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Topic: Acoustic steel guitar? |
Robert Murphy
From:
West Virginia
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Posted 5 Dec 2022 2:27 pm |
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| Have acoustic lap steels fallen out of favor. When I started my steel journey 20 years ago I was thrilled to fine an Ohau student model and played at open mics often. Now I have a GFI and a Clinesmith. They don't come up for sale often and go begging for bargain prices. Your thoughts? |
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Noah Miller
From:
Rocky Hill, CT
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Posted 5 Dec 2022 3:13 pm
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| With the exception of bluegrass-style Dobro, they've definitely been on a downswing since about 1935. Just more for the rest of us. |
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Chase Brady
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2022 6:22 am
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| There are plenty of Weissenborns being made, but the sort of guitar bodied flattop squarenecks that Oahu used to make have become rare. I have one made by James Adams that I'm very happy with. I'm sure there are many small shop luthiers that would be happy to make one on a custom order. Gold Tone used to offer one in the $500 range that was well worth it, but was discontinued. It seems that most of the manufacturers believe people want Weissenborns. In my limited experience, hollownecks sound sweet, but tend to lack the volume and punch of guitar shaped designs. It would be nice to have more alternatives. |
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Tim Toberer
From:
Nebraska, USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2022 10:26 am
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This is the GoldTone. There is a nice little video attached. This is the kind of thing I have been thinking about too. I am gonna keep my eye to for a cheap 12 fret round neck to convert. I have an old (Harmony) Stella 12 string I may raise the nut on. It has a very stout neck so I think it should hold up pretty well. Could do 7 strings on a guitar like this as well. 2" wide at the nut.
https://www.instrumentalley.com/Gold-Tone-PBKG-Paul-Beard-Squareneck-Guitar-p/pbkg.htm |
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D Schubert
From:
Columbia, MO, USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2022 1:02 pm
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I've got one of these with a Fishman Neo pickup installed. My first square neck. Sounds good in D or lo-bass G tuning. Not built durably enough to hold hi-bass G without significantly bellying the top. Without the pickup, not very loud and a little bit thin.....
https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=oahu%20square%20neck
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GFI Expo S-10PE, Sho-Bud 6139, Fender 2x8 Stringmaster, Supro consoles, Dobro. And more. |
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Tony Oresteen
From:
Georgia, USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2022 7:05 pm
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I would just find a 000 size acoustic and raise the nut. They will have modern bracing & adjustable steel rods in the necks.
You might not like the curve of the bridge but any luthier could make a straight saddle as well.
The neck most likely will join the body at the 14th fret.
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Tony
Newnan, GA
Too many guitars, not enough time to play
'72 Sho-Bud 6139, '71 Marlen 210
'78 Fender Stringmaster T8 black
PedalMaster D8 |
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Joe Burke
From:
Toronto, Canada
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Posted 7 Dec 2022 9:35 am
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I too have been thinking about acoustic lap steels. I came across this video with Mary Flower on a Gibson (non resonator) Squareneck. Does she ever sound great!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UURpSRU6G9U |
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Jeff Highland
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 7 Dec 2022 11:41 am
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Check out Harry Manx, beside the Mohan Veena his regular lap guitar appears to be a Martin Dreadnought, without a nut riser, he even uses a regular Capo on it.
_________________
Duesenberg Fairytale
1949 Supro Supreme
1950 National New Yorker
2008 Highland Baritone Weissenborn
2020 Highland New Yorker.
2020 Highland Mohan Veena
2021 Highland Weissencone |
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Tim Toberer
From:
Nebraska, USA
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Posted 9 Dec 2022 7:21 am
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| Joe Burke wrote: |
I too have been thinking about acoustic lap steels. I came across this video with Mary Flower on a Gibson (non resonator) Squareneck. Does she ever sound great!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UURpSRU6G9U |
Thats an interesting guitar, kind of looks like a lg. The standard guitar looks like a Fraulini. Great video! |
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Tony Oresteen
From:
Georgia, USA
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Posted 9 Dec 2022 8:47 am
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One issue is most acoustic guitars are 25.5" scale. A bit long for most steel players. Look for a 24.0" scale 000 size acoustic, might take awhile to find one. 24.75" scale are easier to find but a 24.0" would be better.
