8-string for $500. or less?

John Rosett · Post by **John Rosett** » 20 Nov 2004 7:10 am

i'm going to be looking for an 8-string steel soon. i've got a morrell little roy, and it's good for what it is, but i want better.
i've been looking at the fouke industrial that sells for $500, and i'm wondering what else is out there in this price range, and what people think about them.
i have a '40's gibson 6-string that sounds great, and i would love to find a 40's-50's gibson, but all of them i see are multi-neck guitars that are too expensive for me.
i'm open to suggestions.
thanks, john
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by John Rosett on 20 November 2004 at 09:50 AM.]</p></FONT>

Bob Markison · Post by **Bob Markison** » 20 Nov 2004 7:59 am

John - Check out Bob Littleton's fine steel guitars at http://www.pedalsteel.com/westcoaststeel/products.html

I'm very fond of my 8 string Hawaiian ($549.00). Good luck. - Bob

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 20 Nov 2004 9:30 am

Are you looking for a "musical instrument" or merely shopping for a pretty guitar with a price that is set in concrete? To me,if you have any thought at all on what you want it to sound like, there is something wrong with that approach. Just MHO, of course.

John Rosett · Post by **John Rosett** » 20 Nov 2004 9:49 am

ray-
i'm a working musician looking for a good sounding guitar to play at (mostly) bar gigs. i'm pretty much a beginer on steel, but i've been playing guitar and mandolin in bands for 30 years.
i'm a little mystified at what you wrote- "if you have any thought at all on what you want it to sound like, there is something wrong with that approach" huh?
like i said in my original post, i really like the sound of my gibson 6-string, and would like to find something with a similar tone, but with 8 strings, which i am enjoying playing more than a 6-string.
john

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 20 Nov 2004 9:51 am

You can have your cake and eat it too.

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 20 Nov 2004 10:45 am

If you look around and are not in a hurry, you should be able to find a Gibson or Fender. I have found two fender 8-strings for under $500. Both were refinished. You could also look for vintage Epiphone 7 or 8 stringers and then replace the weak pickups.

Karl Oberlander · Post by **Karl Oberlander** » 20 Nov 2004 1:59 pm

If you want a great sounding and great looking instrument look at the George Boards that George Piburn (spelling?) is making out in San Diego I believe.

He has a web site but I've not got it written down. Just do a search on the forum for George boards or Georgeboards. He's a forum member.

Just about everyone I have heard that played one of these is thrilled with the tone and the beauty of the craftsmanship. I think he's got a single neck 8 for about $500. Or if not try searchine eBay for one. I see them show up now and again.

Just a thought.

Kobe

------------------
Gibson D-8 Console Grande - Stringmaster T-8 - Alkire EHarp D-10
Fender Super Reverb
kobe@austin.rr.com
http://home.austin.rr.com/kobeco

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 20 Nov 2004 2:03 pm

I too am new to playing lap steel. I picked up a Foulke 6 string Rail lap steel on ebay and I love it. I have been playing it on gigs ( tuned to C6 )and I get a lot of compliments. I have played it on gigs where I play Country and Swing, and I have also played it on a gig where I use it on a Blues tune and a Raggae tune. Unfortunately, having never owned a lap steel before, I don't have anything to compare it to tonewise. All I can say is that they are very well built and they sound good to me.

D Schubert · Post by **D Schubert** » 20 Nov 2004 2:45 pm

I found an 8-string Supro Grand Console (with legs!) on the forum a few years back for about $250. I had to replace the tuner buttons and fix the wiring, but that wasn't much of a hassle. Scale is shorter than a Fender, but it has that BIG pickup that makes BIG tone. If you keep looking & asking, one may pop up.

Travis Bernhardt · Post by **Travis Bernhardt** » 20 Nov 2004 3:35 pm

You should almost certainly be able to find an eight-string guitar for less than $500. Maybe try a post in the Wanted section, and see what comes up (read about the scammers, while you're at it).

-Travis

Loni Specter · Post by **Loni Specter** » 20 Nov 2004 4:23 pm

John,
Theres a pair if George L's on the for sale posts for $50. for both. Just get them and put one on your wiggins, change the nut and tuners, and that will sound great. I'm doing the same to mine.

Travis Bernhardt · Post by **Travis Bernhardt** » 20 Nov 2004 6:29 pm

Good call, Loni.

-Travis

John Rosett · Post by **John Rosett** » 20 Nov 2004 8:57 pm

loni-
you're right, i should just upgrade the morrell. it's really a pretty charming little slab of wood with it's smoke damage. any suggestions on a better bridge? i'd like wider string spacing too- it would make life easier if it was more like the spacing on my tele.
thanks, john

Loni Specter · Post by **Loni Specter** » 20 Nov 2004 10:22 pm

Isn't it already 3/8 at the bridge? I guess it would be easy to get a piece of aluminum "U" channel and drill some holes through the rear face down low, any width you want. then drill some holes for the anchor screws through the bottom. Any hardware store will have a variety of these out of aluminum or steel. Just find the right size for the string height. you can make a new nut out of bone or brass, or flip the plastic nut over and cut wider slots on the bottom.