The case is form fitted to the SX lap steel. No other type of lap steel will fit in that case (unless you carve your lap steel to match the dimensions of the SX lap steel).
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
I've placed a Dusenberg palm-lever bridge on the SX to see how it would fit. It would be a 10 minute job. I'll be fitting it over the weekend. I think I'll get another SX and put a Hipshot Trilogy on it.
Allen, I think four palm levers is the most I've ever seen.
How does the Trilogy work? What I would really like is a simple device that would change the pitch of one or two notes by 1/2 step either up or down by the flip of a lever or whatever, and keep it there until switched back. The Trilogy is probably overkill for what I want and I'm not interested in knee levers, etc. Are you aware of anything like this?
http://www.stewmac.com/cgi-bin/hazel.cg ... RRENCY=EUR
The Hipshot Trilogy does exactly what you want. It comes in 6 and 8-string versions, and you can change the tuning of any of the six strings to three predetermined pitches. It's very accurate. Unlike palm levers you couldn't use it like the pedals of a pedal steel.
You can't use a Trilogy and palm levers simultaneously. The design of the units includes the bridge, and, in any case, you couldn't properly set the Trilogy pretuning because the effect of the palm levers would vary depending on the tuning selected.
This is what the SX would look like with a Trilogy installed. Again, it's a 10 minute job. It's just placed there right now, so you have to imagine it about 1/2" lower. I didn't have a 6-string Trilogy available, so I posed an 8-string version. The 6-string version would obviously not be so wide.
This particular unit is black, which doesn't show up well on the photographs. You can also get them in chrome, and, I believe, gold to special order.
I loosened the screws to raise the stock pickup so that the base of the pickup is above the cavity. This lined up the strings and improved the sound.
Not sure if you are supposed to do this, but it works for me. I was going to put in another rail pickup, http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=300136
for $30, but I like this sound with the raised pickup.
The stock screws are long enough and the spring tension holds the pickup steady.
Is this okay to do or should I go for a lower bridge?
Mark- The Ducan Scorcher is quiet. Also Musician's Friend has a 15% off on accessories right now.
Thanks for your opinions,
Dave
I fitted the Dusenberg Multibender. It took longer than the 10 mins. I estimated. Most of the time was spent examining the way it worked and making sure I fitted it right. If I had to do another one I reckon on about 20 mins., most of which is changing the strings. It was very straightforward.
I tuned it to an open E chord. The first lever takes the 1st string up a tone, the second lever takes the 2nd string up a tone, the third lever takes the 3rd string up a semitone, and the fourth lever takes the 5th string down a tone. So, by depressing levers 2, 3 and 4 simultaneously you have an A chord. Pressing 1, 2 3 & 4 you have A6. To get B you just take the A chord 2 frets up. It's not so simple as using pedals, but you soon get used to it.
They don't detract any more than pushing pedals with the feet, except that you're using your fingers to pick the strings and your palm to push the levers, which takes some getting used to. Also, if you only want to push one of the levers in the center it can prove awkward. I only finished the job yesterday afternoon, so my playing time with this so far has been about half an hour. I'll be better able to answer your question in a week or two. But in the meantime I was able to play Broken Wings (the old Slim Whitman number) within a few minutes with no problem.
Yes, it does still fit in the case, and no, the levers don't come off. The whole unit is screwed down, and to remove the levers you would also have to remove the strings.
1 A White Sports Coat
2 Bad Moon Risen
3 Steel Guitar Rag
4 Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
5 Big Iron
6 Sentimental Journey
7 Crazy By Willie Nelson
Last edited by Jim Mitchell on 13 Feb 2008 7:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
I am trying to play a Harlin Brothers 1956 Multi Kord 6 String 4 Pedal Steel Guitar
and a RONDO lap
Retired from Boeing Helicopters in Ridley Park Pa.
we build the CH47
I worked there for a year back in the late 60's.
We were making the Boeing Vertol 107's and the big Chinooks. I worked on the final assembly line fitting the fiberglass clam shell doors around the front rotor housing on the 107's.
After a while they moved me down to Phila. Intl. on the test flight line. I quit because it was too far to drive from Reading every day.
All you guys sure know how to make me buy something. I am having enough trouble with Pedal E9 and Non Pedal E13, now I have a 6 string on the way here. I may be spending too much time reading all the Forum posts. But it sure is fun and informative. Keep it coming, I love it. .
I am trying to play a Harlin Brothers 1956 Multi Kord 6 String 4 Pedal Steel Guitar
and a RONDO lap
Retired from Boeing Helicopters in Ridley Park Pa.
we build the CH47
I did not order the Black, but that is what they are sending. The black color is OK as chips and dings are easier to touch up, and I will likely not keep it long anyway. I have owned 5 different Pedal Steels in the past 18 months. I am hoping the Rondo case will fit one of my 8 string Lap Steels.
I notice that the finished wood models are no longer in stock, only the blue and black-sprayed ones. I much prefer the finish of the varnished wood. My only concern is that when the next batch comes in they may put the price up given the high demand.
I paid $109 for the wood model I got last week so the price has already gone up 10 bucks. I'm actually surprised that the price hasn't jumped even higher yet because I've seen them on ebay selling for around $150.
Brad Bechtel wrote:If you do a search on "lap steel SX" on eBay, you'll see several currently up for auction through a seller based in Brisbane, Australia.
Yeah, I asked this guy "How big is the inside of the case, I'm considering using it for another guitar" and he went out of his way to let me know what a stupid question that was and how he (or any other seller) wouldn't waste the time to find out such a thing. Looking at his feedback later, it was apparent he was a high-volume, no customer service kind of dealer, so I suppose I shouldn't have taken it so personally. But it really rubbed me the wrong way. I wouldn't buy a used sheep from him.
It's just as well... I took one of the press photos of the guitar and blew it up to life size. Took it home, compared it to my Audiovox, and.... I don't think mine will fit in the case. Quelle surprise! The sticky part is the waist area - really tight there. Probably the deal-breaker for most shapes of steel.
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