DIY Lap Steel build? I don't know anything about lap steels!

I just ordered two suitable chunks of wood to make a pair of lap steels.

It's something I have always wanted to do.

I am about to begin sketching my plans and have downloaded a few from DIY sites to look at.

I look forward to making custom bridge and nut fixtures.

Having said that...

What I really need to be thinking about at this stage is some basic stuff:

What tunings for beginners?

How many strings?

Scale length? Both of my boards are long enough to go 25-1/2" or more nut to saddle. Is there a sweet spot for tension?

What kind of strings? Gauge? etc

stuff like that.

Wow! Cool project, please keep us posted!

I'd concur on 6 strings, it let's you start in familiar territory and wander about as you please. I tend to stick to open E and C6 for most of my playing around. The later gives you access to some pretty cool chords without contortions<G>...

In addition to plain old open E (E-B-E-G#-B-e) you can also lower any of the E strings to D to get a flat 7th for an E7 sort of tuning. I usually lower one of the outside strings.

For C6 I use either E-G-C-A-C-e (if I am too lazy to change strings) or C-E-G-A-C-E if I want to use different strings. The cool thing about the later tuning is that you can lower the low string one more step and get a flatted 7th.

I've also experimented with open G and a DADGAD-like tuning (E-B-E-A-B-D) but I have come up with almost nothing that sounds good in either<G>! I really need to work on that, as I enjoy using both on regular guitar.

wow... that sounds like a really cool project.

geeare1


Hi Mike,

Great idea! I made a copy of a Rickenbacker lap steel out of Corian a few years ago:

Corian - That is clever. And it looks like the bridge is Corian also. Very nice.

mike_mccue


I just ordered two suitable chunks of wood to make a pair of lap steels.

It's something I have always wanted to do.

I am about to begin sketching my plans and have downloaded a few from DIY sites to look at.

I look forward to making custom bridge and nut fixtures.

Having said that...

What I really need to be thinking about at this stage is some basic stuff:

What tunings for beginners?

How many strings?

Scale length? Both of my boards are long enough to go 25-1/2" or more nut to saddle. Is there a sweet spot for tension?

What kind of strings? Gauge? etc

stuff like that.

If you want to use the Gibson style wrap around bridge there are lots of them cheap on e-bay, just do a search for "wrap around bridge".  I would also get a set of locking studs. I got the ones with the center allen set screw for my LP Jr. and they work great.  May as well get an adjustable bridge while you are at it.  Intonation shouldn't be as big a deal on a slide box but hey, why not ?

I made one once. It was really easy. This is how you do it:

1 - Buy a mega cheap guitar off eBay
2 - Grab some pliers
3 - Rip out the frets
4 - Tune and play your new lapsteel!!!

I never play it.



I did modify an acoustic once by loosening all the strings then placing a bit of plastic with six grooves (for the strings) in it over the nut to lift the strings well above the frets. After a re-tune it played great! I then performed 'Treat Yo Mamma' by John Butler in front of 1000 students and parents. And it worked!! Pitty my singing sucked... But I got a solo gig on a Sunday afternoon at a pub for it!

Something tells me none of the above info will be useful for your quest.........

Yes, I just plan to use regular guitar parts.

I've had a brand new Leo Quan bridge for a long time and I have some tuners etc.

I want to make my own pickup someday... we'll see if this is the project I don it on or if I get to a stage where I want to put in a store bought and start playing.

best regards,
mike