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Topic: Acoustic Steel |
Eldon Cangas
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 7 May 2009 5:37 am |
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I put a few odd parts together to see if they'd work and they did. It's still in the mockup stage but I've got everything figurerd out except for an adjustable bridge. Have a look maybe even have a laugh. Eldon
http://my.tbaytel.net/lspolka/index.html |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 7 May 2009 7:41 am
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| that's very ghetto lol |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 7 May 2009 7:52 am
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Is that one of those "dreaded accordians" laying near the trash can? Whosoever tossed it...missed 
Just a bit of a carry-over from the "what's the beef with banjo" thread.
Please keep us updated on this. I like to see inovation. Someone has to experiment.
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 7 May 2009 7:58 am
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Is that a zip gun?
Just kidding - homemade instruments are cool! |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 7 May 2009 9:11 am
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That thing looks something like the wash tub bass guitar that a friend of mine uses as a humour session with our band.
As long as you can tune it and it works reasonably well, hey, why not. |
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Eldon Cangas
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 7 May 2009 5:25 pm Acoustic Steel Comments
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Sure had to LOL when I read the comments. I'll post a picture of the real thing (Roy Thompson was kind enough to give me permission to do so - it was Roy's instrument that gave me the inspiration to build one)tomorrow when I have a bit more time.
As far as the accordion it's one of the instruments I've played comercially for the past 40 some odd years.
I worked on the tuning head tonight.
I'll keep those interested up to date as I progress.
Eldon |
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Eldon Cangas
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 8 May 2009 2:10 pm Roy Thompson's Acoustic Steel
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Here's my inspiration. Eldon
[url=http://my.tbaytel.net/lspolka/index.html][/url] |
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Eldon Cangas
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 8 May 2009 2:28 pm
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How does it sound ? I like the design. You might want to put a piezzo pickup under the bridge. I started building a very similar instrument about a year ago and it's not finished yet. Mine has a regular resonator with a biscuit bridge. (see below)
I think you'll regret not using regular tuners. I have two hammer dulcimers, a harp, several autoharps, several psalteries, and they all have those tuners (they're known as rest pins). They're prone to slippage and it's very difficult to get the instruments exactly in tune.
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 8 May 2009 2:54 pm
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Eldon and Alan,
The guitar pictured, I put together probably 10
years ago and it was my first one.
If you install a Resonator, that in conjunction with
a standard key head meant an instrument extending
around 37" approx. which was more than I desired.
Thus the auto harp pins. They stay in tune fine.
You have to sink them in hardwood however and
drill the receptacle hole a mite smaller than
the pin, tap in down with care and it works great with the auto harp wrench.
A keyless head is another alternative but much more
expensive.
I have 8 strings on this guitar at present and can
expand to 10 at will. It has great volume and I
tune it C6th.
Here is a MP3 to give you an idea of the sound.
Home recording with a cheap open mike. When I play
this for people they keep looking for a chord
leading to an Amplifier. 
Link:
http://www.fileqube.com/file/BjZiwb195196
Good luck with your project Eldon and keep in touch.
Roy
_________________
Custom Tabs Various Tunings
Courses Lap Steel, Pedal Steel |
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Eldon Cangas
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 8 May 2009 3:01 pm Thanks Roy
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You answered Allan before I had a chance to.
Eldon |
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Ron !
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Posted 8 May 2009 5:19 pm
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Hey Alan....is that a changer you have at the end there?
Ron |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 8 May 2009 6:09 pm
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| Roy Thomson wrote: |
...Here is a MP3 to give you an idea of the sound.
Home recording with a cheap open mike. When I play
this for people they keep looking for a chord
leading to an Amplifier.
http://www.fileqube.com/file/BjZiwb195196
... |
Wow, I'm blown away.  What a tone from an acoustic instrument.  I can see why people look for the cord. It has a more mellow sound than a Dobro. Very nice. 
| Ron Steenwijk wrote: |
| Hey Alan....is that a changer you have at the end there? |
It's the 8-String Hipshot Trilogy. Each string can have three settings, so you can change the tuning in seconds. For regular guitarists you could tune it like a regular guitar, with each string having the open note, up a semitone, and up a tone. Then you could tune to open E by pulling the 5th and 4th string levers up two notches and the 3rd string lever up one notch. To tune to open A you would pull the 2nd, 3rd & 4th string levers up two notches. To go into A min. you would flip the second string lever down from two to one notch. I'm sure you get the idea. I would recommend having the 6th string set to two and three semitones, then you could tune to open C too. |
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Chris Drew
From:
Bristol, UK
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Posted 11 May 2009 4:38 am
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Alan, how is that Trilogy regarding going up & down in pitch reliably/accurately? Do strings ever hang/stick at the nut or over the saddle?
Do you rub graphite into the nut-slots or saddle?
Are these better with, say, a locking or roller nut?
( I've heard that roller-nuts are a "sustain/tone-sucker...)"
Just curious about trying one on a floating-bridge acoustic ( 6-string non-reso, which has an almost straight run from nut to tuner-post - slight angle on strings 3 & 4 )...
Sorry for so many questions!!!
