A decent, cheap steel?

Lloyd Graves · From: New York, USA

I am flying to Florida in April and am resistant to taking my metal dobro or my (borrowed) Rickenbacker panda.

Are there any inexpensive, decent-to-practice-on, 6 string lap steels out there? I don't care about pickups, because it won't be amplified at all. Just something to practice on while traveling. By cheap, I mean under $50 USD.

Thanks.

Edit: as long as I'm asking questions, the case for the Rick panda that I am borrowing is the original, but shot to hell. What do you all recommend for replacements cases? Or, alternately, is the anyone that repairs/reinforces the old cases?

Allan Revich · From: Victoria, BC

There is this.
Anything else will require a time machine.

There’s this.

Karl Paulsen · From: Chicago

Maybe hit up the resale shop and buy whatever electric guitar the have and slap a Grover nut riser on it. I don't know about near you, but here in Chicago there's a few starter electrics on Craigslist for 50 bucks or less.

I found a First Act discovery with built in amp for 10 bucks at Goodwill. It's not "good" but I suppose it would qualify as "decent to practice on". My daughter likes it, it had a small body and there's a certain charm to the decidedly lo-fi sounds of the crappy onboard amp and speaker. I think there's one on eBay in your price range.

Your best bet though would probably be to drop $100 on a Rogue Lap steel. Not amazing, but at least it's a functional steel that could be a good tinker/upgrade platform in the future and it comes with legs and a pretty good case.
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Brian Evans · From: Nova Scotia, Canada

Dont overlook the ultimate cheap lap steel. A set of tuners for $20, a piece of 3/4" plywood, a zerox of a fretboard, and two pieces of 1/2" angle aluminium 4" long. A little jig-saw work (or get the store to saw it to size for you), a few holes drilled, a few screws screwed and up and running for well under $50. I'd do it! Whoa!

Michael Butler · From: California, USA

musician's friend has a stupid deal of the day with a cheap lap steel now and then.

play music!
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Glenn Wilde · From: California, USA

There's a few around 100.00, 50 bux and you gotta get creative, i like the used First Act with a nut riser idea.
This thing would be perfect, if you're the only bidder it'll be within budget too.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/353869823347?hash=item526448fd73:g:zEgAAOSwXu1h62ag

Daniel McKee · From: Corinth Mississippi

If you don’t mind doing some work the CB Gitty kit is actually kinda cool. It’s designed for a 23 inch scale. The rogue is not bad but it’s a really short scale. George boards sells a scale upgrade kit which allows you to make your rogue a more standard 22.5.

If you ever decide to drop a couple hundred more a Melbert is a fantastic choice.

D Schubert · From: Columbia, MO, USA

If you have a six-string anything, just add the old-fashioned nut extender.

Karl Paulsen · From: Chicago

Karl Paulsen · From: Chicago

Lloyd Graves · From: New York, USA

Thanks for all the great suggestions.

I was definitely hoping that whatever I get would go as a carry on. I'd be afraid of breaking the neck on one of those First Acts, but maybe...

But it seems a rogue (or an SX) are the best option for "as is." I've checked Goodwill and ebay. I hadn't thought of FB. Good idea. And maybe I'll throw up something in the wanted section here, too.

Any more ideas? I've still got time to plan.

Nic Neufeld · From: Kansas City, Missouri

I know cost is an important thing, but depending on your preference and if you've got experience with a current style PSG...I might go for something with longer scale (SX) over the shorter scale Rogue. You could for sure get an extension nut/fretboard for the Rogue, via Georgeboards, but the default 20" scale is pretty drastically short and spending the money to convert it to 22" will bring it up in cost relatively.

That said, under $50 is an aggressive goal. If that goal is fixed, you might be best finding a castaway standard guitar and just affix an extension bridge. Gonna be hard finding a good steel under that price point, even used, but you might find an unloved fretted guitar...
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Gene Tani · From: Pac NW

I think Nick has right idea if you're ok with 25" scale, an unloved fretted Squire, pawnshops sometimes mark the good ones that shd be $200 used down to around $75 cause they don't know better
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Tommy Martin Young · From: Sacramento-California, USA

Kinda hard to beat the price on one of these.

Great video btw on the pursuit of tone...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n02tImce3AE
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Lloyd Graves · From: New York, USA

Not sure how portable that air guitar is, and his pot is already alive budget. Very Happy

But it is an interesting experiment and am argument against spending too, too much on an electric.

For what it's worth, it looks like I found a local guy with a rogue to sell. And in my price range! Shocked

Maybe I'll splurge and get the George Boards conversion kit. But I'm not counting on it until the guitar is in my hands.

Thanks again for all the input.

John Drury · From: Gallatin, Tn USA

Mike McBride · From: Indiana

Buy a $10 nut raise device before you fly and a $40 acoustic guitar after you arrive.

Bingo!

Mike McBride · From: Indiana

Better yet buy a $100 used lap steel and sell for $100 when you get home.

Lloyd Graves · From: New York, USA

Karl Paulsen · From: Chicago

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