I have 2 proto's of my new KIT we plan to launch next year. Open Tuning .056-.042-.032-024-016-013 strings.
Like everyone else , too much free time so I built these two out to show folks what their Kit can look like with minimal effort possible.
These I used brush on minwax lacquer from Lowes.
On this adventure I am milling slots for the Sustain Monster Nut and Bridges 1/4" deep 3/16 thick Brass 3/4" tall.
Pre-measured , just a drop of glue and place the brass in their slots - whammo instant perfect set up.
No more rulers - tape measures - yard sticks.
These 2 are 23 scale, closer than I've ever gotten them before.
Once we launch the kits I will have 23 - 25 and 25.5 scales.
I left room behind the bridge to install your favorite wanger danger twanger pedals.
Lettuce know what you think of these, no big sales pitch, just show and tell.
Last edited by George Piburn on 17 Dec 2020 11:52 am, edited 2 times in total.
Hello George. Thanks for posting photos and comments on these steels. They are very nice looking
and should sell well. I believe my favorite is the black. The body design is great, the fretboard design
is great and I really like the strings anchoring through the body. If you have a recording on the black
one, I would sure like to hear it.
I don't know whether you have noticed the "TREASURE CHEST" recently, but is continues to have
great photos, historical steels, and great historical comments. Thanks for naming it.
Love the look and I'm jumping on the bandwagon as the black being the favorite between these two. I think the black fretboard on a darker wood stain would look very cool. Good chance I'll be in the market when these become available so I'll be watching.
Are you including pickups with the kits or options for those? Just curious.
Nice clean design! If you wrap the 1st and 6th strings backwards on those 2 tuner posts, you'd be pretty close to a straight pull on all 6 strings, which makes tuning more stable...
Long-time guitar player, now being cruelly mocked by a lap steel.
Mike Auman wrote:Nice clean design! If you wrap the 1st and 6th strings backwards on those 2 tuner posts, you'd be pretty close to a straight pull on all 6 strings, which makes tuning more stable...
how so? once the string is pulled up to pitch no matter the angle it is no more less "stable" tuning wise with a straight pull or an angled pull. the nut slot will have to be a bit deeper in order for the string to hold in the slot and not pop out. if you look at his nut slots, you will see this has been done. what goes on after the nut whether its straight pull or an angle....i dont think there is enough of a difference to matter in regards to tuning. i have worked on and built instruments for decades. i have never seen a guitar that had a tuning problem when the nut slot was cut correctly and lubed no matter the angles after the nut. also there is a good angle from the nut DOWNWARD to the machine head post. that adds sustain to the instrument to have that much angle. they look like very nice instrument btw.
George, is there a pocket/plate from the back or is there a removal control plate up top with hidden fastners? Hard to tell from the last picture if the plate has some thickness or if the design is lazered into the top of the body itself. Also, did you go with the poplar wood for the body like you talked about earlier? I like most of the guys like the black on black, but both are very nice.
Well time to get outside and blow some snow. Had our first pretty good storm in a couple of years yesterday. Have fun Kevin Glandon, Stu Schulman, and Jon Light, I know it came your way last night!
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, 1953 Alamo Lap steel, (a gift from the late Stu Schulman) Recording King Phil Leadbetter Dobro, Roland Cube, Roland Mobile Cube, Fender Champion 40
Wow I am overwhelmed fellas, thanks for so much positive feedback.
I needed to brew up a fresh espresso to write this speech.
CE; Thanks as always for you endless inspiration, I plan to made a video hopefully later today.
Peter; I am glad to make parts and now more kits for the extension of steel playing.
Phillip; My #1 Fan.
Joe; I've always likes that shape too.
Allan; Of course the New Yorker is is inspiration, I've made several structural improvements to these.
A Stronger head thicker than normal guitar heads,(.610 vs .500) Improves deflection by hundreds of percent.
Cliff; The Black Fretboard and overlay's are a new to me material, 2 part laser etch off and shape cut with 3M 468 1/32 thickness literally peel n stick. Those are to be sold separately so folks can do with their kits as you have already imagined - wood color and do so, Poplar Wood takes stain , tint and opaque coatings very nicely.
Don't forget , I only plan to sell unfinished Kits , my sanding and painting daze are far in the Mirror for my tired oldness.
I too like the black Best on these I used a pigment from StewMac for the color, mixed into the Minwax Lacquer, 3 brush on coats no sanding after, then 3-5 coats of clear over that , again no sanding. Of Course spraying would be best, I am showing how this can be done in your garage or work area with minimal tools.
About Pickups, we went with a Humbucking Pocket, the choices are endless. These have Kent Armstrong P90 in a humbucker body.
It is clearly up to the builder as to what final tone they desire.
Some choices we know about; Super clear Fender Like go with the Lindy Fralin Noiseless P90 / Alnico Magnet. Dom Franco found what seems like a great choice , a Seymore Duncan P90/Rail combo.
Steve; The KIT can come in levels of me doing the work, from RAW Nothing to Grooves cut, On these 2 pieces , I went with 3/8 on the nut, it is easy to go narrower. The Builder can make their own choices.
Mike; I thought about this, Down side = you would need to turn the button the opposite direction - I will address the string pull in my response to Bills comments.
Bill; I agree whole heartily The Low string is so near the nut that string is pretty much no energy in the little distance. On These I invested into the Gauged Nut Files From StewMac and did exactly as Bill says, filed the grooves down deep to the top of the strings basically level to the top of the brass sustain monster parts. The strings fit so tight I used my pencil to add a little graphite to help a tremendous lot. I don't groove Slot the bridge end, the builder can do as the please.
For me to create an angleback head on a cnc is more difficult than it is worth, what We suggest is the Danny Gatton trick of leaving enough string to wind all the way down to the bottom of the post to increase angle and sustain.
Mick; At this point I only have these programed in 6 String, I did do an 8 string version of the skyLiner my budget is focused on these for now, of course , my motto ; Add Money and Stir - Green Lubricant can make many things happen.
Bill; There is a back control pocket set up to take full sized pots- 1'4" thickness face wall for greatest strength - with a 1/8" thick cover plate. The FretBoard and overlays are a 1/32 thickness material we laser etch and shape cut then apply with the 3M468.
Jon; Thanks as usual.
Thanks again everyone , -- this is show and tell , so keep the commentary going and I am glad to answer what I can.
The Black SkyLiner is still sustaining from last night's playing some Jimi Hendrix WatchTower Licks - I will try for a video sample soon.
That black and white one is very pretty.
