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Topic: D6 steel on the cheap |
Scott Duckworth
From: Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 27 Sep 2016 1:22 pm
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Here my thoughts.... I already have a black Rogue RLS-1 lap steel (with legs). Thinking about buying another black one, modifying it like I did the first one. (Aluminum angle nut, line up bridge straight across, get rid of volume & tone controls). May also look at some upgraded tuners.
Now, how to make these into a D6 steel... would you:
1) use a black painted board to mount both steels side by side, with the "front" steel raised 1/2", attaching the Rogue leg sockets (4) to the bottom, and use the Rogue legs, and build a case for such, or,
2) use a keyboard stand with a carpeted board on top and just set the steels side by side on it.
Of course I plan to make up a switch box to switch between the steels.
And before you say "buy a better D6", I'm on a budget, and on SSD. _________________ Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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Steve Green
From: Gulfport, MS, USA
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Posted 27 Sep 2016 1:38 pm
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By the time you bought an additional Rogue, (plus a board, carpet backing, switch box, possibly keyboard stand), not to mention all the time you would invest - you could purchase one of these for $145 + free shipping. It's basically a Rogue anyway, with a different name on the headstock. A rose by any other name . . . . .
CLICK HERE for $145 Double Six lap steel for sale _________________ Some songs I've written |
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Jeff Mead
From: London, England
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Posted 27 Sep 2016 2:04 pm
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Looks like (at least) one of the bridges has been put in the wrong place. |
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Scott Duckworth
From: Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 27 Sep 2016 5:07 pm
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I've looked at some close ups of those, and the build quality is not as good as the Rogues. I've seen bridges off as well as pickups. And I understand the Rogue is not a class A steel. _________________ Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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William Rosen
From: Washington, USA
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Posted 27 Sep 2016 8:12 pm
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I've found one of these Cozart D6s to not be playable "as is" (strings are too low off the fretboard) but has potential after some fooling around with new nuts or nut risers, shimming up the bridges and pickups, new strings, etc. Sounds OK for what I paid for it. Cheap tuners seem to function fine. Nice paint finish, Only 20-1/2" scale.
Bill Rosen
Seattle |
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Stefan Robertson
From: Hertfordshire, UK
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Posted 27 Sep 2016 10:47 pm
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Work within your budget.
Calculate your totals for everything then decide if it's best to go this route.
As I know there are tons of cheap Chinese D6 I see all the time on the Bay. Usually in red. _________________ Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com
"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist" |
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Dom Franco
From: Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 28 Sep 2016 6:13 am
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If you are like me... I have tons of pickups, switches, pots, wires and all kinds of wood in my workshop. (I hate to throw anything away)
So it wouldn't cost me anything to combine the two rogues.
I would suggest you join the two, add wood filler where needed sand and paint etc. Finish it well! Spend extra time not money on the project.
I assume you have other steel guitars to play while doing the build.
It would be too bulky to play on your lap so the legs would be best option.
Just my opinion
Dom _________________ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYG9cvwCPKuXpGofziPNieA/feed?activity_view=3 |
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Larry Carlson
From: My Computer
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Posted 28 Sep 2016 6:29 am
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Scott Duckworth wrote: |
I've looked at some close ups of those, and the build quality is not as good as the Rogues. I've seen bridges off as well as pickups. And I understand the Rogue is not a class A steel. |
I'm going to stick my 2 cents in here and say I really like my little Rogue.
Like you, I made a new nut and bridge and I installed an old humbucker pickup I had laying around.
The tuners work just fine and it stays in tune.
It sounds very good now I and I like it.
I don't care if the "big boys" don't like them. It is perfectly serviceable and it got me going and excited about the lap steel.
I'll never get rid of it and it is always a joy to play.
So, what is better than one Rogue?
Well, it's two of them stuck together.
I say go for it.
I'd mount them side by side with a switch etc.
I'd probably set it on a keyboard stand to play since that's the way I play now and it would
alleviate messing with installing a new set of appropriate legs. _________________ I have stuff.
I try to make music with it.
Sometimes it works.
Sometimes it doesn't.
But I keep on trying. |
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Charlie McDonald
From: out of the blue
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Posted 28 Sep 2016 7:18 am
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Sounds like the keyboard stand would work as well; depending on the joinery (or lack of) between two bodies,
legs might not be as stable ultimately. I'd say do it. I like unique solutions. |
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Scott Duckworth
From: Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 28 Sep 2016 7:49 am
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Thanks for the comments and ideas.
