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Author Topic:  Need ideas or source for belly bar
Johnie King


From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 8 Jun 2018 1:16 pm    
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I have a customer that needs a custom belly bar for this lap steel any ideas would be appreciated I could fashion something but lap is a thousand miles away thanks in advance JOHNIE King


Last edited by Johnie King on 8 Jun 2018 4:23 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Johnie King


From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 8 Jun 2018 1:17 pm    
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May be someone knows of a commercial one out there on line for sale.
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Johnie King


From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 8 Jun 2018 4:36 pm    
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This is a cool idea
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L. Bogue Sandberg

 

From:
Chassell, Michigan, USA
Post  Posted 8 Jun 2018 5:16 pm    
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Here's my version. A "belly bump" based on the upper bout of my resonator. Attached with a 1/4-20 stove bolt into a threaded insert at about the half point. Felt padding to protect the guitar finish. Clamping pressure holds it steady. Easily removed.



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Johnie King


From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 8 Jun 2018 5:58 pm    
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L. Bogue That would work depending on body size might need more or less bump out. Did u build the 10 string lap?For a ten string it looks compact really cool.
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L. Bogue Sandberg

 

From:
Chassell, Michigan, USA
Post  Posted 8 Jun 2018 7:52 pm    
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Yes, you definitely want to make the bump or bar wide enough to get the strings comfortably away from your body. And it has to fit against your waist so it prevents the guitar from sliding to the right. I designed mine to the same centerline distance and general shape as the upper bout on my McKenna 8 string resonator.

Thanks for the kind words on the guitar. I drew it up and a woodworking friend did the rest. A 23" scale, overall length of 36.25", and 8.5 lb. weight.
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Sonny Jenkins


From:
Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx
Post  Posted 9 Jun 2018 7:15 am    
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I made one for a local player a couple of years ago based pretty much on the MSA Super Slide bar. Worked very well.
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Peter Jacobs


From:
Northern Virginia
Post  Posted 9 Jun 2018 1:32 pm    
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Johnie -- hey, that's me! Thanks to Ted Smith of Melobar for the "Outrigger." He made the fiberglass body and filled it with styrofoam that compresses to the shape of the steel; it has a plastic lid that covers the innards. It has two thumbscrews holding it on, screwed through the back of the shell into the steel.

I used it for about 5-6 years, but now play a steel purpose-built to be played standing up (the blue one in my avatar).
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Peter
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www.splinterville.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@splinterville6278/videos
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Tony Palmer


From:
St Augustine,FL
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2018 12:05 pm    
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Peter what brand of lapsteel do you have that is “made to be played standing up”?
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Sierra S10 (three!), Peavey 112 and 115, Benoit dobro, Beard Model E dobro, Beard Roadophonic, MSA Superslide, Dean Nickless custom dobro
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Peter Jacobs


From:
Northern Virginia
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2018 8:45 am    
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Tony - it's something I wanted, so I came up with the basic idea for a chambered steel that was kind of dobro-shaped, then found someone who was willing (insane) enough to work with me on it.

The builder (who no longer makes lap steels) saw this as a challenge and made a bunch of improvements over my original idea, including making it asymmetrical -- there's more body next to me than on the far side of the neck, which cuts down weight and helps with balance.

He also made all of the metal parts except the tuners and wound the split-single pickup. I've been playing it live for almost 10 years and it always gets positive comments.
_________________
Peter
---------
www.splinterville.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@splinterville6278/videos
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