I Put Legs on it ...and they came off

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 17 Jan 2016 2:54 pm

This is the fourth double-coursed steel guitar I've built. "Double course" is what you find on mandolines, 12-string guitars, etc. A course is two strings either tuned in unison or in octaves. This particular console steel has C6 unison on the far neck, and C6 in octaves on the near neck. I first built this one 10 yrs. ago as a working prototype. This month I added an extra two pickups and legs. My first double-course steel I built about 40 yrs. ago.

For those of you who have ever fought shy about building your own steel guitar ...go ahead. What can you lose? It's just a box with pickups and strings stretched across it. The rest is cosmetic.

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 17 Jan 2016 3:27 pm

What's the story with the fret markers? They seem to be in unusual positions.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 18 Jan 2016 11:58 am

I rarely play open strings, and fret markers were originally designed for regular guitars, to show the subdominant and dominant positions for the open strings. My favourite key is Eb, so, to me, the third fret is the equivalent of an open string, and I moved the markers up three frets, as they seem more useful in that position. Of course, I have to be aware of it, because all my other steel guitars have markers in the traditional position.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 18 Jan 2016 12:02 pm

The switches are double-pole, double-throw, centre off. It's wired so that I can throw the pickups in or out of phase depending on their position.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 19 Jan 2016 3:22 pm

Well, those legs didn't last long. One of the sockets had a bad weld, so one of the legs fell off, and it won't stand up on two.

If I had welding equipment it would be a quick fix, but I don't, and my soldering iron doesn't heat the metal enough ...I tried.

So, off come the leg sockets, and it's a lap steel once again. I think I'll revert to an original plan, which was to install hinged wooden legs that fold into the body for transportation. They would set up much quicker anyway.

They say that necessity is the mother of invention.

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 20 Jan 2016 7:40 am

Awesome Alan.

I need some Legs for mine as I picked up some cheap legs that one is now broken.

Anyone have any spare legs for sale at a decent price?

Ron Simpson · Post by **Ron Simpson** » 20 Jan 2016 7:47 am

Check out keyboard stands at your favorite music store.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 20 Jan 2016 3:03 pm

... and old ironing boards.

Ron Simpson · Post by **Ron Simpson** » 21 Jan 2016 11:23 am

I was thinking more along this line.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Auray-KSC-2X-De ... Swu4BVjJ0e

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 21 Jan 2016 5:35 pm

Yes, I knew what you meant. I've used those before.

I've also used a music stand, with the upright part rotated through ninety degrees so that it's horizontal.
Of course, the best place is on a table, which is fine for home recording, where I use instruments most.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 21 Jan 2016 6:29 pm

there are several keyboard stands like this. i like these better than the X type stands.

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 26 Jan 2016 1:24 am

How about ripping off the folding legs from a standard square card table?

George Piburn · Post by **George Piburn** » 26 Jan 2016 8:02 am

For the amount of Duty I would envision you giving this unit .

JB Weld would repair that Socket plenty good enough to get a boat back to shore.

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 26 Jan 2016 9:39 am

Yeah I have a table stand. But I preferred the leg option for when I travel around. I was hoping that someone had some spare legs from a pedal steel or one of their many Lap Steel Guitars maybe as an extra.

Cause I found some online from sill music supply but the cost,postage and duty is ridiculous for brand new legs only.

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 26 Jan 2016 9:42 am

Without shipping or duty just the legs are $200 with sockets. Then I have to pay postage and duty on top.

A bit pricy for 3 legs

George Piburn · Post by **George Piburn** » 26 Jan 2016 11:02 am

Low Cost options for Stefan include

Broom/Mop Sticks

Paint Roller Extenders

Both easily found at a local home center - hardware shop.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 26 Jan 2016 11:50 am

The legs are the cheapest part. Try finding leg sockets and the connectors at a hardware store. I gave up looking.
But why use dowelling, which is difficult to attach to hinges? Square wooden stock is much more plentiful.
And why assume that they have to be completely removed, requiring time-consuming reassembly? In a console steel, there is plenty of room for retractable legs, either swivelling via dowelling and their associated holes, or via hinges.
Our ancestors didn't have access to tubular steel, so they were accustomed to wood. You never find old dining room tables with tubular legs.

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I Put Legs on it ...and they came off

I Put Legs on it ...and they came off

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