lap steel scale?

jazzguitar14 · September 23rd, 2006, 10:58 AM

hey, Im gonna slap together a lap steel this week w/ the goal of getting into pedal steel down the road.

What scale length do ya'll recomend?

I believe standard lap = 22.5
Dobro = 24.5
Pedal Steel = ?

Is there a professional standard? I'd liketo get it "right" the 1st time...

Thanks,

kludge · September 23rd, 2006, 12:32 PM

Shorter is easier to play. There's a reason lap steel scales settled out shorter than regular guitars.

teleman65 · September 23rd, 2006, 04:10 PM

Lap steel 22.5"
http://www.buildyourguitar.com/resources/lapsteel/

Keifer · September 23rd, 2006, 04:58 PM

You can make it any scale you choose. Most laps are 22.5. Pedal steels usualy go 24.0 or 25.0. Actually the longer the scale, the better the tone & sustain (I assume because the strings must be drawn tighter to attain desired pitch). Pedal steels with the 'keyless' tuners usually opt for the longer scale If you want to make your own neck board here's the link for calculating the 'fret spacing. It's all based on millimeters so you'l have to convert from inches... one inch=25.4 millimeters.
http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.u...calculator.php

chubbyjackson · September 23rd, 2006, 08:41 PM

Short scale is great if you want to do bar slants; they open up a lot of voicing possibilities. There is an outfit called dynalap that makes a high quality kit if you want to go that route.

Big Mike Simpson · September 23rd, 2006, 10:50 PM

A Tele bridge works great on a lap steel too...

Here are some steels a friend made.

September 23rd, 2006, 10:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
jazzguitar14 Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 241	lap steel scale? hey, Im gonna slap together a lap steel this week w/ the goal of getting into pedal steel down the road. What scale length do ya'll recomend? I believe standard lap = 22.5 Dobro = 24.5 Pedal Steel = ? Is there a professional standard? I'd liketo get it "right" the 1st time... Thanks,

September 23rd, 2006, 04:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Keifer Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 565	You can make it any scale you choose. Most laps are 22.5. Pedal steels usualy go 24.0 or 25.0. Actually the longer the scale, the better the tone & sustain (I assume because the strings must be drawn tighter to attain desired pitch). Pedal steels with the 'keyless' tuners usually opt for the longer scale If you want to make your own neck board here's the link for calculating the 'fret spacing. It's all based on millimeters so you'l have to convert from inches... one inch=25.4 millimeters. http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.u...calculator.php __________________ Electric:Teles, Strats, pedal steel Acoustic:dobro, 5-string banjo, mandolin

September 23rd, 2006, 10:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
Big Mike Simpson Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Gilbert, AZ (PHX) Age: 52 Posts: 1,500 62 Photos	A Tele bridge works great on a lap steel too... Here are some steels a friend made. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/bigmikesimpson

September 23rd, 2006, 12:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
kludge Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minneapolis Age: 43 Posts: 1,025	Shorter is easier to play. There's a reason lap steel scales settled out shorter than regular guitars.

September 23rd, 2006, 04:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
teleman65 Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 771	Lap steel 22.5" http://www.buildyourguitar.com/resources/lapsteel/

September 23rd, 2006, 08:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
chubbyjackson TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: sag harbor ny Posts: 73	Short scale is great if you want to do bar slants; they open up a lot of voicing possibilities. There is an outfit called dynalap that makes a high quality kit if you want to go that route.