Hi - have got most of the bits I will need to make a lap steel - a project now exceedingly long in the tooth. However, after seeing some great home-made instruments on Youtube I have finally got down to making serious drawings of what I want - a vaguely Art Deco, Duesenberg kind of assymentrical shape.
I have a nice piece of 60 year old oak big enough for a 25.5" scale but as this will be my first build (and as yet I have only played 'regular' guitars) I have no experience of different scales lengths I would very much appreciate any information you experts might be able to pass on to a complete novice.
I should say that I have considerable experience with woodworking and some with metalworking though my background is in Art and Design.
I have been a member now all of 25 minutes!
Bill
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Hey Michael,
I built a lap steel with a 25-1/2" scale and was really pleased with it. Telescasters and Stratocasters are 25-1/2" scale insturments and as a result they have a clean, bell-like tone. I strung my lap steel up with one string initially and found the harmonic closest to the bridge harmonic by lightly touching the string with my finger and plucking it with the other hand. I then mounted the pickup with the magnets directly under the harmonic point. If you want a darker, muddier tone, you could use a 24-3/4 inch scale. I've built CBGs on both scales and they have distinctly different tones. Good luck, and remember, it's always good to have an excuse to build one more!
Hey Bill,
Sorry for calling you Michael. I was looking at Michael Gajeski's reply and my brain misled my fingers... Let us know how your build works out. Welcome to the Nation, too!
A very common scale for lap steels is 22 1/2", like a lot of the classic 1940s and 50s lapsteels. I'v had quite a few and made a couple as well, and these were 22 1/2", as is my wonderful JuJu Lapsteel.
You do need to put heavy strings on them, but it's generally regarded as the way to go.
I'm a fan of 23" for lap steels. This lets you put on some heavy strings, still tune it up no problem, but not get ridiculous with the tension. It means there's less "distance" between "frets" but also that you have to be more exacting since it's a shorter scale length. Got a good ear?
Ben said:
I'm a fan of 23" for lap steels. This lets you put on some heavy strings, still tune it up no problem, but not get ridiculous with the tension. It means there's less "distance" between "frets" but also that you have to be more exacting since it's a shorter scale length. Got a good ear?
Hi Mike - thanks for info - my next question (and I have a million!) was going to be how to site the pickup or pickups since I have a couple spare but don't really know if they're necessary since a lot of lap steels I've seen only have one.I like the tones I get from my Tele - which according to some - was a direct mutation from Leo's lap steel - and thought bridge and neck would give me that range.
Also - just struck me - before I go cutting up my piece of oak it might make sense to do the set up on a lump of pine... hmm?,
Bill
Mike Bingham said:
Hey Michael,
I built a lap steel with a 25-1/2" scale and was really pleased with it. Telescasters and Stratocasters are 25-1/2" scale insturments and as a result they have a clean, bell-like tone. I strung my lap steel up with one string initially and found the harmonic closest to the bridge harmonic by lightly touching the string with my finger and plucking it with the other hand. I then mounted the pickup with the magnets directly under the harmonic point. If you want a darker, muddier tone, you could use a 24-3/4 inch scale. I've built CBGs on both scales and they have distinctly different tones. Good luck, and remember, it's always good to have an excuse to build one more!
Here is a good article with some basics about scale lengths. I hope it helps you out.
That's ok Pete - will keep you posted - I do have other questions - far too many really.
Michael. (English sense of humour)
Mike Bingham said:
Hey Bill,
Sorry for calling you Michael. I was looking at Michael Gajeski's reply and my brain misled my fingers... Let us know how your build works out. Welcome to the Nation, too!
A very common scale for lap steels is 22 1/2", like a lot of the classic 1940s and 50s lapsteels. I'v had quite a few and made a couple as well, and these were 22 1/2", as is my wonderful JuJu Lapsteel.
You do need to put heavy strings on them, but it's generally regarded as the way to go.
I have an old Supro from the 50's 22.5 I think they knew what they were doing. Im sure others work, but this is quite good Enjoy
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