Glyn Barnes
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Scrap Wood Lap Steel
My adventures in lutherie continue. Following the two electric mountain dulcimers (see an earlier thread) I decided to use some offcuts of cedar left over from some building work. Initially it was going to be a four string diddly bow type thing to use four old machine heads I had lying around but in the end I decided to get some new ones an build a "proper" lap steel. I got the pickup in a clearance sale for £10. Unfortunately the head is not well thought out for six strings, but it works.  Now I have to figure out how to play it. So far I have managed to make an impressive din and frighten the cat but getting something musical out of it will probably need some lessons.
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jamesg1213
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Re: Scrap Wood Lap Steel
2015/09/29 14:50:42
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Very cool! How's it tuned Glyn?
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Guitarhacker
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Re: Scrap Wood Lap Steel
2015/09/29 14:52:34
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Looks nice for scrap wood.
My website & music: www.herbhartley.com MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW Focusrite Firewire Saffire Interface BMI/NSAI "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer "
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Glyn Barnes
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Re: Scrap Wood Lap Steel
2015/09/29 14:59:31
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jamesg1213
Very cool! How's it tuned Glyn?
EBEG#BE (Low to high)
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Moshkito
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Re: Scrap Wood Lap Steel
2015/09/30 09:23:58
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Music is not about notes and chords! My poem is not about the computer or monitor or letters! It's about how I was able to translate it from my insides!
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Glyn Barnes
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Re: Scrap Wood Lap Steel
2015/09/30 10:52:41
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The wood was offcuts of tongue and groove cedar cladding left over from the building of my studio. Actually very nice wood and a lovely colour. Sizes were a bit awkward and some bits were split or damaged but there was enough good stuff amongst it.
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bitman
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Re: Scrap Wood Lap Steel
2015/09/30 22:39:55
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synkrotron
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Re: Scrap Wood Lap Steel
2015/10/01 06:20:08
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Yeah, nice Glyn 
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Wookiee
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Re: Scrap Wood Lap Steel
2015/10/01 07:10:05
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Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
Karma has a way of finding its own way home.
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Planobilly
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Re: Scrap Wood Lap Steel
2015/10/01 20:54:01
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Cool steel....I been dreaming bout makin one myself.
I been working 16 hours a day as of late, so no time for the computer or anything else. Hope to get back to this site in a week or two.
You should record some sounds that it makes. I am sure many here would like to hear it, I know I would and best of luck learning to play it.
Cheers,
Billy
" Music is a team sport "
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Moshkito
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Re: Scrap Wood Lap Steel
2015/10/02 09:38:57
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Hi,
If you ever make a small scale bass guitar for the us lefties ... let me know ... I'll buy it! I'm keep 1K on the side just for fun and the super insane gifty stuff to oneself ... and that might just finally get me to play for good!
And plzzzzz ... don't copy a Fender ... so tired of that ugly look on 95% of all bases ... I would rather have one with no head ... something less "traditional" ...
Music is not about notes and chords! My poem is not about the computer or monitor or letters! It's about how I was able to translate it from my insides!
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Glyn Barnes
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Re: Scrap Wood Lap Steel
2015/10/03 12:54:11
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I think a bass guitar would be a serious challenge, and beyond my current skills. One day, who knows, now I am retired I have time to improve.
Next project will be another electric dulcimer building on the experience and lessons learned building the first two. I am thinking six strings in three double courses, the modern DAD tuning and neck and bridge pickups but nothing is finally decided yet.
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tlw
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Re: Scrap Wood Lap Steel
2015/10/03 14:09:42
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As well as open E etc. try a C6/Am tuning - e.g. ACEGAC or CEGACE. I've an 8-string lap steel I tune ACEGACEG. Having the 6th of the scale in there opens up a lot of possibilities (like playing minor chords) and makes some runs easier as well. Then there's the trick of using a free finger on your left hand, e.g. the third or fourth, to pull on the string behind the steel bar to bend just that one note....
There's lots of lap steel stuff around the internet if you search for it. Have fun :-)
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Glyn Barnes
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Re: Scrap Wood Lap Steel
2015/10/08 10:47:57
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tlw
As well as open E etc. try a C6/Am tuning - e.g. ACEGAC or CEGACE. I've an 8-string lap steel I tune ACEGACEG. Having the 6th of the scale in there opens up a lot of possibilities (like playing minor chords) and makes some runs easier as well. Then there's the trick of using a free finger on your left hand, e.g. the third or fourth, to pull on the string behind the steel bar to bend just that one note....
There's lots of lap steel stuff around the internet if you search for it. Have fun :-)
Thanks for the tips. I am back on course now after correcting a few problems caused by poor design of the output socket and I have also received a decent guitar steel and picks along with at tutor book. Meanwhile planning of the next project, another electric dulcimer, is well underway and the pickups etc. are ordered and on their way from Germany. This will one will be far from a cheap!
post edited by Glyn Barnes - 2015/10/08 10:57:33
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