Re: Come on Lappers

[coolsteel]

I too have decided to go down the lap steel road but also retain my interest playing the pedal steel guitar which I cannot imagine life without. I am having a custom built Lapking Grand Rodeo lap steel built in the USA by Jason Dumont which will be ready in 12 weeks time. I would be interested to hear from other lap steel players as to what amp they would recommend for western swing style of playing.

[coolsteel]

Peter,
Thank you for your reply regarding what amp to use with lap steel. As you suggested I would try one out before I purchased it, I am aware of the Roland Cube and I believe they come in different power ratings is your a 30 or 60 watt. I already own a Roland AC 30 watt mains / battery amp which I bought for use with my Dobro but have since found that it does not have enough power when playing with other musicians ( due mainly to its biscuit type pickup ) so I am looking to exchange it for something else. I was considering a Roland 80XL which I could utilize with my pedal steel. Incidently the Roland AC 30 works great with a electric guitar and may well work with a lap steel but as yet I have not tried it as I am still awaiting delivery of my new lap steel.

[JeffM]

Peter,

I'm confused.

Are you saying that you do gigs at small clubs and village halls with a 2W amp???

[Basil Henriques]

Peter is correct. In Hawaii a lot of the "Lap Steel Players" use the micro cube for small informal gatherings, and for larger gigs they (and and myself) sometimes just run the micro cube into the P.A.

This is a Micro Cube in use:-



Fender Stringmaster Mk1 (November 1952)






And on a Fender 400 (1963)

[coolsteel]

Peter,
Thank you for expanding your views and uses of the Roland Cube. Tuning wise when I last played a lap steel which was quite a few years ago I used both A6th. and E7th. tunings, but I am hoping to include the C6th. as well in the future. Just a general question to all those who read this, is it true that a 15 watt valve amp is is louder that a 15 watt solid state?

[coolsteel]

Basil,

I enjoyed your video clips, what type of bar are you using in the videos?

[coolsteel]

Peter,

Thanks again for your input, do you have a internet link as to where I can purchase a Tribotone bar?

[Basil Henriques]

Hi Richard, the bar is a BH model and Eric at Tribotone will make one exactly the same as mine.
http://www.tribotone.com/

The BH model is a beauty and is the most popular 7/8 diameter bar!!! Basil has been a real friend in getting the size and weight just right not to mention the thumb indent which is often a forgotten feature on other bars. Love the new forum BTW and have posted over there in the Acoustic section;-)

BH model specs: Any color, 7/8 diameter, 7.5 ounces, 3.3125" length, friendly thumb indent, and custom case. My Tribo-Tone™ bar is almost 9 years old!!!



There is also Black and White available.



See you on the strings,
Eric Ebner
Tribotone designs

Be SURE to read the reviews Here:- http://www.tribotone.com/bar_reviews.html

And if you're wondering about the "thumb indent" well, its to facilitate easy bar manipulation for reverse slants.

[coolsteel]

Hi Basil,

Thank you for the link I will check it out.

Regards
Richard

[Sheepdog]

Hi Pete,
Thanks for the comments. Hope all is going well with whatever build you are on.
I have just been designing and building pickups at the moment, with some good some not so! DOH.
Hope to start a new Lappy soon, which will be simpler than the last, less carving but nicer wood.
I re did the video of the Red Devil built ( actually) just a bunch of slides) but you can see it here on my you tube site.



All the best,
Ray.