| Author |
Topic: epiphone lap steel advice |
Mark Dershaw
From:
Arizona and Ohio
|
Posted 13 Dec 2009 7:56 am |
|
| I'm thinking of making a trade for a 30's model Epiphone lap steel. It's a 7 string Zephyr model. Owner says the pickup is inoperative. I guess it has cracks in it from age. Anyone out there have an idea on the value of this guitar and what it might take to fix it?? Appreciate it! |
|
|
 |
Randy Reeves
From:
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA
|
Posted 13 Dec 2009 8:02 am
|
|
I have two old Epiphones. one is a Century 1939 and the other is a Zephyr 1940. both are six string.
both had weak pickups. the Zephyr's pickup was weak. found out it was open. I had Lindy Fralin rewind it. best 80 dollars I have ever spent. the Century just had its pickup replaced. I put in a Lollar Chicago steel (155 dollars). a well balanced pup. very loud. unfortunately I can't get rid of the 60 cycle hum.
both lap steels were purchased from the internet. both cost 350$. I repeat, they are six stringers. so ball park figure for a seven string with a broken pickup...
...? my best guess would be 400 dollars. with barter room. |
|
|
|
Mark Dershaw
From:
Arizona and Ohio
|
Posted 13 Dec 2009 8:10 am
|
|
| Thanks for your response Randy. The research I've done so far produced the fact that these guitars did not sell well in thier day as the pickups were weak and muddy. The electronics in those days didn't really allow for a lot of tone modification. I'm curious about having the pickup rewound. Do you have contact info for your guy? |
|
|
|
Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
|
Posted 13 Dec 2009 6:08 pm
|
|
Getting the coil re-wound is an easy issue. I believe Jason Lollar can re-magnetize the magnets also. Get on his site at lollarguitars. A google search will bring up the address.
If the original pickup is mounted too far from the bridge, a muddy sound is the usual result. |
|
|
|
Randy Reeves
From:
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA
|
Posted 14 Dec 2009 4:28 am
|
|
I found Fralin on line.
just look for Lindy Fralin or Fralin .com |
|
|
|
Jay Jessup
From:
Charlottesville, VA, USA
|
Posted 14 Dec 2009 5:05 am
|
|
| I have a pre-war Epiphone Electar 7 string which I bought some time ago on e-bay, afraid I can remember the price, it's beat up but it all works. The pickup is not real powerful but it is certainly not muddy. The tone control, while physically hard to turn provides a lot of adjustment I usually have it about half way between bass and treble to keep it from being too brite. |
|
|
|
Mark Dershaw
From:
Arizona and Ohio
|
Posted 14 Dec 2009 6:47 am
|
|
| Thanks for the info guys! I haven't decided on this trade yet, but this stuff definately helps. I do like the looks of the guitar. Jay... out of curiosity, what tuning do you use on your 7 string? I play dobro, so I'll probably use the open G tuning, but I would to use the extra string for a 6th or 7th? |
|
|
|
Jay Jessup
From:
Charlottesville, VA, USA
|
Posted 14 Dec 2009 8:42 am
|
|
| My favorite tunings are C6 and B11. B11 can be a little baffling if you haven't got any instructional material to get you started on it though---really great Hawaiian tuning IMO. Currently I have a plain .20 tuned to B in that 7'th string position as I am on a Joaquin Murphey kick so the C6 which is on it now is often referred to as C6/A7 and that too would be a bit much of a transition from Dobro G. So my advice would be just to put a low A on the 7'th string and the rest would be the normal C to E C6 tuning. |
|
|
|