Thanks!
_________________
www.hollowneck.com |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 11 May 2009 7:02 am
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Chris, I haven't finished the instrument yet. so I don't know. 
You should ask Basil. I believe he's tried one because in another thread he was advising against using one on a Dobro because the change in pressure on the cone throws it out of tune. |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 11 May 2009 8:57 am
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Roy. I really like that instrument!! The sound of it is very nice on the MP3 you posted.
I like the pin set up also. You might want to try to find some on those fine tuners like Atkins used to use between the bridge and the Bigsby. Might be very easy to micro in to pitch after bringing the pitch up close with the pins. |
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 11 May 2009 11:32 am
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Hmmmm... Bill...never thought of that? I think I
know what you mean? Fiddle players use them for
the same purpose. If I knew what they were called
and where to look for them I would check it out.
Back to the ten cent pins.
I beleive that whereas they sink into the body of
the instrument they produce a better ...truer sound than the standard key head in making the guitar
vibrate.
The Violin makers have always used this concept not
to mention the traditional Flamenco Masters with
their "pegged" tuning shafts. Adds to the fantastic
"woody" sound.
It would be great if some of the modern builders
could simulate this idea into the design of the
Steel Guitar. I see it as being a lot more fancy
and eye appealing than what I have done as per the
pic above.
Just some thoughts.
RT
_________________
Custom Tabs Various Tunings
Courses Lap Steel, Pedal Steel |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 11 May 2009 11:42 am
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I could not find them on the net. I will look more later.
Found a pic of them. When you click on the link, scroll down just a TINY bit and you will see a Gibson CG with some small fine tuners on it.
Link to Google Books.
The little fine tuner things clip on the string right behind the bridge. They have a thumbscrew in the center and that presses down on the string that is suspended between the tuner. You turn the screw and make adjustments. You can only go sharp unless you put a few turns on the thumbscrew and then tune the string with the peg. Then you would have a little to loosen up. If you have the book Me and My Guitars by Atkins and Russ Cochran there are several guitars in the book with these tuners on them. |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 11 May 2009 4:32 pm
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They're just called "fine tuners". They're used on violins, violas, cellos, etc. Many violin tailpieces have them built in.
Here's a 5-string Rebec I built about 15 yrs. ago. It has fine tuners built into the tailpiece. |
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 11 May 2009 5:46 pm
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So where do you get them Alan?
Thanks Bill for that pic of the CG..I see the
fine tuners for the first time. Just never thought
to look previously. 
Roy
_________________
Custom Tabs Various Tunings
Courses Lap Steel, Pedal Steel |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 11 May 2009 7:08 pm
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| Roy Thomson wrote: |
So where do you get them Alan?
... |
If you just go online and search on Google for violin fine tuners there are no end of parts suppliers for luthiers.
Here's one...
http://www.violins.on.ca/fine_tuners.html
You can also try...
http://www.stewmac.com
There's also Luthiers Mercantile in Healdsburg, CA.
http://www.lmii.com/
The particular tailpiece with tuners in the photo I bought over the counter at Sydney Evans Ltd. in Birmingham, England, but you can get them at Stewart-McDonalds. |
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 12 May 2009 9:42 am
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Thank you Alan.
RT
_________________
Custom Tabs Various Tunings
Courses Lap Steel, Pedal Steel |
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Eldon Cangas
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 30 May 2009 11:14 am Acoustic Steel Finished
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Here's some pics folks. I gotten some good comments on the sound. Will post some songs some rainy day.
Regards! Eldon
http://my.tbaytel.net/lspolka/index.htm |
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 30 May 2009 11:31 am
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Looks good Eldon!
You made all the parts....right?
From looking at the pics the 6 extensions
of the spider bridge do not seem to be resting
exclusively on the rim of the cone? If so, this
would mean a loss in volume...? Perhaps that is
on purpose to create vibrations on the sound
board as well as the resonator?
The string connectors at the cone end look
interesting.
Can you comment?
Great work and I am looking forward to hearing
the sound and never mind the rainy day....
Roy
_________________
Custom Tabs Various Tunings
Courses Lap Steel, Pedal Steel |
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Eldon Cangas
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 30 May 2009 12:00 pm Acoustic Steel Parts etc
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Thanks for the comments Roy!
Here's the parts listing:
BODY: 1/8 inch birch plywood on a birch frame
HEADSTOCK: electrical lugs (as seen posted on the net)
TUNERS: old bathtub enclosure rails sawn apart and drilled, allan key capscrews- bought
CONE: spun from .012 aluminum roof flashing, I "blew up 5 before I got the hang of it. I made the soundwell out of the cone form after it was done.
SPIDER: 12 inch aluminum pully cut to size
NUT & BRIDGE: maple the original nut I made so I could adjust for string thickness but it rattled so I made it out of maple instead
LEGS: 4 golf club shafts
Most of the items were found at our local landfill. Less the strings I only spent about $25.
Roy, you're eye is as good as your muscianship there is one spider leg not making good contact, it still buzzes a bit once and a while and that could be it. The spider does not touch the body just the cone.
Warmest Regards, Eldon |
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