My first Lapsteel build

[Colt W. Knight]

First, let me apologize to the folks following my Blackguard thread. I am waiting for some hardware to come in before I can continue.

Anyway, back to the regularly scheduled program.

I have wanted to build a lapsteel for years, and now I finally get to make one.







Went out in the country and bought a very nice cherry plank.







Planed that sucker down smooth

[Colt W. Knight]

Did a little band sawing.



and routed out the perimeter

[Colt W. Knight]

Then its on to the fretboard.

I thought ebony would look nice against that cherry.





Added the lapsteel frets ( .020" white binding)







Here is a good use for that low angle block plane.



Then I ran it across my jointer and sanded smooth.

[fretman_2]

Looking good! I want a lap steel too...but I need to first learn how to build guitars...LOL.

[Musicman1]

cool, gotta keep my eye on this one!

[Colt W. Knight]

Then I started laying out the dimensions on the board.



Neck templates serve as great straight edges for routing.



I didn't want this guitar to be just a simple plank of wood with some standard guitar hardware. So I am going to inlay the fretboard.





This is most likely unneccessary, but makes me feel better.

[iocari]

does it not require a truss rod?

[glen smith]

Alright, another build to follow!

[iocari]

ignore that last post, i was i asked when you were uploading the photo's

[Colt W. Knight]

Then its time to add some slot heads.





Oh yeah!




I like the idea of the slot heads because I can point the tuner buttons up.

[Colt W. Knight]

I am sure some of yall are picking up on a few inconsistencies in the guitar. That is because I am building two of these. The first is the prototype that serves as my learning curve, and the second is the one I will present to its new owner, Mr. A.C. Wescott.

Back to the prototype.

I used my lapsteel and tele templates to do some routing of relief cuts and cavities.

[glen smith]

Colt, where can I locate a lapsteel pdf?

[iocari]

i saw this a while back Glen Smith http://www.buildyourguitar.com/resources/lapsteel/

[a.c.wescott]

Looks great Colt
THANKS

[Colt W. Knight]

Originally Posted by glen smith

Colt, where can I locate a lapsteel pdf?

IDK, I drew mine out on a piece of paper using a ruler and #2 pencil.

[koolaide]

nice!

thanks for sharing.

Koolaide

Now back to the black guard

[glen smith]

Thanks guys. I also found a few pdf's through Google.

[dutchgoff]

Love it Colt. Your always an inspiration. Nothing like building something of your own design. I believe a lap steel will be my next step after i finish the two gits I have in the works. Is West Virginia got your creative juices flowing?
Dutch

[crazydave911]

Originally Posted by iocari

does it not require a truss rod?

Never seen a lapsteel with one yet , doesn't mean you can't add them



Fine looking build Colt!

[PapaLion]

? Colt, did you slide those frets in as tradition dictates or use the press:)... hmmm well I haven't got a grasp quite yet huh.

Laps are very keen, Don't start noticing GAS old ones, you can go very broke trying to even collect a 1/2 dozen good ones. I was presented with a list this wekend by a serious collector... like 3-4000 pieces. His list, 2 pages maybe 60-70 steels , he's looking for and he has hundreds. Oh well.

One of the prettiest is the New Yorkers, National and later Supro got the B&W deco thing down perfectly. Fender did a good job, my personal favorite is an 8 string Dlx. single neck. EZ to carry and very lappable.

IMHO the lap has such a strong backbone that a truss rod might not even move anything?

This one looks very balanced and I do very much like the routed portions giving it layers. That is classy and has just enough history to give it a touchstone.

I would like to hear the Cherry wood sing if possible later.

enjoy, nice one for sure.