type of stings do I look for? I will probably work mostly with the C6 and G tunigs - can I use the same strings with both of these - or all tunings? I assume so. What are these strings called - not standard electric guitar strings...what guage??
2. I want to clean this new yorker up...what polish do you recommend and what to shine up the steel parts...for my other guitars I use standard guitar polish in small amounts...is this ok?
3. How do I know if the pickup need to go to Rick Allieo (sp) for remagnitizing?? Will it just sound weak?
4. Tuning...lets start at standard tuning...now say I want to tune to C6...do I take the top string (bass low string) UP to C or down to C....I always fear I am going to break a string...how does one know to go higher or lower??/ I know this is a newbie question but Ive been stuck in standard tuning for a few decades now?
thats it for now ...feel free to answer any of the above...any help would be appreciated...thanks all and Im excited to be a part of this cool forum. |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Jan 2009 4:56 am
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Hi and welcome aboard! 
If you click on "STRINGS" on top of this page you can order Jagwire strings for 6-string lap steel in C6. That way you'll get good strings and support the forum at the same time... 
When you tune to C6 you tune the first (thin) string to the same note as the first string on a standard guitar, and work your way down from there. The low C will be the same note as the 3rd fret on the 5th string on a standard tuned guitar, so yes, you tune up to C compared to standard guitar.
I'll leave the electronics/polishing questions to other, more knowledgable, members..
_________________
"Play to express, not to impress"
Website - YouTube |
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Kevin Brown
From:
England
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Posted 21 Jan 2009 5:11 am
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| well done steinar, always helpful as ever, Scott also check out the lap steel weissenborn instruction post below, some good stuff there |
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