What I plan to do is use a good quality blank of wood, sanded 4 sides, and sanded some more, to join the steels side be side be attaching them to the blank. The outline would follow the outer edges of the lap steels.
The "front" guitar will be raised 1/2" by being mounted to a 1/2" blank cut to the outline of the guitar, and sandwiched between the larger blank and guitar. (NOTE: if you think the 1/2" dimension is not correct, let me know.)
I have saws, sanders and routers,and my neighbor has a car shop and a good painter.
I plan to use automotive quality paint for the blank, along with a good clear coat.
The switch may actually be leg mounted, with a common jack to the volume pedal, and two pigtails going to the guitar outputs. _________________ Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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Bill Sinclair
From: Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 28 Sep 2016 7:57 am
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Hey Scott,
As much as I like the idea of you bolting a couple of Rogues together, I think I have a better solution. I've got one of these that I'm not using:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/on-stage-stands-platform-keyboard-stand
I think it would be much sturdier than the legs that come with a Rogue. You can have it for the price of shipping which will be about $25 from MD to TN. It weighs 16 lbs. but more like 20 when boxed. The top is 13 inches wide so you might not even need a carpeted board on top. Maybe you could devise some wingnut method (figuratively and literally)of strapping the two guitars together that could be easily undone so you still can use them as single necks. There are a couple of threads where this stand had been discussed and found to be a pretty good option. I've got a vintage Oahu tripod stand that I like using for single necks and my double neck has a set of legs so I don't really need this one anymore. Let me know. |
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Tom Pettingill
From: California, USA (deceased)
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Posted 28 Sep 2016 9:13 am
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Quote: |
I have saws, sanders and routers,and my neighbor has a car shop and a good painter. |
Maybe a different train of thought. Being that you have the tools and plan to do a lot of work modifying anyways, maybe think about just building a D6. You should be able to find some inexpensive poplar local for not a lot of coin. It is very easy and forgiving to work with and and easy to paint / finish. _________________ Some misc pics of my hand crafted steels
Follow me on Facebook here |
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George Piburn
From: The Land of Enchantment New Mexico
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Dom Franco
From: Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Scott Duckworth
From: Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 28 Sep 2016 10:03 am
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Thanks for the offer Bill, I have a stand similar to that. _________________ Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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Scott Duckworth
From: Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 28 Sep 2016 10:30 am
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I generally play older gospel ("Red Backed Hymnal" stuff) which resides in these keys... G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F.
Here's what I am thinking about for copedent. NOTE: I play a weird "6th" tuning...
What do you think...? _________________ Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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Dom Franco
From: Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 28 Sep 2016 10:51 am
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your two "different" tunings really only offer the same intervals at different frets.
May I humbly suggest you keep one of them and use the other neck to reach extended chords and those intervals not possible on the first neck.
The Leavitt tuning would be a great compliment to the 6th tuning.
Dom _________________ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYG9cvwCPKuXpGofziPNieA/feed?activity_view=3 |
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Jamie Mitchell
From: Nashville, TN
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Posted 29 Sep 2016 11:28 am
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Scott Duckworth wrote: |
I generally play older gospel ("Red Backed Hymnal" stuff) which resides in these keys... G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F.
Here's what I am thinking about for copedent. NOTE: I play a weird "6th" tuning...
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nothing weird about those tunings, just the spellings! |
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Scott Duckworth
From: Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 29 Sep 2016 11:46 am
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Thanks for the info Dom, I may look at that tuning some.
The 6th tunings I came up with (and by all means have probably be used before) lend themselves nicely to playing melody lines, and for doing just comping chords along with the band.
In looking at the two tunings I have in the chart, the E6 makes G, Ab, Bb and C keys appear centered on the steel.
The A6 makes C, Db, Eb and F appear centered on the steel.
These are keys that the "traditional" gospel songs are written in when using the "red backed church hymnal", Heavenly Highway Hymns, Mulls, and other convention books.
This keeps (IMHO) the playing in the optimum range, not getting into the "squeakiness" of the high range, nor getting into bar lifting when near the nut. _________________ Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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Dom Franco
From: Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Scott Duckworth
From: Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 29 Sep 2016 4:30 pm
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Dom, believe me, I'll have cheat notes on the necks for a little while! _________________ Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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