Any Lap Steel players ?
 

Thinking of picking up an entry level lap steel and curious of your opinions on which ones to look at. Will be playing mainly classic country and western swing style music.

Look forward to hearing your advice

Thanks
Bill

Check out Morrell Music they have their own line of lap steel guitars starting as low as $149 built in the USA. I bought one and it's nice. Here is a video of one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4Ky8Q6VK3s https://www.morrellmusic.com/collections/lap-steels

Count me in!

I'd go with a vintage Supro, Oahu, etc. You can find these for under $400, and the vibe is so great.

Check these out:
1950 Gibson BR-9 for $349
1953 National for $349

There are a lot more out there. Of course, I'd recommend playing a vintage lap steel before purchase. Sometimes the pickups may have issues (I had to have the horseshoe pickup on the 1938 Oahu re-gaussed as the 1st string was a bit weak. This is something you can do yourself if you know how using magnets - I had a friend do it for mine). Sometimes the tuning key buttons are deteriorating/about to crumble (or course these can be replaced relatively cheaply). I'd suggest looking on Craigslist in your area.

Pictured below are my steels (and a resonator)...

1948 Gibson BR-9 (tuned to C6)
1938 Oahu (tuned to Bb dim7)
1960 Supro (tuned to B11)
1980 RQ Jones square neck resonator (tuned to open G)
1960 Fender D8 Stringmaster (Two 8 string necks: 1 is Bb dim7, 2 is B11)
1957 Fender T8 Stringmaster (Three 8 string necks: 1 is C6/high G, 2 is E13, 3 is C6)

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...43&oe=5B0041BE

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...c7&oe=5B4CCE4A

I've got a ~1945 Supro Supreme Hawaiian Guitar Model 1400. My wife fell in love with it at a vintage shop. "She said it was so ugly it was cute." well, it is an ugly little spud but it sounds something like a Tele.

http://www.in2guitar.com/supro/supro9a.jpg

And here is the one that gets the most session time, a Gretsch Electromatic G5715:

http://www.in2guitar.com/gretsch/overallfl2.jpg

This one is a little smoother. HERE is an example of its sound from a TV soundtrack I recorded recently. It is a duet with a reso.

Bob

Bob, that sounded really great!

Thank you kindly sir! I'll take that as high praise, indeed!

Bob

That does sound great Bob. I am new to it, what kind of tunings do you use. Mine came with open E. I have bought a set of C6 strings but haven't put them on. I want to experment a little bit. Also have you used any chorus pedals. I just bought a used Boss CH1 for $40. I thought it might sound good with the lap steel if not I will use it my Gibson LP studio.

here's my 1956 Oahu through a 1969 Fender Vibro Champ...

Hi! Thanks for your kindness! I use Open E, Open E minor, Open D, an d in the studio, anything that will make what I'm trying to do possible so I'll sharp or flat a string at will to be able to play what I'm trying to.

I haven't used a chorus on the lap steel. I've got an old Ibanez CS9 chorus from the '80s but they were so overused back then that I've tended to stay away. Wait a minute, let me grab some spandex and a wig! :D

Bob

Nice Rockabilly! Ogden, Utah eh? I spent some time up in Logan. Nice part of the world...

Yep Logan is a nice town.

Thanks for all of the great info and advice everyone. The sound clips are amazing ! Hopefully I can do half as good someday ;)

What tuning is best to start out with just learning ?

Thanks again !!!!

That has an interesting Guns n Roses sort of feel in some way - probably the voice!

Bob

i have an acoustic oahu in open D, a 2013 asher electro hawaiian lap steel in open D and a 1942-48 national in C6.

C6 is heavily used in country and western so that may be what you want to learn.


play music!

option B: acoustic lap steel (a la weissenborn!).
I have 2 Pogrebas, a short scale Lazy River (amped up, this is a killer lead instrument) and a 1925 Knutsen. They sound great amplified, but also killer acoustic. They are somewhat more forgiving... I had a 50's Supro, but I couldn't stop it from amplifying my mistakes (har har)