Artisan EA-2 - now with legs

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 31 Oct 2005 8:44 am

I've ordered one of the Artisan EA-2 steels from Musician's Friend. For under $80 including shipping, how can you go wrong? It won't be available until mid-December, but I can wait.

------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 31 Oct 2005 11:12 am

Brad,
Thanks for the heads up on this little gem !!

Gene,
Thanks for letting us all know that it's a playable and great sounding instrument !
Very nice song, and very nice playing !!

Bill Leff · Post by **Bill Leff** » 31 Oct 2005 11:12 am

Brad, I almost did the same. Then I realized I already have too many guitars, what am I going to do with another one?

Now for the all-important question:

WHAT COLOR?

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 31 Oct 2005 11:48 am

It was mentioned in another post that these have "ultra short" scale length..
How short is "ultra short"? Less than 22.5"?

Steinar

------------------
www.gregertsen.com

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 31 Oct 2005 3:16 pm

Gene,

I am getting one of these Artisans. What size bar do you recommend<

Mike Selecky · Post by **Mike Selecky** » 31 Oct 2005 3:28 pm

The scale length is 21" - you'll want to replace the strings that it comes with - they're basically gauged similar to a light set you'd use on a regular guitar, and as a result of the short scale, feel somewhat loose. As a guide, I'm using John Ely's recommendations http://www.hawaiiansteel.com/learning/gauges.html and increasing the gauges slightly for the tuning that I plan to use.[This message was edited by Mike Selecky on 31 October 2005 at 03:30 PM.]

Donald Ruetenik · Post by **Donald Ruetenik** » 31 Oct 2005 5:47 pm

You may want to replace those cheezy looking white knobs like I did on mine. I can't be sure if it helped the sound as it is one of the black ones.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 31 Oct 2005 7:05 pm

I had a show to play last Dec. where I had to play a Hawaiian tune. Bought one of the Artisan laps and it sounded just fine for the job. The only problem I had with it is the black plastic fretboard with the gold lines and markers is VERY hard to see under stage lighting. Don't know what you could do to improve it short of a new fretboard.

Edit. I was thinking about the very short scale on these and the hard to see in stage lighting board. Looks like there is room to move the nut back on these enough to install a 22.5 inch fretboard if you wanted. Anyone tried it?[This message was edited by Bill Hatcher on 01 November 2005 at 05:24 AM.]

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 1 Nov 2005 6:54 am

An irritation on these is the location of the jack. I drilled a hole between the knobs and moved the jack there. Now I need to find something decorative to put in the old hole...

------------------
Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum SD12U, Carter D10 8/8, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3, DD-3, Fender Steel King, Understanding wife. http://www.Charmedmusic.com

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 1 Nov 2005 9:28 am

Gene, I am getting one of these Artisans. What size bar do you recommend

I'm sure that I have used up my alloted number of posts on one thread, but I feel the need to answer this question anyway.

In recent years I have alternated using some of the popular large diameter bars because of the perceived extra sustain on the E9, but they were too heavy for the Artisan so I retrieved my 3.25" Sho-Bud bar that I had previously used for 25-30 years.

I hadn't realized the loss of dexterity I had with the large bars until I started using the small bar again. I am now enjoying again using the old Sho-Bud bar for playing my D-10.

------------------
<img width=100 src=http://genejones.bizland.com/index.1.jpg>
www.genejones.com

[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 01 November 2005 at 02:47 PM.]

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 4 Nov 2005 8:58 am

Brad, don't forget to give us your review and opinion of the Artisan after you've had time to check it out!

------------------
<img width=100 src=http://genejones.bizland.com/index.1.jpg>
www.genejones.com

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 4 Nov 2005 1:49 pm

Gene,
I was placing an order with Musicians Friend and if you get the order up to $100, they pay the shipping. Since the Artisan is now available with legs, they are closing out the older model for $59.99. I just couldn't resist!!
PS: I ordered the black one!

Erv

Donald Ruetenik · Post by **Donald Ruetenik** » 4 Nov 2005 5:28 pm

I expect any day now that Aiello will post a picture of himself holding up one with one of his pups installed. Of course, it will be a black one.

Chris Walke · Post by **Chris Walke** » 5 Nov 2005 9:13 am

I like the legs on that thing. There's actually a gauge for setting to the right height consistently. Nice.

Heck, the legs & mounts I bought to put on my melobar cost about as much as the whole artisan set.

Looks like the changed the pickup on this newer model. [This message was edited by Chris Walke on 05 November 2005 at 09:14 AM.]

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 5 Nov 2005 9:28 am

That would be putting lipstick on a pig, wouldn't it?

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 9 Nov 2005 9:51 am

Now Keith, one man's pig is another man's porkchop....and it might be even better with lipstick!

------------------
<img width=100 src=http://genejones.bizland.com/index.1.jpg>
www.genejones.com

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 9 Nov 2005 12:46 pm

Hehehe. I like a little pork in my diet...

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 2 Jan 2006 11:52 am

I finally received my EA-2 today after it being back ordered for months. It came well packed, with the legs in a separate bag. I wish the bags were somehow connected, but I think this is a good cost-saving compromise.

The three legs are made of thin metal, but feel sturdy when installed, and fit well into the recessed holes provided. I think they've upgraded the tuners as well - they seem much nicer than I remember on the EA-1. The connectors are tight and should last for a while. Because the leg holes are recessed, you can play this guitar on your lap like the EA-1 without discomfort.

The bottom part of the legs (the part that fits into the top) is numbered in inches up to 35. I like this feature, because you can set the legs to the same mark each time you set up.

My biggest problem is the legs aren't long enough to play while standing. I'm only 5'8" tall and with the legs fully extended, the guitar comes up to my crotch, so I have to lean over slightly to play. If you're playing while seated, the legs are arranged so they stay out of your way.

The bridge is an adjustable bridge, which I don't think I'll ever adjust. The nut is made of wood. If I had to upgrade it, it doesn't look like it would be a big deal.

The fretboard is black plastic with gold paint for the frets, and is screwed into the wooden body. The frets appear to be accurately placed. There are fret markers in Roman numerals at III, V, VII, IX, and XII, with the same markers repeating in the next octave (rather than XV, XX, etc.). The paint on the fretboard looks like it will come off easily, but I don't plan on fretting about it.

The tone and volume controls work as expected. The pickup is a generic black pickup. I don't have an amp here at work to plug it in, but I'll try to experiment with it when I take it home.

I put on a new set of GM Lap Steel strings (.018 to .056), tuned it to open D (bass to treble D A D F# A D), and played for a while. Even unplugged, this has a pretty good sound.

All in all this is a great deal for $80 (including shipping). It won't replace any of my other guitars, but it's a good one to have hanging around the office or in the bedroom, and if it gets damaged, I won't lose any sleep over it. I wish the legs were longer, but that's about my only complaint.

------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 9 Jan 2006 11:24 am

Thank you Brad for your critique of the Artisan.

As you know, it was never intended to be state of the art, just a stair-step in the progression to a real steel guitar. With legs, or withour legs, it is only an entry level non-pedal steel guitar.

------------------
<img width=125 src=http://us.st11.yimg.com/store1.yimg.com ... 76_6924874>
www.genejones.com

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 9 Jan 2006 1:59 pm

Absolutely right, Gene. I think having a truly inexpensive, decent quality lap steel guitar for beginners is going to cause the lap steel market to grow quite a bit. This is a great thing for the industry in my opinion.