|
Post by pete1951 on Feb 15, 2024 14:57:54 GMT
Pete, there are dozens of blues shows on local FM radio and on the Internet. RadioPlayer is a great app for listening to shows that are out of reach of a regular radio. Shine On Michael[/quote] This is true, but I don’t have a smartphone and don’t have WiFi in all areas of my home. Also I know how to download BBC stuff on very old iPad and use this to listen around the place. My children say they will show me how to link in to some of the shows you mentioned , but until they do it’s back to the BBC search button. Pete
|
|
|
Post by pete1951 on Feb 15, 2024 11:53:03 GMT
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001vm2t?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobileThere’s not much blues on national radio (in the UK) so I usually tune in to the BBC radio 2 Blues show ( though it is often more a show with songs linked to the blues rather than stuff you would find filed under blues in a record shop) Radio Shetland has a blues show ( once a month) which is more heavily blues based ( though the opening couple of numbers this month are on the Heavy side if your only into Chicago) Pete
|
|
|
Post by pete1951 on Feb 14, 2024 13:08:29 GMT
I see ( or rather have seen) loads of guitars with screw-on necks where the bridge has been filed down to nothing and all that is needed is a neck shim. Pete
|
|
|
Post by pete1951 on Feb 14, 2024 9:36:38 GMT
Hi Mrs trellis. You may notice on my original post that I do have a short tailpiece, they can be found. The tailpiece itself didn't affect the height of the strings over the bridge but the adjustments I made to it made it possible for me to lower the bridge while still keeping a decent break angle. On a parlour guitar a 'long' tailpiece puts the strings to close to the bridge as you've realised, given hardly any break angle at all. As MM said earlier the solution would be a neck reset, but on a cheap guitar the expense doesn't seem justified. Best wishes to you all, John 👍 Though, on Bonzo’s example, the angle isn’t increased with a short tail generally this may not be the case. It depends on the curve of the cover plate. If the end of the tail sits farther down the curve then the angle will increase. This does not look right and the long string length behind the bridge may give some unwanted ringing but could make a lifeless sounding reso more responsive. Unfortunately I think most of these guitars are basically standard guitars ( a dovetail joint rather than a neckstick like most National or MMs) the machines used have been left to give a ‘standard ‘ or only slightly increased neck angle which is too small even for an under strung tailpiece. You can use a dovetail if you get the angle right ( do all National Trojans have this type of joint?) and produce a reasonable budget reso, but the neck angle has to be correct for the cone! Pete
|
|
|
Post by pete1951 on Feb 8, 2024 11:26:02 GMT
I don’t think you can patent a scale length, and anyway I don’t think Gibson ( except on Epiphones?) have used 24 3/4” scale since the 50s . But, if there is an agreement between Gibson,Fender and Warmoth not to use the ‘wrong ‘ scale on a guitar you just need to have a 25 9/16th scale , which will feel the same as a Fender.
I am pretty sure I have fitted a 24 3/4” Warmoth neck on a Strat, so they do do odd scales
Pete
PS : I think the Jaguar had/has a 24” scale rather than ‘ the other guys’. I think Fender used the same fret cutter for all their necks, if you chop the top fret off a Strat/Tele/Jazzmaster fingerboard and add a fret or 2 at the body end you get the 24” scale with21-22 frets. I had a 60s Jag ( the mute was missing,as was the handrest) but sold it to Elvis ( Costello not Presley) who liked the shape, though I only ever saw him play a Jazzmaster live.
I wonder, do you get the same ‘ring/sustain etc ‘ from a Strat tuned a semitone down with a capo on the 1st fret and a Jaguar tuned to pitch with the same strings.? I never liked the Jag trem and bridge so probably not?
|
|
|
Post by pete1951 on Feb 7, 2024 17:32:07 GMT
2 chances to here some blues action!
Tonight a mix of Blue, soul and Rock* Tomorrow an Electric Blues Jam, bring a guitar, pair of drum sticks or whatever and join in.
