8-string Lap King "Bel Aire",- chrome beauty

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 20 Mar 2006 2:49 pm

Got some photos of an 8-string Lap King "Bel Aire" that some lucky player soon will receive. As most of you already know I own a 6-string Bel Aire, but this model really takes the instrument to a new level - chrome extravaganza and two Lollar "Stringmaster" pickups - yummie!
IMHO the Bel Aire has moved on from being a "cool novelty design" to oozing of serious class,- check it out:

Sigh.....

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com
Southern Moon Northern Lights

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 20 Mar 2006 2:51 pm

Wow. I'm... speechless.[This message was edited by Peter Jacobs on 20 March 2006 at 02:52 PM.]

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 20 Mar 2006 3:49 pm

Too Kewl for Skewl!

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Half-assed bottleneck and lap slide player. Full-assed Builder of resonator instruments.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 20 Mar 2006 3:54 pm

oh yeah.....!

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 20 Mar 2006 3:56 pm

Well, I'm never speechless....

I love the 1950's looks of these steels. This is especially "the cat's pajamas" and is just dying to play "Rock Around The Clock."

I'd roll up the cuffs of my dungarees (the original jeans) and comb my hair in a DA (duck's a$$), although today it would be a duckling's a$$...

That's the way to go Daddy-o....... [This message was edited by HowardR on 20 March 2006 at 04:00 PM.]

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 20 Mar 2006 3:59 pm

Very nice.

Even the output jack looks like an exhaust pipe from the 50's.

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association

Jon Zimmerman · Post by **Jon Zimmerman** » 20 Mar 2006 7:36 pm

What type of wood is the body made of, Steinar?
If you Google 'Jetsons' you may find the origin.. or is it the Orbit City Mall, where this body style would be very popular!

Matt Lange · Post by **Matt Lange** » 20 Mar 2006 8:48 pm

very cool looking. the pickups here are different from the ones on the Bel Aire on their website, i'd like to hear the difference. how much does this baby go for?

oh, and Steinar, what songs on your CD are you playing your Lap King?
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my music: www.myspace.com/mattlangemusic [This message was edited by Matt Lange on 20 March 2006 at 08:50 PM.]

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 20 Mar 2006 8:49 pm

Very cool looking rig.

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 21 Mar 2006 2:55 am

Jon - I don't know much about this, so we'll have to wait and see if Jason (the builder) joins in to give the details.

Matt - when I got my Bel Air I only had about 3 songs left to record, and the "Bel Air sound" and the tuning I have it in (D6 or D13) just didn't fit those songs, so unfortunately it's not featured on the CD... The only electric lap steel I use on the CD beside the Asher is the GeorgeBoards (on "Will the Wind...").

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com
Southern Moon Northern Lights

[This message was edited by Steinar Gregertsen on 21 March 2006 at 02:56 AM.]

Jason Dumont · Post by **Jason Dumont** » 21 Mar 2006 6:15 am

Hi folks, I see the cats out of the bag on the 8 string. I'm preparing to get the info on my site. Jon,The body is made of Korina (a blond African mahagony)of Gibson "Explorer" and "Flying V" fame and some of Gibson's steels.
It took me a while to settle on pick ups. I tried a bunch from different makers. Lollar hands down-I love them. The trickiest part was making the covers. I'm obviously going for the Stringmaster thang and I could not find a source for covers after 4 months of searching and I HAD to have chrome soooo... I had to make them myself. The customer is very anxious to get his hands on her so I won't have time to get MP3 samples but I have 3 others getting finished up and I'll be sure to get some up.

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 21 Mar 2006 9:48 am

Jason,
You really out did yourself on this one !!...Very slick indeed !!....I'm sure it sounds every bit as good as it look's ....Please get back to us with the other similar models that you have , as well as the pricing on them .....Thanks for a great looking instrument ....Korina is a GREAT sounding resonant wood !!....

........Jim

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 21 Mar 2006 10:31 am

gorgeous work.

Im speechless.

David Siegler · Post by **David Siegler** » 21 Mar 2006 1:08 pm

Great looking guitar! I think it's dying for some turn signals on the back edge

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 21 Mar 2006 1:55 pm

I wasn't aware that Jason had chrome covers f
or the Stringmaster pickups he builds.
I didn't read good enough, and see that the builder made his own.. great job.[This message was edited by Bill Creller on 21 March 2006 at 02:00 PM.]

Jason Dumont · Post by **Jason Dumont** » 21 Mar 2006 3:27 pm

Thanks everyone for the kind words, I really appreciate them.
James, I have been working on 8s since the first of the year. One order I'm working on now has three of the telescopic legs from Bobbe Seymour HOLY COW are they nice. If anyone is thinking about getting those legs, rest assured they are fantastic quality.
I also am finishing up on Flame Top Rodeo 8s
with the large, oval Lollar Gibson Grand Console pick up set at an angle like the Gibson EH185.
As far as pricing, I'll get that up on my site by the end of the week and you can also email me. I truly appreciate all of you taking the time to notice and comment on my work.

Mike Ruffin · Post by **Mike Ruffin** » 21 Mar 2006 3:41 pm

Great looking guitar, Jason. I'm loving my Rodeo!!

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 21 Mar 2006 4:39 pm

That's flat out bitchen!

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Mark

Wayne Cox · Post by **Wayne Cox** » 21 Mar 2006 8:29 pm

Well,everyone knows I like unusual steels that sound good. The way that one is put together, it couldn't sound bad! Great job;very creative!
~~W.C.~~

Loni Specter · Post by **Loni Specter** » 21 Mar 2006 9:41 pm

Great work, as usual! and he makes his own chrome metal covers? unreal!
Jason, you da' man.

Jason Dumont · Post by **Jason Dumont** » 22 Mar 2006 5:46 pm

Thanks Loni, right back at you.
For folks interested I got some pics and pricing on my site now.
I'm just finishing up the workshop "tour" material. I hope to have that up in all it's primitive glory very shortly.
www.lapking.com
[This message was edited by Jason Dumont on 22 March 2006 at 05:47 PM.]

Todd Weger · Post by **Todd Weger** » 23 Mar 2006 5:32 am

Doooooood... those are off the CHART! Your work looks like it's second to nobody, and Steiner makes 'em sound absolutely fantastic.

Beautiful.

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Todd James Weger --
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, A6, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Regal resonator (C6); 1938 Epiphone Electar (A6); assorted ukuleles; upright bass

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 23 Mar 2006 12:36 pm

That is a really nice looking guitar, Jason. Kudos. It would be nice if you could get a Charlie Christian pickup on that flame-top guitar.

Jason Dumont · Post by **Jason Dumont** » 23 Mar 2006 12:59 pm

Thanks Todd, that really made my day.
Mike, actually........I'm getting away from the Duncans totally, they are great pick ups but The Lollars are just so fantastic I'm switching. The Grande 8 is for sure on the 8 string Rodeo. I'm finish up on some now. The six I'm still deciding. I am leaning towards the Christian. Whatever I pick it's definately going to be a Lollar.