Supertone body and newbie questions

Dave B Jones · From: Bend, OR

I am new to the forum. I'm a guitar player and have wanted to learn lap steel for a long time. I found this Supertone body at an estate sale...$2! No electronics. I'm not sure where to begin. I'm looking for advice on whether to make this a project (search for electronics, tuners, etc.), or simply purchase a lap steel to learn on.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
-Dave B Jones

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

Do you want to learn how to play lap steel or do you want to learn how to build a lap steel?

Personally I'd look for a good lap steel that already has all the parts and works as expected.
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Dave B Jones · From: Bend, OR

If parts were readily available, I'd do both. Do you have a recommendation on a good brand for beginners?

Glenn Wilde · From: California, USA

Buy one to play now, the new Gretsch's are nice, also Epiphone has a good one out. Then gather parts and build your Supertone.

Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

Parts to rebuild -- with the intent of making your carcass into a serviceable and perfectly functional instrument -- are readily available. However, beware that it's easy to sink more into a rescue than its intrinsic worth.

How do I know this? I turned this Gibson carcass into a wonderful sounding and playing instrument, listed it here at a fair price, got nary a nibble after more than a month, and finally pulled the ad.

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=387524&highlight=

Bill Groner · From: QUAKERTOWN, PA

You got that for great price, the fretboard is worth way more than $2! I would buy player, and if you like lap steel then restore your great buy! If you decide you don't want it, I will give you $4 and you can double your money.😁
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Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40

Richard Alderson · From: Illinois, USA

Buy a guitar that you can play right out of the box. You could get started for about $300 for either a new or a used 6 string (or 8 string) lap steel, and any amp you want for starters. After that, the next most important item is Steel guitar volume pedal. New or used, laps steels are kind of rugged, they are about equally dependable. But you should buy one that actually has some tuners and a pickup if you want to be playing vs. building. Its possible to find a decent used one for $200, but not much less, and you will also need $125 for a proper steel guitar volume pedal, not 100% necessary to get started but the next most important thing after the amp, the bar, and the guitar itself. For $300 or less you have lots of great options of new or used lap steels. If you are broke, you can buy a nut adapter for about $10, and put it on a six string guitar, acoustic or electric and start learning the techniques and making music today. The nut adapter raises up the strings about a half an inch above the fret board so you can play the guitar with a steel bar without buzzing the frets. Otherwise just get a lap steel. You can save the body you purchased and get parts and have the satisfaction of building your own, but if you want to start playing you need a guitar, not a guitar body.
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Derby SD-10 5x6; GFI S-10 5x5; GFI S-10 5x5; Zum D-10 8x7; Zum D-10 9x9; Fender 400; Fender Rumble 200; Nashville 400; Telonics TCA-500.

Bill Groner · From: QUAKERTOWN, PA

I think a volume pedal is a bit much for someone starting out. Like you said, not necessary. I think starting out is a big enough chunk to bite off, let alone adding one more obstacle to the mix. Just my $.02
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Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40

Derrick Simon · From: Ontario, Canada

Keep your eyes on the Steels for Sale section.
You can find some quality lap steels for very fair prices.

George Piburn · From: The Land of Enchantment New Mexico

How about something like this, Americanized import, RetroFit Kit installed , new Daddario strings, 22.5 scale open E D G type tuning or C6-A6 set up. GeorgeBoards™
Mr.Boards purchases these imports and Americanizes them for you with his professional fixtures for super intonation and playability.

Ready to play out of the box - less than 300 includes gig bag slide bar and shipping USA.

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GeorgeBoards S8 Non Pedal Steel Guitar Instruments
Maker of One of a Kind Works of Art that play music too.
Instructional DVDs
YouTube Channel

David Knutson · From: Cowichan Valley, Canada

Dave, that Supertone looks like a fun project, but if it was me, I’d jump on that offer from Georgeboards. Mr. Boards does good work, and that little steel will get you playing while you dig up parts for your project. Win win.
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David K

G Strout · From: Carabelle, Florida

Ditto to what Dave Knutson said. You can't go wrong with Mr Boards. If you do decide to look around, make sure the scale is 22.5 or higher. Some of the Rogue ,Artisan and other similar cheapies are smaller scale (21" I believe.) Don't buy anything less than a 22.5 scale. You will find it hard to play slants etc.
Gary
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Melbert 8, Remington S8, Silk 6 string, Rick B6, Tremblay 6 lap steel, Marlen S-10 4&4, Prestige Guild M75 and Artist Award, Benedetto Bravo, Epiphone Century Electar (the real one) and a bunch of old lap steels.... mostly Ricks and Magnatones'

Dave B Jones · From: Bend, OR

Thanks to all for your advice. As it happens, lucky me. I found this Recording King Lap Steel in my town. Great price and seems to be in good shape. I'm at the bottom of the learning curve but anxious to dig in.

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