Both at the old Tall Trees Pub ( now renamed ‘ Franks Dirty,’ ) 8.30 start, free entry both nights Pete
*Rock in this case is Blues played with the volume up to 10
|
|
|
Post by pete1951 on Feb 7, 2024 13:55:39 GMT
. should Gibson have sued Pontiac in 1967 when they started building the Firebird automobile? mitchfit According to Tom Wheeler’s book ( American Guitars) Fender hadn’t chosen a name for their Jaguar guitar when this photo was taken........should the makers of the E type in the picture have sued? Pete
|
|
|
Post by pete1951 on Feb 2, 2024 22:46:37 GMT
Nice to see the blanks got used. The case looks good too ( though maybe a little tight? ) Pete
PS: there is in fact a company making travel guitars that look very like my idea for a Strat pick guard shape body.
|
|
|
Post by pete1951 on Feb 2, 2024 10:33:53 GMT
I am having a change of heart, and it’s back to a Tele Style bridge for my ‘ Hand tools only’ build. I have just laid out the Strat scratch plate and tried a trimmed down shape, but even with the second tone control removed I’m not happy with the look. However, I may make one using the entire scratch plate and an old Hofner headstock. This would ( with a 22 1/2” scale) give a fun 2 pickup lap. The 5 position switch would be replaced with a 4 way ( these are made for Teles and give you , Bass , Bass+treble in parallel , Bass +Treble in series, and Treble) the mid pickup is already reversed magnet/ out of phase, so the middle 2 positions would be humbucking. The second tone pot would be exchanged for a Jack. Pete
|
|
|
Post by pete1951 on Jan 31, 2024 10:14:05 GMT
Have just done a quick search of the ‘net’ and found loads of videos on lap steel construction. They tend to be of 2 types. One type uses a lump of scrap wood and the end result is a usable lap steel that looks very rough and often not very ergonomic. The second type of maker has access to lots of tools and tries to make a more ‘ finished ‘ instrument .
I am trying to figure out a way of making something with a minimum of tools ( drill, hand saw, sandpaper and maybe a file) and still end up with something that looks and plays ok.
Though my first idea involved a Tele bridge, I am thinking that a Strat pick guard and hard tail bridge would be easier to use .( you can pick up a Strat plate with 3 pickups very cheaply and I have one spare at the moment). The plate would be cut down so only one pickup would be used and the second tone knob hole would become the jack socket.
Pete
|
|
|
Post by pete1951 on Jan 29, 2024 23:11:25 GMT
Very nice lap steel. Just a few weeks ago I was thinking about buying one and learning to play, but then I thought that without having to worry about frets, radiused fretboard, bone nut and compensated bridge, it should be quite easy to build, I think I'll try. And I got a spare tele bridge plate and pickup in a drawer... I have made a couple of lap guitars using aTele bridge plate. I think I will do a short video,making a lap steel using just hand tools and a Tele plate. I have some ideas on simplifying the build. .and I guess it still fits this ‘lap steel rethinking’ thread. More soon Pete
|
|
|
Post by pete1951 on Jan 29, 2024 22:32:47 GMT
Some time ago I made a video “How to make a Lap Steel in 10 minutes “. I did prepare a few bits in advance, but if you just want something that plays well and are not worried about what it look like it can be a quick build.
Pete
|
|
|
Post by pete1951 on Jan 29, 2024 14:50:24 GMT
So, if I was starting from scratch what would I have done differently? The main thing would be the head. I like the slotted style as it is less trouble tuning ( though a little harder to string) but I would have raised it up to lower the brake angle of the strings. So it would look more like the maple lap in the picture. More generous cut outs for the controls would be good ( I had to remove the bridge to pass wires under it) And a one piece bridge saddle rather than the 6 piece Fender style ( you don’t need individual intonation adjustments on a lap steel) There may be more, if I think of any I’ll add them to my list. Pete
|
|
|
Post by pete1951 on Jan 29, 2024 10:43:59 GMT
Here is a cross section, Pete
|
|
|
Post by pete1951 on Jan 29, 2024 9:56:48 GMT
My local tree surgeon has just given me a large ( 4” across) piece of box. There is probably enough to make a box saddle for every resonator in the country! So what will be the best way to season it? Normally I would wax the ends and air dry it for 5 or 6 years ,cut it roughly to size and give it another year. I am 72 which means I’d be 80 before I could use it. So what to do? Should I just pass it on ( there are some wood turners who would give their eye teeth for it) ? Pete
|
|