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#1
03-29-2023, 10:38 PM
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Lap steel guitars
Recently, I've picked up a couple of lap steel guitars. Both were purchased used. One is an Epiphone Electar Inspired by version (new model) and the other is a Supro 1400 Hawaiian I think made in 1951. The Supro has the string through pickup, which is nice for slightly overdriven sounds. The Epi has a humbucker and I think it sounds good for the more Hawaiian and twangy sounds. They definitely sound much different to each other.
If I'm not wrong, I think Bob has one of the Supro models he uses. I was planning to tune the Epi to C6 and the Supro to open A for more bluesy stuff. Any of you folks play lap steel? Who do you recommend for learning online?20230328_201603.jpgelectar-inspired-by-1939-century-lap-steel-outfit-600-6-96239.jpg
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https://www.mcmakinmusic.com 
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#2
03-30-2023, 04:18 AM
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Yep, I've got a Supro Supreme Hawaiian 1400 from around the restart of production at the end of WWII. It lacks all the frills added later and has a captive, cloth-covered cable. It sounds something like a Tele. It is an ugly little spud, eh?
 Modern Gretsch G5715, a recreation of their 1950 5147 Mainliner  1941 Rickenbacher B6 "Panda"  I wrote reviews of those last two, by the way, HERE and HERE. I use open E (Rick), Em (Supro), and concert tuning (Gretsch). Ironically, I've never much gone for the Hawaiian sound. The E is for blues, the Em for minor key melodic work, and the E for major open work. I will admit that when I arrive at the studio and find any of those tunings hard to adapt to the material I'll freely tweak to make the job easier. Just lazy, I guess. Or, "time is money and money is time," thou knowest.  Be sure to join the Steel Guitar Forum, for all the best info, HERE. Bob
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"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website)
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#3
03-30-2023, 06:55 AM
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I've had a NIOMA for more years than I can remember. I bought it at a yard sale for $15.00.
It hung on the wall for years with heavy, crusty strings. One day I put on a new set and plugged it into my Tweed Deluxe. OMG! What incredible tone. At the first gig people ran to hear it. Second gig? Same thing. I tune it to open E. Our singer loves the sound.
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#4
03-30-2023, 08:12 AM
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Lap steel can be a lot of fun. I made custom 6, 7, and 8 string laps for 5 years after my official retirement from a day job as a way of transitioning to "retirement".
My old website has instructional material for those wanting to build their own and is available at the Internet Archive. 
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