Vorson LT-230-8 TR

[Tony Oresteen]

I was on a road trip to Amarillo TX and stumbled upon a Vorson LT-230-8 TR (Transparent Red) 8 string lap steel in like new condition in Erwin's Pawn Shop. After some negotiations I walked out the door with it for $175 cash with the gig bag.

https://www.americanmusical.com/vorson- ... T2308-LIST

It has active electronics driven by a 9v battery and two extra EQ knobs.


Here's the tuning it has on it from low to high:

Bb Eb Ab Bb Eb G Bb Eb

Anyone know what this tuning is?

Anyone using a Vorson?

Thanks!

[Nic Neufeld]

Maybe you could make the case it was:
5 1 4 5 1 3 5 1

Like an Eb but with a fourth/11th?

Honestly it probably just was detuned whether by time or somebody goofing with it. If that Ab was actually a G and the whole thing was down by a half step it would be a sort of open E tuning (more likely than Eb I'd think)

[Tommy Martin Young]

The Ultimate Jazz/Folk Chord!(?) I initially saw it as DADGAD with an F#!

Looks way bizarre until I mapped it out by scale degree and you see that if you detune the 6th string from G# to G you get a good ol' fashion Open Eb chord (lo to high 51351351)
Nic for the win!!!

[Tony Oresteen]

Thanks all!

At first I thought it had been de-tuned but 6 of the strings were flat by just a little, 1 was a bit sharp. I guessed on the 6th string as it was in-between G & G#.

I'll go with Open Eb. Most likely the previous owner was playing with a horn section or a guitar player tuned down 1/2 step.

I did find Vorson's web site. It's in China and has the lap steel info as of 2016:

http://www.lanyao.com/English-website.htm


EDIT (Dec 17, 2022): Their site has changed. Here's the correct link:

http://www.lanyao.com/product/Guitar/LT-230-8.html


And the company owner playing one on You Tube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE2Y2SbWGPE