Cheap lap steel?

[Telegnosis]

I found the consensus to be the SX

Confer. SX.

SX Lap 8 Ash NA 8 String Lap Steel Guitar with Stand and Bag

Love This : SX Lap 8 Ash NA 8 String Lap Steel Guitar with Stand and Bag

www.rondomusic.com

 

[Geoff738]

I had one of the cheap Rogues, but a tuner broke almost immediately because of the weird headstock design and I tossed it.

I would definitely aim for at least a slightly better LS than the Rogue.

I will add that I play a plethora of musical instruments and have semi-pro gigged on electric guitar for many years.

After a few years of trying, I finally realized that real lap steel playing (not just slide) is beyond my ability to understand. It's a combination of fingerpicking and an ability to conceptualize the fretboard at a level that I just can't do. Lap and pedal steel are essentially a completely different instrument from the guitar. They have as much in common with the oud or sitar as they do the six-string guitar. In fact, I am confident that it would be much easier for me to play the oud or sitar than any form of steel guitar.

I borrowed a Fender student grade pedal steel for a couple years. I was hopeless. As you say, just a completely different instrument. But I suppose that’s part of the charm too.

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[Geoff738]

Confer. SX.

SX Lap 8 Ash NA 8 String Lap Steel Guitar with Stand and Bag

Love This : SX Lap 8 Ash NA 8 String Lap Steel Guitar with Stand and Bag

www.rondomusic.com

These seem to be about a grand up here. No idea what accounts the price disparity. Goldtones are that or more.

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[Geoff738]

Yeah! Peavey Powerslide. I got one of those. They're bad to the bone.

View attachment 1398065

These seem to go for @$500 Canuck bux. For not much more I can get a new Gretsch that is not as, uh, fugly.

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[WireLine]

Or just take ANY guitar and put an adapter on the nut that raises the strings about 1/2" or so.

Amazon.com: Golden Gate F-3303 Slide Guitar Conversion – Extension Nut : Musical Instruments

Buy Golden Gate F-3303 Slide Guitar Conversion – Extension Nut: Nuts - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[Geoff738]

Get an old fender. There's a 50s champ near me for $475. It's a better instrument than any new lap steel for that price. People haven't learned new information about making lap steels since the 50s, they've only forgotten.

https://madison.craigslist.org/msg/d/elkhorn-1950s-vintage-fender-champ/7858021650.html

Snap that baby up! Take a look on Reverb. Most of the old Fender lap steels are asking $2-3 grand Canuck.

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[Scorpio1968]

I am with the others on the Rogue Lap steels. Can't go wrong for the price and they are not bad quality and sound pretty good. I love mine for the few times a year I use it. I was going to build my own but was able to buy the rogue for less than the parts to build one! I recommend trying different types of slides and bars made from different materials as you get different sounds form each type.

 

[Geoff738]

I am with the others on the Rogue Lap steels. Can't go wrong for the price and they are not bad quality and sound pretty good. I love mine for the few times a year I use it. I was going to build my own but was able to buy the rogue for less than the parts to build one! I recommend trying different types of slides and bars made from different materials as you get different sounds form each type.

Well, that was my next question. What kind/shape bar do folks recommend?

 

[Telegnosis]

I borrowed a Fender student grade pedal steel for a couple years. I was hopeless. As you say, just a completely different instrument. But I suppose that’s part of the charm too.

I ended up getting an old 1980's ShoBud The Pro One 10 string, having 3 more levers added to it to make it a 3/5 and just apply myself. Took a lesson from Blackie Taylor. Ain't no Paul Franklin or Dan Dougmore.

The Fender you played was a ShoBud built for Fender. If I'm not mistaken Fender owns Shobud now. It was owned and started by Shot Jackson and Buddy Emmons.

 

[Boreas]

Well, that was my next question. What kind/shape bar do folks recommend?

I use a Stevens bar on mine, but most people prefer just a big round pedal steel bar.

 

[Geoff738]

I see Epiphone has one for around the same price as the Gretsch, but also comes with a gig bag. Anyone have any experience with this one?

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[Maguchi]

These seem to go for @$500 Canuck bux. For not much more I can get a new Gretsch that is not as, uh, fugly.

Cheers,
Geoff

I love Gretsches and own 4 regular Gretsch guitars. However the Morrel is a better sounding lap steel than the Gretsch and is more of a quality build. And it has 8 strings instead of 6. Fugly? I don't know. Maybe check out the red, blue or black one and see if you like those better.
Lap Steels – Tagged "8 String" – Morrell Music Company https://share.google/l18BSzl8DdcQ0j6un

 

[Skyhook]

They don't get cheaper than the Harley Benton Slider II.

 

[Geoff738]

I love Gretsches and own 4 regular Gretsch guitars. However the Morrel is a better sounding lap steel than the Gretsch and is more of a quality build. And it has 8 strings instead of 6. Fugly? I don't know. Maybe check out the red, blue or black one and see if you like those better.
Lap Steels – Tagged "8 String" – Morrell Music Company https://share.google/l18BSzl8DdcQ0j6un
View attachment 1398547View attachment 1398549

I was referring to the Peavey as fugly, not the Morrells, which look quite nice imo.

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[Dostradamas]

I like this style over the round ones, I get a better grip.
Index finger in front and middle on top.

 

[bottlenecker]

Snap that baby up! Take a look on Reverb. Most of the old Fender lap steels are asking $2-3 grand Canuck.

Cheers,
Geoff

I already have a champ, and a gibson skylark. I'm not in the market for any more six strings, but I like to look. I don't see any selling that high. But there really aren't any new 6 string lap steels that interest me. I'd play a kay or a valco over just about anything new. The people designing most of these new ones don't play steel and it's obvious. My bass player's got an old airline (made by Valco/National/Supro) with the Ry Cooder pickup on it for sale, and he'll be lucky if he gets $300 for it.

 

[Zepfan]

CBGITTY.COM has a 2x4 slide guitar kit for $65.

 

[Maguchi]

I was referring to the Peavey as fugly, not the Morrells, which look quite nice imo.

Cheers,
Geoff

Yes it's definitely fugly. And it was cheap. If I remember right I paid $150 or $200 for it new 10 years ago. Peavey had a small retail shop on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood back then, which is where I bought it. It's made so that it can be played in the lap steel position as well as standing up in the regular guitar position, which is how I use it. It's definitely low budget and looks funny, however it sounds good and has served It's purpose well over the years.

 

[suthol]

A good friend made this lappy many years ago, sadly sold his pedal steel last year and at 92 has stopped playing completely.

Also owns this little gem

The bar he used was the ergo style bar with a rounded toe and round PS bar welded to the top for extra weight

 

[Geoff738]

Just going to add I am leaning six strings rather than 8. That should be enough of a challenge.

Cheers,
Geoff