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Post new topic Budget Options for 8 String Lap/Console steel
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Author Topic:  Budget Options for 8 String Lap/Console steel
John Larson


From:
Pennsyltucky, USA
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2021 6:48 am    
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There are several budget options for 6 string lap steels out there but it seems there is a drought for sub $500 new 8 string lap/console steels. The reason is probably down to import 6 string hardware being dirt cheap due to the spanish style electric guitar market being wide open.
Any recommends for a budget 8 string lap steel?
I really like the look of the Gold Tone Oahu clone but its a little past my budget.
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Nic Neufeld


From:
Kansas City, Missouri
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2021 7:01 am    
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Going to do my usual and say, SX 8 string. Comes with cheap but usable legs, a nice gigbag, and fairly good features (medium/long scale...correct non-adjustable style bridge).

The only thing I chose to change about it is the pickup...didn't like the 60 cycle hum and had string balance issues. Put in a Lace Alumitone bass bar which dropped right in, solved both of those issues, and sounds great.
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John Burton


From:
Manassas, Va
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2021 10:23 am    
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Morrell makes a few. The Maple is pretty good. I have a six string maple from them that I like. I have one of their 8 string poplar ones that is ok. The lipstick tube style pickup they used to use was terrible; I suspect the new 8 string pickups they are using is probably not great, but any stringmaster pickup will drop right in.
That's what I did with my 8 string Morrell; replaced the pick up with a Seymour Duncan antiquity pick up and it sounds really nice now.
The only downside to the eight string Morrell is the strings are a little close together.

The other option for an 8 string is one of the kits from Hudson Steel guitars. They look awesome!!! I'd get one but I mainly stick with six strings and I already have a Dynalap 8 string which is fine for me.

Morrell:
https://www.morrellmusic.com/collections/lap-steels/products/joe-morrell-usa-pro-series-8-string-maple-body-lap-steel-guitar-natural-finish

Hudson:
https://hudsonsteelguitars.com/shop/ols/products/string-master-style-8-string-lap-steel-kit
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Joe Cook


From:
Lake Osoyoos, WA
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2021 3:09 pm    
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I would agree with John Burton about the Hudson kits if your handy with a soldering iron. I have one of his Stringmaster kits and I put Jerry Sentell pickups in it. It sounds great and came together for about $500. There are also some excellent builders here on the forum who could help you. I have the SX eight string as well and it's not a bad guitar. Best of luck Smile
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Allan Revich


From:
Victoria, BC
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2021 4:21 pm    
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There’s a used Vorson on Reverb at the moment, and a couple of new Morrells.

https://reverb.com/item/44144035-8-string-lap-steel-by-vorson-minty

https://reverb.com/item/44143352-morrell-usa-pro-8-8-string-lap-steel-guitar-gloss-natural-finish

Well within your budget.
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G Strout


From:
Carabelle, Florida
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2021 4:31 pm    
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Melbert has an 8 string.... brand new top quality 489.00
Handmade in Tennessee. George L's pickup

https://www.melbertguitars.com/
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Karl Paulsen

 

From:
Chicago
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2021 4:45 pm    
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Another vote for Melbert.

Beautiful wood, nice sounds from a real steel pickup and made right here in the USA by a good dude!

I bought a "blem" from the maker Bob Allen and it is easily worth $500. As you can see from my review I was hard pressed to nitpick it.
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=321357&highlight=melbert

If you've got $500 for an 8 string it really seems like the obvious choice to me.
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Last edited by Karl Paulsen on 17 Sep 2021 9:15 am; edited 1 time in total
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Paul DiMaggio

 

From:
Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2021 5:43 pm    
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Me three for the Melbert. Good wood , good pickup and good guy making them!
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Stephen Cowell


From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 16 Sep 2021 8:34 am    
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-1 on the Morrell... I will say the piece of wood is nice... everything else on it has issues. Cannot recommend.
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Nic Neufeld


From:
Kansas City, Missouri
Post  Posted 16 Sep 2021 9:18 am    
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I had a cheap Morrell as my first steel...the scale length was 20"!!! That is much, much too short IMO.