My 1936 May Bell acoustic is a 24" scale and it is easy to play.
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Tony
Newnan, GA
Too many guitars, not enough time to play
'72 Sho-Bud 6139, '71 Marlen 210
'78 Fender Stringmaster T8 black
PedalMaster D8 |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 9 Dec 2022 8:49 am
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I played an Oahu square neck (one of the fancier teacher's models) for a while in a four piece band, but could never get a good balance between it and the saxophonist. I switched to a tricone and voila!
Then we added drums and electric guitar and it was back to lap steel. I liked the sound of the acoustic steel either with another acoustic guitar or by itself.
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Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Tony Oresteen
From:
Georgia, USA
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Posted 9 Dec 2022 11:34 am
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Brad,
When I had my May Bell neck reset in 2004 (it needed a reset since 1968  ), I had a K & K passive pickup installed. Now I didn't have to deal with miking it and got my own instrument channel in the PA. Now the guitar could be heard when the sax player was making noise .
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Tony
Newnan, GA
Too many guitars, not enough time to play
'72 Sho-Bud 6139, '71 Marlen 210
'78 Fender Stringmaster T8 black
PedalMaster D8 |
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Larry Allen
From:
Kapaa, Kauai,Hawaii
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Posted 9 Dec 2022 12:04 pm Weissenborn
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In the early 1990’s John Pearse had all 4 styles made in Italy..when they got to the USA the majority came apart (bad glue). I bought 5 for cheap and restored them.. I kept this Style 4 for myself, converted it to 7 string, made the Ebony bridge and fingerboard, abalone trim and a Fishman under saddle pickup..turned out to be a great player with beautiful tone.. still playing it weekly here in Hawaii..Larry 
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Excel steels & Peavey amps,Old Chevys & Motorcycles & Women on the Trashy Side |
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Tony Oresteen
From:
Georgia, USA
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Posted 9 Dec 2022 3:16 pm
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That is one gorgeous guitar!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What scale is it?
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Tony
Newnan, GA
Too many guitars, not enough time to play
'72 Sho-Bud 6139, '71 Marlen 210
'78 Fender Stringmaster T8 black
PedalMaster D8 |
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Larry Allen
From:
Kapaa, Kauai,Hawaii
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Posted 9 Dec 2022 3:24 pm
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Mahalo… 24.5”. Same as my Excels..my Dobros are all 25” 
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Excel steels & Peavey amps,Old Chevys & Motorcycles & Women on the Trashy Side |
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Miles Lang
From:
Venturaloha
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Posted 9 Dec 2022 8:57 pm
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I found this solid top mahogany Luna around 2018. I put a K&K pickup in and I’ve made several records with it. I don’t think I have $500 in it, even with the modifications. It’s a great instrument.
Here’s a little garage recording I did with it (mix of pickup and mic). It ended up on the next album https://youtu.be/CeVX7NA3Xac
_________________
Santo Fan Club - from the island of Coney to the sands of Rockaway
Jill Martini & The Shrunken Heads
All aloha, all the time |
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K Maul
From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
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Posted 10 Dec 2022 5:41 am
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| Miles Lang wrote: |
I found this solid top mahogany Luna around 2018. I put a K&K pickup in and I’ve made several records with it.
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Would that be the three disc type K+K that goes on the sound board? Not an under-saddle type?
