| Author |
Topic: steel guitar builders..............motivations.............. |
Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
|
Posted 12 Oct 2012 8:05 pm |
|
With quite a few 'new' one of a kind lap steel guitars being built and displayed here on the SGF, I'm curious what it is that gets a creative 'new' builder actually started.
Is it the opportunity to work with new woods/finishes?
Is it the desire to come up with the most unique new design/shapes?
How much time actually is devoted to "the SOUND" by way of the pickups? How does one select 'the best sounding pickup' for the body composition?
Is it a "NEW SOUND" you're seeking to improve on or just what?
How 'bout sharing your objectives with those of us that can't even drive a nail in straight...... |
|
|
 |
Bo Legg
|
Posted 13 Oct 2012 5:26 pm
|
|
I don't know if this will help but I made a lap steel with bandsaw, drill, sandpaper, one can of spray paint, a 2x6 board and everything else from a japan tele.
It worked fine and it sounded like a japan 2x6. |
|
|
|
Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
|
Posted 13 Oct 2012 9:19 pm Hey Bo!
|
|
Did you ever get to play that sawhorse steel guitar that was making the rounds ten or twelve years back?
Bill Stafford of Gulfport, MS, played it during that time span.
I appreciate your comments.
So it was TONE that you were seeking, eh? |
|
|
|
Bo Legg
|
Posted 14 Oct 2012 9:59 am
|
|
No special reason Ray sometimes I just let er rip not realizing it's a brain fart.
I never saw that sawhorse steel but my dad was very good playing the handsaw.
There is not much sense in trying to build a lap steel just to save money when you can buy a well built new one for $80.
Maybe I'm tone deaf but it seems to me that all those old lap steels had that tone. The trouble is I don't know what that tone should be. |
|
|
|
Iestyn Lewis
From:
Georgia, USA
|
Posted 15 Oct 2012 7:28 am
|
|
I'll bite. I build them because I enjoy doing it, plain and simple. I came to a realization that I love music, I like musicians, but more than anything else I get a kick out of the hardware used to make music. If there's a choice between practicing a lick and making sawdust, I'll choose the sawdust most times.
I build lap steels because they're very easy. It's a plank with strings. Everything about them is cosmetics. You don't have to shape a neck, carve a soundboard, etc.
I don't seek a particular tone, although I prefer a neck humbucker in the bridge position for my 6 stringers.
I don't seek a profit - if I can sell a guitar for the price of the parts, I'm happy - how many hobbies pay for themselves? Not many.
You can buy a very nice new 6 string lap steel from China for $99, so the motivation for the people buying my guitars is mostly to own something a little different, without paying a "boutique" price.
Opportunity for creativity is also a factor - I am currently working on some etched metal fretboards which will be very nice, and I am working on a lap steel with pedals which will allow you to play the A-B-C pedals from the couch.
_________________
Iestyn
http://facebook.com/trcguitars |
|
|
|
