Lap Steel - How much bridge buzz is normal? (audio clip)

[Bella W]

Hi all, good to meet you!

I've been playing lap steel for about 9 months now. I've been getting into it to the point that I commissioned a privately made lap steel. It's a really beautiful/functional instrument. Except that I think there may be a persistent buzz originating at the bridge.

I do a lot of behind-the-bar bending so I can't use super-heavy guage strings. And the bridge is a half-bar style, which is really nice for palm resting/muting. But I'm wondering if I've created a problem with these two factors. Not enough of a fulcrum on the bridge perhaps?

Anyway, attached here is a photo of the bridge. If you'd like to be the judge whether I'm buzzing too much, here is a short piece of audio of my playing the instrument. (please forgive any playing issues) It would be great if you could tell me that I'm just being nitpicky..... ; )

www.dropbox.com/s/5cbvx6l8ofhxy1k/Lap-Steel-Buzz-Test.mp3?dl=0

(apologies for the audio quality, I'm playing through a bass amp currently.)

Thanks all
Bella

Attachments:

[Brad Bechtel]

It sounds pretty buzzy to me. Do you have grooves in the bridge where the strings pass over the edge? Does changing to a different string set make a difference? If the bridge is grooved, it may have been grooved for a specific (lighter or heavier) string set.

[Bella W]

Hi Brad, thank you for your reply. There's no groove at all, it's a smooth rounded bar. I haven't tried a heavier set of strings yet.  To keep my current gauges I'm wondering if I should find a machinist to cut .05" grooves in the bridge so that the string goes over top of an edge on a sharper angle. What do you think?

[pete1951]

If your strings are moving at the bridge when you bend them ,small grooves should help. I think it might be best if they matched the string size rather than all .05". If your lap steel is an old and interesting one it might be best to get a new bridge and keep the original in the case.
PT

[SoloBill]

Hi Bella,

As you commissioned the instrument you should bring this to the attention of the maker; he/she will appreciate the chance to help you get full satisfaction and suggest ways to improve it.

As a little test, does plucking the strings very lightly improve the sound (i.e. less movement of the strings on the bridge)?

Bill

[Deleted]

The bridge is radiused past the apex (towards the neck) where the strings contact. This must be your problem.
If you look at the bridge of a coral sitar, it purposely does this to give a buzzy twangy sound.
The apex of the bridge must be like the edge of a cliff. Cutting some flat slots will sort it, but they will have to be deep enough to stop the strings popping out.
TT