Cool Lap Steel guitars?
- Recycled_Brains
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Cool Lap Steel guitars?
I'd like to get myself an electric lap steel axe, but have know idea who's making them or what's good.
I don't want to spend a shitload of money (under $500, and ideally around $300), but would like something well built (preferably in the USA).
Anyways... suggestions welcome.
and while we're at it, how about a good volume pedal to go with it.
I don't want to spend a shitload of money (under $500, and ideally around $300), but would like something well built (preferably in the USA).
Anyways... suggestions welcome.
and while we're at it, how about a good volume pedal to go with it.
- CraigS63
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Hang out at http://steelguitarforum.com (the 'Steel Without Pedals' section) and/or http://hsga.org (there is a forum link somewhere on the left part of that site).
Plenty of info, opinions, and all that.
I have 3 lap steels, a Magnatone, a Gibson BR-9, and a Vega, each was less than $300 on ebay within the last couple of years.
Plenty of info, opinions, and all that.
I have 3 lap steels, a Magnatone, a Gibson BR-9, and a Vega, each was less than $300 on ebay within the last couple of years.
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Re: Cool Lap Steel guitars?
Find a Rickenbacker Electro with the horseshoe pickup. Not the bakelite ones from the '30s and '40s, those will blow the budget, but the wood ones from the '50s and '60s. Stunning tone, frighteningly high output level, still not terribly priced.
Take a look at closed ebay auction 260233284768 for what I mean, and no, the legs aren't standard
As for a volume pedal, most of the folks I've worked with have either used the ernie ball string 'n' wire unit or a morley optical pedal.
Take a look at closed ebay auction 260233284768 for what I mean, and no, the legs aren't standard
As for a volume pedal, most of the folks I've worked with have either used the ernie ball string 'n' wire unit or a morley optical pedal.
- curtiswyant
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I have an old (40's? 50's? I don't know) National that I love to death. It was an ebay buy for around $250.
Can be heard on "Your Color Is Silver" here: www.myspace.com/thebabiesmusic
The cool thing about lap steel is it doesn't really matter how beat up they are, they'll still probably be alright because you're not gonna really be dealing with neck bowing or lifting bridge issues or anything.
Can be heard on "Your Color Is Silver" here: www.myspace.com/thebabiesmusic
The cool thing about lap steel is it doesn't really matter how beat up they are, they'll still probably be alright because you're not gonna really be dealing with neck bowing or lifting bridge issues or anything.
Stilgar, we've got wormsign the likes of which God has never seen!
the vintage ones are still out there for cheap if you are patient and or lucky and are your best bet IMHO.
I would try and avoid the new fenders and the artisans tho they are really cheap.
One word of warning. If your getting a lap steel because you want to make country or western swing sounds....be warned that that kind of playing takes a great deal of practice and expertise because it involves alot of bar slants and some unusual tunings for your average six stringer. Playing rock on a lap steel however is like falling off a log, and they do indeed scream with a little overdrive on em and an open D or open E tuning. For country you'll be in c6 and man..good luck with that tuning.
volume pedals are seldom used with lap steel, fingerpicks on the other hand I highly recommend
I would try and avoid the new fenders and the artisans tho they are really cheap.
One word of warning. If your getting a lap steel because you want to make country or western swing sounds....be warned that that kind of playing takes a great deal of practice and expertise because it involves alot of bar slants and some unusual tunings for your average six stringer. Playing rock on a lap steel however is like falling off a log, and they do indeed scream with a little overdrive on em and an open D or open E tuning. For country you'll be in c6 and man..good luck with that tuning.
volume pedals are seldom used with lap steel, fingerpicks on the other hand I highly recommend
me make purty musick!
I use a volume pedal on mine. It gets it way closer to the pedal steel sound. Not that that's necessarily why you'd want a lap steel. I can't really play that well but I've learned to do some sort of layering and ambience type of stuff that I wouldn't want to do without a volume pedal.
But yeah, C6 is just the instant sound that you already know. It doesn't take much messing around to have a cool part to a song. Open G and D are also great.
But yeah, C6 is just the instant sound that you already know. It doesn't take much messing around to have a cool part to a song. Open G and D are also great.
Stilgar, we've got wormsign the likes of which God has never seen!
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- jmiller
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I bought my wife a new Chandler lap steel a couple years ago. I think it was 250-300 or so. I'm no expert on steels but it sounds pretty darn good to me. You can find used ones in vintage shops for OK prices pretty often, especially in NY/LA since they aren't as popular. Some pretty cool ones pop up on ebay too- I saw a beautiful double neck (forgot the make) go for a few hundred bucks lately.
- Recycled_Brains
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thanks for the replies so far. i've been keeping my eye on e-bay for some used stuff. some nice looking old ones for cheap on there.
don't worry, i'm not looking to master it. and i hate country music. haha. i just want a fun new sound to play with in my bands and for my solo material. mainly looking to do simple, textural stuff. i love the way that sound can change the mood of a song.
chovie d wrote:One word of warning. If your getting a lap steel because you want to make country or western swing sounds....be warned that that kind of playing takes a great deal of practice and expertise....
don't worry, i'm not looking to master it. and i hate country music. haha. i just want a fun new sound to play with in my bands and for my solo material. mainly looking to do simple, textural stuff. i love the way that sound can change the mood of a song.
you will love having a lap steel then.Recycled_Brains wrote:thanks for the replies so far. i've been keeping my eye on e-bay for some used stuff. some nice looking old ones for cheap on there.
chovie d wrote:One word of warning. If your getting a lap steel because you want to make country or western swing sounds....be warned that that kind of playing takes a great deal of practice and expertise....
don't worry, i'm not looking to master it. and i hate country music. haha. i just want a fun new sound to play with in my bands and for my solo material. mainly looking to do simple, textural stuff. i love the way that sound can change the mood of a song.
looking on ebay right now there are two 1950's fenders on there in the 300-400$ range (they'll probably go for a little over $400??...I wouldnt pay much more than that and opnly paid $275 for mmine a few years back). These are excellent guitars with great resale value. If you could find a 1960's fender champion for a bit less that would be ideal. If you wanna go really cheap i see a morrell on there for $80...those are supposed to be okay, never tried one tho.
dont worry about legs for em. they sit nicely on your lap or on a cheap keyboard stand if your gonna use any kind of wah or volume pedal.
have fun...i know you will
me make purty musick!
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Supro/Valco also show up under many names. Bronson, Airline, McKinney.
Let's you get the Supro sound on the cheap. I'm partial to Guyatone.
Cheap build quality but good tone & kitsch appeal.
Did anyone mention Brad's Pages of Steel?
http://www.well.com/~wellvis/resource.html
Let's you get the Supro sound on the cheap. I'm partial to Guyatone.
Cheap build quality but good tone & kitsch appeal.
Did anyone mention Brad's Pages of Steel?
http://www.well.com/~wellvis/resource.html
The Dieselfitters
http://www.dieselfitters.com
http://www.dieselfitters.com
- Sean Sullivan
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