Lap Steel - The Steelocaster

Kay Das · Post by **Kay Das** » 16 Sep 2007 8:38 pm

This custom lap steel, a modernized design, the "Steelocaster",was excellently engineered for me by Bob Littleton of West Coast Steel Guitars to my specification. Some forumites had asked some while back for photographs of the design, and I have been tardy in getting them. Late is better than never, so here they are.

The Steelocaster sports custom 8-pole pick-ups (made by Jason Lollar), the distance to between the pole pieces was engineered to be the same as in a Stratocaster and the neck was broadened within reason for an acceptable string separation. There was no need for a whammy bar (Steel players do not whammy,whatever else they do!). All else is identical to a Strat.

The Steelocaster is a delight to play, very responsive with the three pick-ups, with a characteristic timbre that combines the fluidity of a lap steel with a Hank Marvin/Mark Knopfler tone. I tune it to A6th with an E on top.

The complete set of pics can be found at

http://gallery.mac.com/kaydas

Kay

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 16 Sep 2007 9:34 pm

Thats very cool Kay. I'll bet its a blast to play

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 17 Sep 2007 3:56 am

very nice. eight strings on a strat is formidable.
interesting o see a brass saddle. your reasons?
also, is this a lap style or standup?

Andy Zynda · Post by **Andy Zynda** » 17 Sep 2007 6:46 am

That thing looks awesone!
The big question, as asked above, standing up or sitting down? I did mine for standup.
http://webpages.charter.net/zmonkees/miscpics/

(sorry about the dragons head pic, dont know how that got in there....)

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Andrea Tazzini · Post by **Andrea Tazzini** » 17 Sep 2007 7:30 am

What a beautiful guitar!!!
Kay please, in which HSGA stuff can we hear it play ?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 17 Sep 2007 7:32 am

I call mine a "Lapstrat". Besides the "Redneck", I also installed a Hipshot Trilogy changer and a roller nut:

Keith Wells · Post by **Keith Wells** » 17 Sep 2007 10:59 am

Great looking Strat Kay.

I was blown away when I saw the bridge because I just designed one in brass that is quite similar in shape and function. Is it (the bridge) one piece or two?

Also, do you mind telling me what the nut material is? Looks like it might be bone in the pics.

As always, thanks for sharing.

David Wren · Post by **David Wren** » 17 Sep 2007 11:37 am

Wow, what a nice job! This is cool, I'm building myself an 8 string lap steel, using a 3/4 sized Telecastor body (home grown alder with walnut and brass fret board), and a True-tone pickup I had Jerry Wallace build for me. Since it is a "Telecastor Lap Steel" I call it The T-Slapper for short.

I'll post pix when I'm further along.... building in my "spare" time

.

Anyone out there thought of a "Les Paul" lap steel?.... seems the mahogany/maple body coupled with the humbuckers would give super sustain.

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 17 Sep 2007 12:09 pm

David Wren wrote:Wow, what a nice job! This is cool, I'm building myself an 8 string lap steel, using a 3/4 sized Telecastor body (home grown alder with walnut and brass fret board), and a True-tone pickup I had Jerry Wallace build for me. Since it is a "Telecastor Lap Steel" I call it The T-Slapper for short.

I'll post pix when I'm further along.... building in my "spare" time .

Anyone out there thought of a "Les Paul" lap steel?.... seems the mahogany/maple body coupled with the humbuckers would give super sustain.

I believe our Steinar has a Les Paul type of slide guitar.

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 17 Sep 2007 12:34 pm

This is a LP'ish single cut I've been working on.
Mahogany body and neck, 5/16 maple top, rosewood fretboard, MOP markers, thin low profile standard fret wire.

.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 17 Sep 2007 6:33 pm

Very nice looking rig Kay.

I've been using brass for bridges and nuts for quite a while. Usually get them chromed, like in an old frypan, but they look nice in natural brass, with a clear-coat to hold off the tarnish. I've used Corian for nuts, but not for a bridge. Corian isn't as hard as bone, but seems to work fine.

Kay Das · Post by **Kay Das** » 17 Sep 2007 10:02 pm

thanks for the comments (randy,andrea, andy, keith, erv,david,tom, bill and hopefully not forgetting anyone). erv, you have a fine steel guitar there; andy, your guitar joined at the hip is reminiscent of junior brown.

by the way, the luthier was bob littleton and the credit for the guitar should go to him. i called him tonight and left a message, he will be able to answer some of the more complex questions. let me give them a first try...

* SADDLE: a one piece brass, standard on West Coast guitars. i feel it gives a color balance with the fretted keyboard and away from too much "silverware". bill, your idea of coating it is good.

* BRIDGE: is one-piece bone. bob's standard guitars have a brass bridge. i do not know if there is a difference in tone one against the other. for steel, you might agree that too much brightness is unnecessary.

* SITTING/STANDING: i do prefer playing standing, the guitar sits horizontal comfortably on a keyboard stand.

* EIGHT STRINGS: yes, 8 strings on a strat was a challenge, bob fitted in two truss rods.another reason for the simple brass saddle.

* EXAMPLE TUNES (FOR ANDREA):
1. Stardust (this version on my website is my prefered version):
http://web.mac.com/kaydas/iWeb/kaydas/h ... 3A98F.html
2. Isle of Golden Dreams:
http://www.hsga.org/membersrecordings/K ... Dreams.mp3
3. Pua'mana:
http://www.hsga.org/membersrecordings/K ... uamana.mp3
4. Lei of Crimson:
http://www.hsga.org/membersrecordings/K ... rimson.mp3

Much aloha,

Kay

Dion Stephen · Post by **Dion Stephen** » 17 Sep 2007 10:07 pm

nice, very nice.

Andrea Tazzini · Post by **Andrea Tazzini** » 20 Sep 2007 1:32 am

thank you for sharing, Kay
unmistakable strato sound!!!
I like Pua'mana (what this word means?)

Kay Das · Post by **Kay Das** » 22 Sep 2007 11:16 am

ciao andrea,

"pua'mana" vuol dire "sea breeze".

visto che sei appassionato del suono dello stratocaster, devi anche visitare (se non ormai), questo sottoscritto sito dedicato al suono degli Shadows:

http://groups.msn.com/TheShadows-ForumItaliano

ben ascolto!

kay

Bob Littleton · Post by **Bob Littleton** » 22 Sep 2007 11:46 am

In response to Randy and Keith, I used brass for the bridge because I like the tone of brass. Brass is has been used for years to make trumpets, cymbals, bells, etc. The bridge shown is two piece held together with socket head screws from underneath.

Bob Littleton
West Coast Steel Guitar

Keith Wells · Post by **Keith Wells** » 22 Sep 2007 6:48 pm

Thanks for the response Bob.
Really nice workmanship on that Strat.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 8 Oct 2007 11:40 am

Wow it sounds as good as it looks (which is saying a lot).

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 9 Oct 2007 7:59 pm

What is the width of the neck at the nut ?
What is the string spacing ?

Jason Dumont · Post by **Jason Dumont** » 11 Oct 2007 6:06 pm

WOW! That is gorgeous!
I missed this thread. Man that is one finely crafted instrument. Its not until after you look at her a while you realize "hey that strat has 8 strings!" She's in great hands, that's for sure!
Nice axe Kay!

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 12 Oct 2007 11:21 am

All you need now is an 8-string Hipshot Trilogy to put in that big space behind the bridge. (It's made to fit a Stratocaster.) Then you will be able to retune to any of dozens of different tunings at the flick of a few levers.

Alternatively you could fit some palm levers and have the advantages of a pedal steel.

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