Practice steel recommendations?

Anthony Del Grosso · Post by **Anthony Del Grosso** » 19 Jan 2025 10:17 pm

I’m going on tour for 7 weeks and was wondering about buying something cheap to practice on. I was also thinking of just buying a lap steel so I can just work on my fingerpicking routine and practice permutations. Anybody have ideas on something small, portable and practical?
Thanks!

James P Mitchell · Post by **James P Mitchell** » 20 Jan 2025 9:33 am

If you don't have a good lap steel, it's probably worth buying one just anyway, and then you can through it in the van/bus/whatever with you. String spacing will be a bit different. I had one of those practice boards and I never liked that.

Mike Auman · Post by **Mike Auman** » 20 Jan 2025 12:20 pm

There are lap steel builders who will make you a custom order, with your choice of string spacing, scale length and number of strings. I've done business with Bob at Melbert Guitars, but I'm sure there are others. That wouldn't be quick, though, so it might not meet your need for your upcoming tour.

D Schubert · Post by **D Schubert** » 20 Jan 2025 12:44 pm

Yes, buy a new or vintage lap steel. I can almost guarantee you will find other tunings and other uses for it, besides a practice tool.

Jim Pollard · Post by **Jim Pollard** » 21 Jan 2025 5:30 am

I'm selling a mid 50's 6 string Supro in MOTS brown. Can ship from Texas. It'll do the job. Not to shoot myself in the foot here though, for practicing grips and picking in general an 8 string would be better if you can get it.

Jim Pollard · Post by **Jim Pollard** » 21 Jan 2025 9:45 am

Just blowing my foot clean off. Look at this.
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtop ... highlight=

Dan Ramage · Post by **Dan Ramage** » 22 Jan 2025 2:03 am

I started with a C6 6 string lapsteel and while it's not the same animal as pedal steel, I was instantly able to transfer over the physical pieces like grips, bar control, and palm muting. With the lap steel you have to do slants on the bar and while you don't do that on pedal steel, what you learn is getting the intonation right. My humble suggestion is get an entry level lap steel. I signed up on Lessons With Troy and his teaching style and his charts for the lessons really clicked with me. Currently going through his pedal steel basics and he presents a pedal steel in an approachable manner as well.

Stew Crookes · Post by **Stew Crookes** » 22 Jan 2025 7:18 am

These look great!

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com//viewtopic.php?t=340447

Anthony Del Grosso · Post by **Anthony Del Grosso** » 22 Jan 2025 8:07 am

Thanks for all the recommendations everybody!

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 22 Jan 2025 3:02 pm

There are currently over a dozen lap steels for sale on eBay for $100-$200, as well as a few on Amazon for under $200.