Which Pickup For Rogue Lap Steel

[David Irving]

Hi, Bob.

I doubt if your noise problem has anything to do with the steel pickguard. I have one of these (see upthread), and have no noise problem. The only thing I can think of is that you haven't earthed the bridge, particularly as you have a humbucker.

Mine originally came with a humbucker, and has a coil tap switch built into the volume control. You might have to hunt a bit for a wiring diagram, though – I can't remember how it's all connected.

[Jack Hanson]

Question for those of you who have upgraded your Rogue lap steel(s):

In addition to the initial cost of the instrument, what was your total investment to bring your Rogue "up to snuff?"

[Bob Sykes]

Hi David, Problem solved with an ACME cardboard pickguard. Man this thing works great! I got Gobs 'O gain which is what I was looking for. And NO squealy feedback with serious amp O/D gain and volume. It's possible the ground wire was a factor. My experience is that a break in that wire gives rise to loads of 60cycle hum which can be reduced by touching the strings. The original pickup had very weak output and so did the S.D. humbucker with metal pickguard. I'll do some more experiments when I get the final wiring configuration in. I'm probably going with series/split/parallel wiring per installation instructions.

Edit to add: I put the original pickguard back on (with attention to grounding bridge) and the microphonic squealing is back as well as reduced pickup output. It's pretty and shiny but a flux-sucker in my opinion. Gotta go.

Hi Jack, I paid more for the pickup than the lap steel. Both bought new. With the George Boards kit added in I am very close to $200. The new pickguard was free with an Amazon order


I am looking at some non-ferrous pick guards at wdmusic. Cheap ones are $20+$10 S&H.... then there's those pesky cheap tuners that are starting to bug me

[Lloyd Graves]

Question for those of you who have upgraded your Rogue lap steel(s):

In addition to the initial cost of the instrument, what was your total investment to bring your Rogue "up to snuff?"

I bought my Rogue for $50 (shipping included), and I've only added the GeorgeBoards fretboard modification. But I only use it when traveling it at night when I cannot sleep - unamplified. If I was going to actually amplify and play it regularly, I would get new tuners and a new pickup. Or go out and buy a steel that speaks to me.

[Joe A. Roberts]

I saw this about an hour ago on my phone, and for a sec I was admiring that nice stripey grain on the wood pickguard - "a nice dark piece of maple? or maybe red cedar, or a light flame walnut?"
Then I read the first sentence

On the big computer screen it is much more obvious

[Tony Oresteen]

The Rogue cost me $80 new. The DiMarzio Area 58 was $100 new. The brass nut and 22.5" conversion kit were from George Boards, check the site for pricing.

That is less than $300 for a decent lapsteel.