I think their 8 string is at least the normal "short scale", eg 22.5:
https://www.morrellmusic.com/collections/lap-steels/products/joe-morrell-usa-pro-series-8-string-maple-body-lap-steel-guitar-natural-finish

That said, they advertise that the pickup is a Kent Armstrong "Stinger 7", a pickup designed for 7 string guitars. It's epoxy filled but they refer to "alnico magnets", plural, in the copy, so I wonder...is that a 7 string pickup with individual polepieces, and the polepieces are just between each of the 8 strings? Seems sure to have string balance issues (outer strings adjacent to one polepiece, inner strings adjacent to two polepieces). If its a rail, and its long enough, might be fine.
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David Becker

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 16 Sep 2021 11:09 am    
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Yet another vote for Melbert. High quality build, great sound, and as others have said, a terrific guy.
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John Burton


From:
Manassas, Va
Post  Posted 16 Sep 2021 7:37 pm    
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Nic Neufeld wrote:
I had a cheap Morrell as my first steel...the scale length was 20"!!! That is much, much too short IMO.

That said, they advertise that the pickup is a Kent Armstrong "Stinger 7", a pickup designed for 7 string guitars. It's epoxy filled but they refer to "alnico magnets", plural, in the copy, so I wonder...is that a 7 string pickup with individual polepieces, and the polepieces are just between each of the 8 strings? Seems sure to have string balance issues (outer strings adjacent to one polepiece, inner strings adjacent to two polepieces). If its a rail, and its long enough, might be fine.


Both my Morrells are weirdly 22.75" scale or just under 23" scale. Kinda wonder why they didn't just go 22.5" like most manufacturers. True, their most affordable model (I don't think they make them any more) was a real short scale like a Rogue.
The pickup in their six string "pro" is really good, IMO. The old lipstick tube they used to have in the eight string was indeed designed for a 7 string, which did indeed make strings 1 and 8 too low in volume.
The stringmaster pickup I put in mine has poles and they are wider spaced then the strings. Like I said, the Morrell 8 string has narrow string spacing. But, still the stringmaster pickup works great in it. Sounds balanced. You really can't hear that the strings aren't lined up with the pole magnets at all.
I could easily recommend a maple Morrell 6....but the 8...ummm... not so much. I do like mine, but I just eventually got used to the spacing and I like the sound of the new pickup.
Once you factor in the price of a pickup swap...the morrell may not be such a good deal.
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David Irving

 

From:
South Australia, Australia
Post  Posted 16 Sep 2021 8:02 pm    
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I also have an 8 string Morell with a 7 string pickup, and the top string sounds a little weak.(The bottom one isn't so bad.)

It's a nice instrument aside from that.
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Mike Auman


From:
North Texas, USA
Post  Posted 18 Sep 2021 6:32 am    
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There's a used Melbert 8 currently posted in "For Sale: Steel Guitars."
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Karl Paulsen

 

From:
Chicago
Post  Posted 20 Sep 2021 11:56 am    
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Mike Auman wrote:
There's a used Melbert 8 currently posted in "For Sale: Steel Guitars."

That's an interesting choice. If you wanted a Fender style single coil sound it's certainly a good option that would save nearly a hundred bucks and get you a case. Rio Grande makes great pickups.

Personally, I'd happily pay the difference for a new one with my choice of wood, a George L pickup and a heavier Bridge.
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Mike Christensen

 

From:
Cook Minnesota
Post  Posted 20 Sep 2021 5:26 pm    
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Another vote for Melbert. Tuners work well,George L's pickup is real fine,string spacing is good,(for me) no gripes at all. Nothing to fix. Just play it. Happy Trails
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Tommy Martin Young


From:
Sacramento-California, USA
Post  Posted 22 Sep 2021 3:22 pm    
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$149.99

definitely best price I've seen for an 8-string

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/In-Store-Used/Used-Joe-Morrell-Joe-Morrell-Pro-Red-Sparkle-Lap-Steel.gc
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Robert Barleen


From:
Iowa, USA
Post  Posted 31 Oct 2021 8:03 am    
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I'm with the SX8 group. Im gigging with one and have had zero issues with it. (The 60 cycle p-90 hum adds to it's nostalgic charm. 😆) You can't go wrong for the price, considering everything that comes with it.

I'd advise losing the stock strings as soon as possible and putting on a balanced tension set, set up for your favorite key. I found that an Ernie Ball E9 PSG set fits perfectly to my C6/Am7 tuning (a,c,e,g,a,c,e,g) and gives the the tone a nice happy kick in the nards. Once you're comfy with it, move up to a Melbert or a Hudson kit if you'd like something more of a Fender Deluxe or a SM feel.(That's my next step in the works. I'm working with Jimmie Hudson on a custom D8 SM kit.)
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-1959 Fender 1000 D8 Custom Console
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-Marshall CODE-100 Combo Amp w/Marshall MX212 Extension Cabinet
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