Artisan EA-2 - now with legs

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 28 Oct 2005 12:18 pm

The most inexpensive lap steel I know of, now available with legs!
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/518801/

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Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 28 Oct 2005 12:28 pm

Very cool lookin. I'm not familiar with the Artisans, how do they sound?

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 28 Oct 2005 12:38 pm

Brad, that's pretty cool. For the price it's a darn good deal. I've played the legless version (all 3 colors) and they're actually not bad. Better than some of the vintage lap steels I've fondled, and as good as the new Fender.
And now with legs. For someone just starting or for an add-on, it's ideal.
A great stocking stuffer!

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 28 Oct 2005 1:43 pm

This was played on an Artisan One of the Blackones!

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 [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 02 January 2006 at 01:34 PM.]

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 28 Oct 2005 1:53 pm

It's true - the black ones do sound the best!

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 28 Oct 2005 2:34 pm

Might be worth buying 4 of them just for the legs. Sell the guitar part on ebay.

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Gary Shepherd

Carter D-10

www.16tracks.com

Terry VunCannon · Post by **Terry VunCannon** » 28 Oct 2005 3:33 pm

My Artisan sounds better than my New Fender lap steel....how sad is that!!!???

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'49 & '51 National Dynamics, Harmos Model One, Lazy River Weissenborn, Mesa Boogie DC-3, SRV Strat.
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Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 28 Oct 2005 3:43 pm

It's sad but oh so true.

Stephan Miller · Post by **Stephan Miller** » 28 Oct 2005 7:58 pm

Gene-- yeah, better hang on to that one!

--Steve

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 28 Oct 2005 8:41 pm

Nice tune Gene, does it have a name?

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 29 Oct 2005 2:48 am

Very nice Gene, makes me look at mine with new respect. I've been trying to learn a little on it, but after playing my psg the short scale and string spacing bother me. If I can play it in tune it will probably make intonation on the longer scale easier, maybe.

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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** » 29 Oct 2005 3:47 am

Thanks for the favorable comments!

It's one of mine and I call it "Kailua-Kona Stroll". Just a little thing I wrote for an album filler that I wouldn't have to pay a license fee to record!

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Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 29 Oct 2005 3:55 am

Cool, Gene; I like the surf.

But it sounds like a blue one to me....[This message was edited by Charlie McDonald on 29 October 2005 at 04:55 AM.]

Ernie Pollock · Post by **Ernie Pollock** » 29 Oct 2005 5:12 am

I swear the one I have sounds as good as the pedal steel, has that 'tone' that I have never heard on any other lap steel. How can something so cheap sound so good?? Beats me, but I am going to keep on picking the one I have. I have mine on a stand which makes it nice, but the legs look like the way to go with these little guitars. Oh, it is a black one??

Ernie

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Donald Ruetenik · Post by **Donald Ruetenik** » 29 Oct 2005 10:40 am

A great little starter and tough little 'beater'. I take it along to 'Beer & Banjo' night with the neighborhood pickers. It's been sat on, spilled beer on, dropped, gouged and all other sorts of abuse I wouldn't wish on an expensive instrument and it keeps in tune.

Maybe the $5 pickup it sports is one reason it sounds so cool sometimes. I believe the ultra short scale works better after a couple of beers.

Larry W. Jones · Post by **Larry W. Jones** » 29 Oct 2005 3:25 pm

Here's mine. It's the red one. No wonder it doesn't sound as good as the black one! I thought it was ME.

Larry Strawn · Post by **Larry Strawn** » 29 Oct 2005 6:30 pm

Gene,,
That's really nice, I like that.... Black ya say?? Bet ya got a black lava lamp siiting on your amp also!! LOL..

Larry

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Emmons S/D-10, 3/5, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 30 Oct 2005 2:13 pm

I've had fun with that little guy, but I must admit that when I recorded the song above, I layed the Artisan on top of the C6 neck of my Carter D-10 rather than in my lap, since the one I have does not have legs!

It does look great hanging on the wall of my music rooon as a decoration, but it is also functional and is always available there whenever I get the urge to play some non-pedal.

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Mike Selecky · Post by **Mike Selecky** » 30 Oct 2005 3:06 pm

Gene, nice song clip - what tuning are you using and what string guages? I bought one recently and haven't settled in on a tuning yet - did you find that you had to increase the string guage diameters to offset the short scale?

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 30 Oct 2005 3:42 pm

Tuning B6....

String
1......F#
2......D#
3......B
4......G#
5......F#
6......D#

Same string gauges as for C6.

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[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 30 October 2005 at 03:45 PM.]

Bill Leff · Post by **Bill Leff** » 30 Oct 2005 4:36 pm

Gene, your recording is a wonderful example of "it ain't the instrument, it's the player". You make that little $79 guitar sound like a million bucks.

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 30 Oct 2005 5:54 pm

Gene,

I just love this tune. Do you have tab for it?

Todd Weger · Post by **Todd Weger** » 31 Oct 2005 4:52 am

Gene -- As Bill says, you make that cheap little steel sound like a million bucks, and as always, it's the player that does it. Sweet little melody.

It's nice know that for under $100, a person can get started on steel, and if and when they give up (as unfortunately so many do), they're not out a lot of dough.

I would guess that another upside benefit to those of us looking for old vintage steels is that with so many of these cheap new ones flooding the market, the sky-high prices of the last few years would subside?

What's the string spacing like on these Artisans?

TJW

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Todd James Weger/RD/RTD
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, A6, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Chandler RH-4 Koa semi-hollow lapsteel (open G); Regal resonator (open D or G)

Walter Jones · Post by **Walter Jones** » 31 Oct 2005 4:58 am

Gene, great stuff. How about I sent you my lap steel, then you play that tune and toss it in the case, slam the lid real quick and send it back. When I get it and open it up then maybe I can play it.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 31 Oct 2005 8:21 am

Bill: you are too kind!

tbhenry: My apology, I have no Tab for that little dittie!

Tod: The string spacing is a little wider to the naked eye, but I don't notice any difference from playing my D-10 because I use a smaller diameter bar on the Artisan.

Walter: You are also being too kind...I know you don't need any of my playing in your guitar case!

BRAD: My apology if it appears that I have hijacked your thread about LEGS added to the Artisan guitar...it was unintentional. For the Forum readers, I know they would be interested in your opinion of the Artisan. Is there anything that you would share with us about this guitar?

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