_________________
Kevin Maul: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Decophonic, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 10 Dec 2022 6:23 am
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I love acoustic steel guitar! Here's my version of "On Green Dolphin Street" in Open D on my Asher deep-body Hawaiian. Overall, it has a more guitar-like sound than a typical weissenborn sound.
http://sndup.net/dq92
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Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Tim Toberer
From:
Nebraska, USA
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Posted 10 Dec 2022 6:37 am
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For years I was obsessed with finding a nice 12 fret short scale regular guitar. I am amazed how difficult it is. There are plenty of options if the budget is over $2000, but I am usually looking in the cheaper range. There are a number of Smeck reproductions Iris, Bourgious, Santa Cruz or Gibson etc. Anything Martin influenced is going to be longer scale for the most part. I would love to find an affordable 000 or dread sized 12 fret with a short scale. There are obviously quite a few parlor guitars that would probably work with nut and saddle raises. String tension would be a concern, especially on an expensive guitar. Weissenborns are cool, but not my thing.
This one looks interesting and doesn't break the bank, it is a 00 size 24 3/4" scale and looks like a great guitar for the money. I would be a little nervous setting it up in high A bass tuning! https://guildguitars.com/g/p-240-memoir-natural/ |
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Robert Murphy
From:
West Virginia
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Posted 10 Dec 2022 6:51 am
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My present axe. It has more volume than any of my sound hole models.
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Miles Lang
From:
Venturaloha
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Posted 10 Dec 2022 9:13 am
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| K Maul wrote: |
| Miles Lang wrote: |
I found this solid top mahogany Luna around 2018. I put a K&K pickup in and I’ve made several records with it.
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Would that be the three disc type K+K that goes on the sound board? Not an under-saddle type? |
I can’t remember if they are two discs or three discs, but yes, not the under saddle type. Way too bright - I wanted to hear more wood
_________________
Santo Fan Club - from the island of Coney to the sands of Rockaway
Jill Martini & The Shrunken Heads
All aloha, all the time |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 10 Dec 2022 9:23 am
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Cool guitar, Robert. I've never seen that model/maker.
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Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Tony Oresteen
From:
Georgia, USA
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Posted 10 Dec 2022 6:16 pm
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| Miles Lang wrote: |
......
Here’s a little garage recording I did with it (mix of pickup and mic). It ended up on the next album https://youtu.be/CeVX7NA3Xac
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That is a nice recording Miles!! I like it!
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Tony
Newnan, GA
Too many guitars, not enough time to play
'72 Sho-Bud 6139, '71 Marlen 210
'78 Fender Stringmaster T8 black
PedalMaster D8 |
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Tony Oresteen
From:
Georgia, USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2022 9:14 pm
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| Tim Toberer wrote: |
.....
This one looks interesting and doesn't break the bank, it is a 00 size 24 3/4" scale and looks like a great guitar for the money. I would be a little nervous setting it up in high A bass tuning! https://guildguitars.com/g/p-240-memoir-natural/ |
Sure it can handle high A bass tuning. Just get a proper set of strings for it. Modern acoustic guitars (6 string) with truss rods can easily hold 160 to 180 pounds of total pull.
Tuning:
Note...Octave
1 E....4
2 C#..4
3 A....3
4 E....3
5 C#..3
6 A....2
With a scale length of 24.75", string sizes needed are 0.013, 0.016, 0.021w, 0.028w, 0.034w, and 0.044w. Total pull on the neck is about 168.14lbs.
You are right if you have a set of strings gauged for a G tuning then tune each string up a whole step, that might be hard on the neck.
That Guild is interesting. Looks like you could flip the tuners to the other side and the buttons would be pointing up for easier tuning
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Tony
Newnan, GA
Too many guitars, not enough time to play
'72 Sho-Bud 6139, '71 Marlen 210
'78 Fender Stringmaster T8 black
PedalMaster D8 |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 13 Dec 2022 6:16 am
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I have had an urge to play an acoustic instrument again. I would want something with a big pianistic sound and at least 7 strings, probably 8. The music I am working on now would sound grand on an acoustic instrument. But I have gotten used to playing an instrument on a stand and don’t think I want to get into adjusting my playing posture just for that. Also, some of the techniques are demanding and I think that the stability of playing on the lap could affect that negatively.
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http://www.steelinstruction.com/
http://mikeneer.com |
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