I’d had some ideas kicking around for a while, and 180 Studios provided a way to do it. So if you happen to have a Maker-Shop in your area, look into it. You could meet some interesting new friends, including guitar players & makers. Unfortunately, it’s shut down now due to C-19.
This is a little 24”-scale travel guitar. Steinberger 40:1 locking tuners are well-suited to lap steel. This compact 7-String tuner layout works well, with quick & easy string replacement. One problem: The string tension is too high (~38#) for my .013 gage Hi-G string, so I use a Gotoh UPTL tuner there. But if your highest string is tuned to E, you can use all locking Steinberger tuners.
I found some 6-year old Ohia Lehua (57 lbs/ ft3) at a hardwood supplier in Berkeley, and I’d been thinking about I’iwi & Apapane birds on a fretboard for a couple of years. In due course, it all came together. I used VGDF for the first prototype. The body’s milled on a ShopBot and the fret board is engraved & cut on a Gweike Laser.
I like the 24” scale, and the tone, sustain & tuning stability of a semi-hollow high-density wood body. My vintage guitars have single coil pickups, but I decided to use an EMG active PU (made in Santa Rosa); like the PU that’s on Alan Akaka’s Asher 8-String. Very even tone & volume across all strings; and, if you like, just push-pull the volume knob to switch from single coil to humbucker mode.
Specs:
7-Strings & 24” Scale Length; Overall L x W x D: 28” x 6-3/4” x 1-½”
Weight: 5.25 lbs
Pickup: EMG 707-TW-X, Active PU
Tuners: 40:1 Ratio Steinberger Locking Gearless; Gotoh UPTL @ Hi-G
Nut & Bridge: 1/2” x 1/2” x 1/8” brass angle, with hide glue + (2) screws each
String spacing @ Nut: 2-1/16”
String Spacing @ Bridge: 2-½”
Fretboard, Saddle Trim & Back Panel: Laser-engraved acrylic with ivory in-fill
Body: Ohia Lehua; (1st working prototype, VGDF)
Sweet 
