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Topic: Check This Out |
Andy Alford
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Posted 31 Oct 2002 5:59 am |
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| Many know that Paul Chandler is one of the finest guitar luthers in the world.Musician's Friend on pg.79 is selling his Rh-2 lap steel for $349.00 with a classic cc-90 pickup.You can also see a Artisan EA-1 for $79.00. |
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Michael Miller
From:
Virginia
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Posted 31 Oct 2002 8:25 am
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| Andy, Just wanted to point out the MF website shows the Artesen as "discontinued". I bought my Chandler Royal Hawaiian from them though and I think it is a great lap steel at a great price. |
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Andy Alford
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Posted 31 Oct 2002 8:36 am
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| I am going by Holiday catalog for December sales.The Chandler is just FANTASTIC. |
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Todd Weger
From:
Safety Harbor, FLAUSA
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Posted 31 Oct 2002 8:59 am
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I have a Chandler RH-4 Koa semi-hollow. They discontinued them, and in fact, the one I have was a special order, then returned by the guy to buy a Gretsch 6120. Paul Chandler told me they're rare (about 20 made). It's absolutely gorgeous, and sounds fantastic. Those CC-90 p'ups they make are great. I was lucky enough to have a buddy in Chicago see it in a store, and call me about it. A few days and a couple hundred bucks later, it was in my living room (plus OHSC)!
Dick Sanft told me he knew of people in Hawaii who would give me a couple of grand for it right now, because of the beautiful koa. I'm not so sure about that, but it IS a real looker. I keep it hung on my wall, when I'm not playing it. Thing is, I'm playing it alot, especially now (just bought an old Princeton Reverb -- sounds AMAZING through that amp)!
Yeah, these Chandlers are seriously good little steels, and you gotta love that Weissenborn style design!
TJW
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Todd James Weger/RD/RTD
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, B11, E13); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6); Melobar SLS lapsteel (open D); Chandler RH-4 Koa semi-hollow lapsteel (open G); Regal resonator (open G) |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 31 Oct 2002 1:16 pm
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you're lucky to get the hollow version, Todd! I have the Mahogony solid body version of the Royal Hawaiian. It's a great sounding lap steel with a lot of design flair for a comparitively low price.
The long scale makes slant bar work a bit more difficult but that's about the only downside unless you don't appreciate the pearloid fretboard with its art deco graphics. |
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Andy Alford
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Posted 31 Oct 2002 2:16 pm
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| I have always wondered why the Chandler was not more popular on the forum.We tend to buy what we learn about.It would seem that this guitar should be selling for at least $600.00.Many may think that it is the best lap steel on the market today except for the Sierra.I have played both and like them very much. |
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Todd Weger
From:
Safety Harbor, FLAUSA
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Posted 1 Nov 2002 4:01 am
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My feeling is that people may just not take these little Chandlers seriously enough. Ironically, if they DID sell for $600+, they probably would be more popular! I think the low price belies it's real value as a great playing, great sounding instrument.
I think the tone, styling, and construction are all first rate. I REALLY like that CC-90 p'up, too. Warm and FAT when you roll off the treble, but lots of nasty bite through an overdriven amp, if and when you want it.
Regarding the string spacing, I dunno, but I can get virtually in-tune triad slants pretty much anywhere on the neck using a Dunlop "Jerry Byrd" bar. The diameter of this bar seems to fit the RH series' string spacing perfectly, especially for full triad MINOR chords (tuned in open "high bass" G, l-h: G-B-D-G-B-D). I just discovered this yesterday and got pretty excited about that!
Yep -- good little GEE-tars at a REAL good price. At least, that's how I see it from where I sit.
Dig it!
TJW |
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Andy Alford
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Posted 3 Nov 2002 3:35 pm
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Russ
That is one fine looking guitar.This is a quality lap steel, that should make someone real happy. |
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Kevin Ruddell
From:
Toledo Ohio USA
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Posted 4 Nov 2002 3:01 am
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| How is the string spacing on the Chandler lap steel ? How does it compare to the Goldtone lap steel as a starter instrument |
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Andy Alford
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Posted 4 Nov 2002 4:22 am
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| The string spacing is like the older Gibsons not tight just right.This is a great guitar to learn on or play the rest of ones life. |
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David Siegler
From:
Mill Valley, CA USA
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Posted 4 Nov 2002 8:33 pm
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Kevin,
I own the same Birdseye Maple Chandler guitar that is shown in the ebay link that Russ posted and I also own the Gold Tone. I don't own an old Gibson to compare the string spacing but I will say that the Chandler spacing is too narrow for my taste.
I believe the string spacing is the same as you might find on one of their (or other's) electric guitars - to match the spacing of the poles in the pickup. It's the one thing I don't like about the guitar.
I usually play an old National Tricone Squareneck and a Timm "dobro" and am used to the wider spacing they both have. The Gold Tone has the spacing I prefer.
FYI, here's little historical information on the Chandler Birdseye Maple that just sold on Ebay. After I bought mine used in 1999 from Gryphon music in Palo Alto, CA. I called Chandler's and spoke to Kenny. He said the Birdseye guitar was one of about 75 made special for Guitar Center in early June 1996. Probably cost about $365 new plus $50 for the tweed case. I don't know if they've started making the Birdseye guitars again - they may have. |
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