https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 19:00:56 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121959 Fri, 02 Sep 2005 00:59:07 +0000 Slide and Alternate tunings smokindog https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121959 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121950 Fri, 02 Sep 2005 00:15:59 +0000
what pickup do you plan to use.?
what is the pole spacing?

I should be finished with my lap project soon.
I will take pic and add to the in progreess ones I have.]]> Slide and Alternate tunings dogbite https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121950 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121949 Fri, 02 Sep 2005 00:02:28 +0000
]]> Slide and Alternate tunings gnease https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121949 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121901 Thu, 01 Sep 2005 20:34:23 +0000 I'm nearly finished with the body, and it's time to start attaching parts...

I'm geting the work shop in order now that it cooling off a bit in South Carolina, I plan to make one out of spare parts, sort of a Frankin-steel :twisted: What kind of wood are you using and what kind of finish are you going to use?--the dog]]> Slide and Alternate tunings smokindog https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121901 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121812 Thu, 01 Sep 2005 07:55:04 +0000
You are probably right, bright nickel not chrome on the brass.]]> Slide and Alternate tunings gnease https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121812 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121631 Wed, 31 Aug 2005 17:42:27 +0000 my first lap steel I used 1/2" square stock stainless steel.
I ground an angle on my benach grinder. they came out looking clean and machined.

the nut and bridge were basically the same.

my second lap steel project I used a bridge from Stewmac. it was the Hipshot.

it worked pretty good. I had to raise the bridge considerably for clearance and to be level with the nut.

one of the problems with stock bridges for electric guitars is the string spacing.
they are close but not ideal. some bridges are radiiased.
pickups are harder to find too because of the pole width.

Ive never seen chromed brass. nickel Ive seen. perhaps that is the material they use.

so check the steelyard or a well stocked home improvement store. look for the metal bin.
they are stocked with different shaped metal stock; from right angle, round, square.
Ive been tempted to use round stock. it could easily been dropped into a routed slot.]]> Slide and Alternate tunings dogbite https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121631 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121347 Tue, 30 Aug 2005 20:00:06 +0000 Slide and Alternate tunings gnease https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121347 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121341 Tue, 30 Aug 2005 19:20:36 +0000 No Peddlers section over at the Steel Guitar Forum,- do a search for "building a lap steel" and you'll find many posts about this. I'm sure you'll find some useful ideas as this has been discussed many times there.

Steinar]]> Slide and Alternate tunings Steinar Gregertsen https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121341 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121336 Tue, 30 Aug 2005 18:55:32 +0000 Slide and Alternate tunings gnease https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121336 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121330 Tue, 30 Aug 2005 18:24:05 +0000 Also, for those that have lapsteels and play them: I'd prefer to use a LP Junior-type tailpiece, but this has a radius. Anyone know if a radius will cause a big problem?

TIA -- Greg You won't notice it much unless you go way up the neck, past the 24th fret. Ideally it shouldn't have a radius, but I've played regular guitars that's been converted to lap steel and it didn't bother me much. Usually the weight and pressure from your hand and steelbar will even it out.

I'd be more concerned about the string spacing, the Gibson spacing is very narrow compared to what's standard on 6-string lap steels. Even the Fender spacing feels a bit narrow to me, but of course you can get used to anything (just imagine you're playing an 8-string.... :D ).

Steinar]]> Slide and Alternate tunings Steinar Gregertsen https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/building-a-lapsteel-qs/#post-121330