Lap steel guitars - recommendations?

[Deleted]

I've been looking for a lap steel guitar; there have been some nice (vintage) ones on eBay recently but usually get outbid at the last moment by someone who must have broadband!!
Anyway, my question - Does anyone have any recommendations for any new, reasonably priced 'laps' that I could be looking at instead? I saw an 'art deco' one by Gretch that looked reasonable but could only find it in the USA. Also suggestions of where to try to buy would be welcome - web based UK stores in particular would be good. ;D

[LouisianaGrey]

I saw a couple of new Bennetts in Denmark street last week, and a couple of Melobars, but I can't remember which store it was. Frailers in Runcorn sometimes have a few steels in, although they're a bit pricey (as is the one I make).

A friend of mine was looking to sell his Gretsch a while back, but I don't know if he's changed his mind.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Charlie,

You should be able to find an old Rickenbacher, Supro, National, Selmer or Gibson for a reasonable price. I know that Ron at www.frets.co.uk has a cast aluminium National and a couple of Ricks' for sale.

Shine On,
Michael

[lee holliday]

Lap steel guitars are fast becoming more expensive, as a ebay student you will notice that the dealers are starting to double and treble the prices on vintage lap steels, where as before $200 bought a vintage Supro Ricky etc they are nearly three times as much.
Buy wisely and before the vintage lap steels are as expensive as the fenders and gibsons of the 50,s!
You will not be pleased to hear I buy Lap steels primarily for there pickups and canabalise them into conventional roundneck electrics.
Aloha Lee Holliday.

[Michael Messer]

Lee is right about rising prices.

As for eBay, well I guess I must be one one of the only people on planet Earth who doesn't use or visit it!

Occasionally I get an email telling me about an instrument which I go and look at, but apart from that, I don't bother.

Shine On,
Michael.

[Colin McCubbin]

Charlie,

What scale length do you want? Lap steels seem to come in two types, those with full scale lengths as per a normal guitar/Dobro etc and those with a much shorter scale length, such as most of the post war Rickenbachers, Supros, Nationals etc.

If you are also playing a Dobro for example than a lap with the long scale will feel more at home for you, while if you play no other lap style instrument the short scale makes playing, slants in particular easier...

Lee will probably sell you a Supro or similar that he has pinched the pickup from, (say after me, Lee, "I am a very bad boy to abuse old instruments that way") You'd have to fit a modern pickup and, depending on the model, a bridge/tailpiece since these were often integral to the pickup, but you'd then have a very funky and playable short scale instrument.

[Deleted]

Thanks for all the responses. I've managed to learn something too. It looks as though a 'short scale' is the way to go - so Lee what do you do with them after you've removed their pick-ups??
As for eBay Michael; I only manage to buy my 'musical' stuff by selling my past collections, my National was 80% funded by 1960's chewing gum cards!! I get something I want from stuff I don't.

[Colin McCubbin]

Charlie,

Take a look at

www.buildyourguitar.com/resources/lapsteel/

There are some very good ideas there. Another home brew lap steel page is at:

www.geocities.com/lapsteel.geo/

Also there is a lap steel builders group started on yahoo groups at:

launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/steelguitarbuilders/

Aloha

[lee holliday]

I have checked the lap Steel bodies I currently have and you are welcome to a 50's Supro supreme if you cover the cost of the postage and packing.
It will require an approximate 6 inch (steel or brass)square plate to replace where the pickup & tone volume pots were removed. Replace the jack socket and nut and a choice of hardware (pickup & Bridge)
and your in business!
Would make an easy project as an introduction to guitar making.
Let me know and I will contact you in due course as Michael have my email address.
Regards Lee.

[Michael Messer]

Hey what a great response to Charlie's question! It is really good to see this forum doing what I hoped it would do, and with such a helpful & friendly bunch of people.

Charlie, I reckon I am pretty much the only non eBay member on this forum! However I do appreciate and understand that it's a great place to buy'n'sell stuff. I am just not much of a 'buyer'n'seller'. I also know that if I do start....I'll get hooked :-)

Shine On,
Michael.

[Sonya]

I haven't succumbed to E-bay either - yet. For the same reason as Michael - I may possibly get hooked! I know someone who has a garage full of 'bargains', mostly still not unpacked. I don't think he's got any lap steel guitars - but I will ask.....

Sonya

[Deleted]

That would be great Lee. I've been wanting a project to undertake, and my slide teacher may be able to help me (although I haven't asked him yet!!). Thanks to everyone for being so helpful.
Michael - can you give Lee my email address?
Thanks again, Charlie.

[Colin McCubbin]

Hey, Lee,

I have a National triplex chordchanger that needs some tuners. since it is a 50's Valco product it probably uses the same 3 a side Klusons as all the other Supro/Vaco/National units. Have you any sets taken off of off Lap streels?

BTW Thanks for the heads up on Greg's Delvechio on ebay. Coincidentally I visited the seller, Greg Miner in LA some years ago and actually knew the instrument, it is the perfect pair for my Delvechio uke, but it went for way more than I would have paid!

Aloha,

Colin

[lee holliday]

Hi Colin,
I have given my Tuners to Dave King, drop him an email to see what he has left as he only wants them for spares.
I was with Dave last week and I understand you have also been won over to order a guitar, I succombed to temptation and have placed an order for a 12 fret style N, watch this space!
Regards Lee.

[Richard]

I can see I'm going to have to get one as well