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Author Topic:  Show or Tell Us About Your Favorite Lap Steel or NP Console
C. E. Jackson


Post  Posted 1 Apr 2017 8:30 am    
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Periodically, I go through my collection, select a different lap steel, tune and play. However, I always go back to the one that is my favorite of all.

GIBSON EH-185 (v.1a) 7 STRING C.C. pu: c.1939


This model has a U-magnet pickup and non-slip grey-colored material spread on the back and neck that follows the outline of the back and neck, rather than being diamond-shaped as found on models shipped after the Fall of 1939. This steel was from the first batch of EH-185 steels, and a total of 7 of the 7 string model were shipped in 1939. It has a 22 1/2" scale, with adjustable pu, and fret markers at positions I grew up with. The "Hyblum" metal plate adds to beauty and stability of the instruments. Palm and finger harmonics are excellent at various positions. Overall string spacing at the nut is 2.0", which makes it easy to play various 3 string note positions on 2 or 3 frets. Upright tuners are my favorite, and of course I prefer control knobs on the same side. My favorite tuning is A6. In my opinion, the EH-185 models are the finest lap steels ever made by Gibson, although only an estimated 503 were made. Smile Smile Smile
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Last edited by C. E. Jackson on 16 Jun 2017 6:50 am; edited 3 times in total
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Larry Carlson


From:
My Computer
Post  Posted 1 Apr 2017 9:33 am    
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That, sir, is a very beautiful guitar......Whoa!

This is my 1939 Rickenbacher Silver Hawaiian.
The picture below is before I disassembled it. It had a few issues... Rolling Eyes
I bought it last year and did some work on it to get it playing again.
I just love this little guitar. I think these guitars look amazing and the sound is wonderful.
I have a few other guitars but like you I am usually grabbing this one because it is so enjoyable to play.
But mostly I think it is because it is the only thing in the house that is older than I am..... Mr. Green




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Rick Barnhart


From:
Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 1 Apr 2017 10:14 am    
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My favorite lapsteel is my cocobolo rosewood & birdeye maple P8 Deluxe built by the late, Tom Pettingill. Equipped with an 8 string horse shoe p/u built by Jason Lollar. I don't think I'll ever be able to top this one. (None of my own photos out did Tom's, either.)

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Former Member

 

Post  Posted 1 Apr 2017 10:18 am    
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My favorite!
--The golden mean.

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Ralph Czitrom

 

From:
Ringwood, New Jersey
Post  Posted 1 Apr 2017 10:41 am     My favorite lap steel
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Mine is a guitar Tom Pettingill built for me a couple of years ago. It's based on a 1938 Recording King Roy Smeck model. I can't disclose who made the pickup, but its related to Ron's...The guitar sounds as good as it looks.

I'm going to miss Tom....


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Rick Barnhart


From:
Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 1 Apr 2017 10:53 am    
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Congratulations on that transplant, Ralph. That guitar has always been one of my favorites.
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Clinesmith consoles D-8/6 5 pedal, D-8 3 pedal & A25 Frypan, Pettingill Teardrop, & P8 Deluxe.
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Stephen Abruzzo

 

From:
Philly, PA
Post  Posted 1 Apr 2017 11:26 am    
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Geez......Pettingill Frying Pan Special-001. Silky smooth to "rude with an attitude".

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=165014&highlight=fps001
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David Ball


From:
North Carolina High Country
Post  Posted 1 Apr 2017 1:27 pm    
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Here's mine--I have several that I love, but this one is the top of my list.


Todds guitars are amazing.

Dave
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Frank Macauda

 

From:
Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 1 Apr 2017 1:36 pm    
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'39 Recording King Roy Smeck. Long live Smeck!
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Cartwright Thompson


Post  Posted 1 Apr 2017 4:06 pm    
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It is impossible for me to pick a favorite. Long live Roy!
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Cartwright Thompson


Post  Posted 1 Apr 2017 4:07 pm    
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Sure are a lot of Clinesmiths....
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David Ball


From:
North Carolina High Country
Post  Posted 1 Apr 2017 4:28 pm    
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My cast aluminum/horseshoe Clinesmith is a close second in my lineup. Hard to pick between those two.

Dave
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Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 1 Apr 2017 5:02 pm    
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Cartwright Thompson wrote:
Sure are a lot of Clinesmiths....


Of course there are!



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Tim Heidner

 

From:
Groves, TX
Post  Posted 1 Apr 2017 5:07 pm    
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Here's my baby, Lap King Rodeo. Can't find a thing wrong with it. The only thing that sucks about it is the guy playing it.

I would like to try one of those Clinesmiths, though. Just because.

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Tony Lombardo


From:
Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 2 Apr 2017 2:10 am    
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These are pictures of my one and only lap steel. It's an all maple S-8 made by J.R. Burns complete with a Potbelly pickup by Rick Aiello.



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Terry VunCannon


From:
Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
Post  Posted 2 Apr 2017 6:53 am    
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While picking a fave of my laps is hard, here lately I have been playing my new build, the V-MUSE Model One. It is solid Mahogany in a fry pan shape, a custom P90, Grover tuners, and a 23 inch scale.








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Brooks Montgomery


From:
Idaho, USA
Post  Posted 2 Apr 2017 7:42 am    
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1939 Slingerland still has original hard-wired cord. Solid heavy maple--Sounds amazing in A6. I wonder what they did back then to make the pickup sound so good?


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Johnie King


From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 2 Apr 2017 10:28 am    
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Nice Terry
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Johnie King


From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 2 Apr 2017 10:44 am    
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Very cool Tony

Last edited by Johnie King on 2 Apr 2017 10:51 am; edited 3 times in total
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Johnie King


From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 2 Apr 2017 10:47 am    
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Johnie King wrote:

one of my favorite builds sold to new friend in California
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Larry Lenhart


From:
Ponca City, Oklahoma
Post  Posted 2 Apr 2017 8:17 pm    
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Tony, that is a great looking steel...reminds me of an old Bigsby 6 string guitar !
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Michael Hogan


Post  Posted 3 Apr 2017 1:18 am     So hard to choose a favorite!
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Possibly not my favourite but for rarity it is.
Only 25 made in 1956. BR6V2B




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Michael Hogan


Post  Posted 3 Apr 2017 1:52 am     How many variants were there of the EH185
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Hi CE, I have three different variants of the EH185.

First with a ES300 diagonal pickup.

Then one with a Charlie Christian with a tapered metal plate thin at the base and tapering progressively thicker up the neck.

The last with a CC pickup and a metal plate that is one thickness.

This was probably done to stop the headstocks breaking off. I have two 185 headstocks that I purchased for the Gibson logos. I think neck breaks may have been a common problem.












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Tony Lombardo


From:
Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 3 Apr 2017 2:02 am    
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Thanks Johnie and Larry. I'm glad you like her. I look the way she looks. I just wish I played better. She deserves that.
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Mark Nason


From:
Maine, USA
Post  Posted 3 Apr 2017 5:04 am    
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Johnie,

I had seen that model on your page for sale. I love the look...very Jetsons!
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