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Post new topic 12 string lap steel like 12 string guitar???
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Author Topic:  12 string lap steel like 12 string guitar???
Ted Duncan

 

From:
Georgia, USA
Post  Posted 10 Dec 2022 6:59 am    
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While I was enjoying the picture of Allen Cook's 12 string, I had a thought. I wonder if anybody has built a lap steel strung like a 12 string guitar. A number of guys (Leo Kottke comes to mind) play 12 string with a bottleneck. I can't imagine what it would sound like as a lap steel.
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Andy DePaule


From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
Post  Posted 10 Dec 2022 7:09 am     16 String Sho~Bud
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Many years ago Buddy Emmons had a triple neck Sho~Bud PSG with a 16 String neck on it like what you describe.
I think I remember it had 3 pedals on that neck.

I've often thought it would be an interesting project, but I'd do it on at least double neck so one could be played in the regular fashion.
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Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project.
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Bill McCloskey


From:
Nanuet, NY
Post  Posted 10 Dec 2022 7:28 am    
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I have seen a few double course steels over the years, but pretty rare.
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Ken Pippus


From:
Langford, BC, Canada
Post  Posted 10 Dec 2022 10:43 am    
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Intonation on slants should be “interesting.”
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Ian Worley


From:
Sacramento, CA
Post  Posted 10 Dec 2022 1:42 pm    
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All lies and jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest - Paul Simon
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John Hyland

 

From:
South Australia
Post  Posted 10 Dec 2022 3:49 pm    
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spacing of the of the strings might start to get rather tight
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Andy DePaule


From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
Post  Posted 10 Dec 2022 7:07 pm     String spacing & Fingers?
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John Hyland wrote:
spacing of the of the strings might start to get rather tight


Not just the string spacing, but would you not also need 16 pulling fingers since the length of the pull would not be the same for a higher octave note than the lower.

Seems to me I remember reading that they were able to keep them in tune, but I don't know if both strings were on one or two fingers?
If on two fingers then not much room for pull rods on the underside?

Maybe someone who has seen and examined one of these will know the answer?

For a lap or non pedal consul steel this would not be an issue, Just getting the strings of different thickness level for the bar.
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project.
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Ken Pippus


From:
Langford, BC, Canada
Post  Posted 10 Dec 2022 9:21 pm    
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Probably unison strings, not octave.
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Mark Eaton


From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
Post  Posted 11 Dec 2022 12:04 pm    
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Bill Asher has made two (that I know of) 12 string lap steels where the strings are arranged in pairs like a 12 string guitar. Pictured below is one of them, the wood is red oak.

I was in a local music store several years ago and they had one of the two. I don’t recall the exact story, but I think a guy commissioned Asher to build this guitar and ordered it through this shop. I believe he gave them a deposit, but once the guitar arrived he never came to pick it up and complete the transaction.

They offered it to me, and I took it for a test drive. It was kind of a cool idea, but I passed on it. It struck me as a guitar for the “the steel player who has everything.” Or a steel player with some money burning a hole in his pocket and can’t help himself because it’s something unique. I thought about it for a few minutes but I wondered how often it would actually come out of the case so that I would play it, since like many of us I have other instruments that don’t get played enough as it is.


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Ted Duncan

 

From:
Georgia, USA
Post  Posted 11 Dec 2022 6:02 pm    
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Ian and Mark, thank you very much for sharing the photos.

When I was typing this post I thought I was going to catch h3ll for posting such an absurd idea.

In my mind I thought that it might be possible for a lap steel. The 2 pedal steels are truly amazing, and bring up a lot of mechanical questions.


Years ago I used to finger-pick a Fender 12 string guitar. Loved the fullness of the sound. I remember hearing Kottke's "Armadillo album" for the first time in the very early 70's. Shocked Shocked
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Jim Palenscar

 

From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
Post  Posted 13 Dec 2022 8:22 am    
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I have the 16/11/11 ShoBud in Ian's picture at the shop for sale- it is Chas Smith's.
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Ian Worley


From:
Sacramento, CA
Post  Posted 13 Dec 2022 11:07 am    
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What is the scale length on the 16 string neck Jim?
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All lies and jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest - Paul Simon
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Jim Palenscar

 

From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
Post  Posted 13 Dec 2022 3:56 pm    
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22"
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Bobby D. Jones

 

From:
West Virginia, USA
Post  Posted 16 Dec 2022 3:13 pm    
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I would like to see some good pictures of the Changer and Nut.
With only 2 Pedals and 1 Knee Lever. Is there only about 6 strings with raise and lower fingers, And Raise or Lower ability.
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