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Topic: Modified Lap Steel |
Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 21 Aug 2018 3:57 pm |
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Well, I had my latest Lap Steel all complete. I wired it up this weekend (a new adventure for me) I would like to give a shout out to Steve Wilson and Jim Hartman for the help and advice they gave me on the wire job. Only one small mistake. + - on the jack, but that was an easy fix. One thing I found out right quick was moving my control knobs up to where I had them originally was not a good move. My steel's body is only 6" wide and my middle finger kept nudging the volume knob. I decided I had to move it down, but man, what am I going to do with the existing hole for the volume control? Lost some sleep pondering what to do. I think, at least in my mind I came up with a good solution and I think it added well to the design in general. I hear no ill effects from sound holes in the hollow body. I did stuff the neck with a real soft blue filter material, but the body is hollow. I just need a few swipes of tung oil around the holes.
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Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
Last edited by Bill Groner on 22 Aug 2018 12:05 am; edited 1 time in total |
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David Knutson
From:
Cowichan Valley, Canada
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Posted 21 Aug 2018 4:17 pm
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Nice save, Bill. That looks great. Worth a bit of lost sleep.
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David K |
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Steve Wilson
From:
Morgan Hill, California, USA
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Posted 21 Aug 2018 8:44 pm Love it!
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Bill,
I think it turned out great! Maybe one of the sound holes could hold your tone bar when not in use? Glad I could help with giving you the confidence to jump in there and do the wiring yourself. It will be much easier next time. |
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Peter Jacobs
From:
Northern Virginia
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Kevin Glandon
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 22 Aug 2018 6:16 am Excellent
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| Excellent work Bill. Looks great! |
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Joe Elk
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 22 Aug 2018 6:42 am
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Nice Nice I do like that Lace pickups.
Joe Elk Central Ohio |
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Mike A Holland
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 22 Aug 2018 8:02 am
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Very ingenious Bill. I like the way how by solving a problem you added to the beauty of your instrument..........Brilliant!
Mike |
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Stephen Abruzzo
From:
Philly, PA
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Posted 22 Aug 2018 8:42 am
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Great work Bill. Really liking your blending of wood and metal.
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Four Pettingills and a Clinesmith Aluminum. Fender Blues Junior. Quilter Mini-101. |
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Phillip Vaught
From:
Dallas,Texas, USA
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Posted 22 Aug 2018 9:46 am
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beautiful lap steel, I know it sounds great with that pickup
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Georgeboards s8 colorshift, roland cube, goodrich, perfect touch, ernie ball, deluxe 34, Pandora px3. cegacegd |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 22 Aug 2018 8:01 pm
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Very nice work !  |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 23 Aug 2018 12:10 am
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Thank you Dave, Steve, Pete, Kevin, Joe, Mike, Steve, Phil, and Bill. I appreciate and value your comments. I am so glad I found this forum. It is a wealth of knowledge and the guys are very eager to share and help you out if they can.
Makes a new guy feel at home and certainly helps cutting down on the mistakes.
I plan on making one more for sure and maybe one after that, then I think I will have enough.
I have had one started for almost a year, but just don't get the needed time to make the pieces for the top of the body. Mike Holland I know you will like this one. I am a lot further along than this old picture, but you get the idea. Aluminum core, acrylic top, Lollar P-90 Pup with custom cover. It's for a UK transplant who misses home.
Note.....see where the control knobs are on the Union Jack? If I hadn't made the mistake with my latest one I would had put them in the wrong spot on this one as well! Easier to fix wood than it is to fix acrylic.
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Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Andy Henriksen
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 23 Aug 2018 7:21 am
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Looks fantastic, Bill! The only thing I wish you had done differently is recording a sound clip before and after drilling the sound holes...you know for science.  |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 24 Aug 2018 2:21 am
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Thanks Andy. I think the sound clip probably is not a good idea.......My playing would ruin my credibility as a builder. I'm telling you, I really heard no difference with or without the holes. It was just something that had to be done. With the Lap Steel finished, I really hated to drill into it and chance a mishap. Thankfully all went well. Glad you like it. Do you have any new ones in the works 
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Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 30 Aug 2018 1:59 am Re: Love it!
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| Steve Wilson wrote: |
Bill,
I think it turned out great! Maybe one of the sound holes could hold your tone bar when not in use? Glad I could help with giving you the confidence to jump in there and do the wiring yourself. It will be much easier next time. |
You know Steve, I thought about that, but one misstep by me or anybody for that matter (like a sideways bump to the tone bar sitting in the hole) could crack the wood. Lucky for me, I don't have a single tone bar that fits any of the holes, so there is no temptation to use it as a tone bar holder. I am kind of unlucky when it comes to that kind of stuff. You know, an accident waiting to happen.(that's me) I forgot to mention I got lots of moral support on the wiring job from Kevin Glandon in my original post. So thanks, Kevin.....
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Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Kevin Glandon
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2018 4:06 am
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| Anytime Bill! Again, that's a very cool guitar. |
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Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2018 9:07 am
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| Very coo |
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Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2018 9:08 am
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| Your building a very nice lap my hats off too you. Many times mistakes turn into a pluses Congratulations on a beautiful build. |
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