Lap Steel Newbie. Please Help!

[Wozzer]

Hi Guys,

I picked up a Guyatone Lapsteel HG-91 a long time a go for £20 and as a keen guitar player I've decided to dust it off and get to grips with it.

I put on the lapsteel a set of 12-56 Ernie Ball guitar strings but I've found that it doesn't want to tune to open E or the rolling stones open G.

I've measured the lapsteel and its a 20" scale.

Can you recommend what strings to use or is it just a scale thing that its better in A tunings.

Also I use a heavy brass guitar slide at the moment. Would a tone bar help more?

Finally any other tips, websites, etc please shout out!!

Thanks

W.

[Basil Henriques]

Check this post:- pedal steel strings....

[telboy]

Hi Wozzer, i've been playing lapsteel for just over 2 years now, ive gone through quite a few differnet strings/guages and now ive given up worrying too much i get these off ebay do the job and are cheaper than buying singles from the local store

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/lap-steel-lap ... 2ebb2da3b5

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/lap-steel-lap ... 2eba6de0bd

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/lap-steel-lap ... 2c624f726f [i replace the plain 0.26 with a ernie ball wound]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/lapsteel-lap- ... 2ebab14685
regards terry

[Wozzer]

Terry thats really helpful, thank you so much.

Is the 20" scale on the short side as most seem to be 22 1/2 upwards?

Still I'll get started and see how I go!

[Basil Henriques]

In General, the longer the scale the greater the sustain and the easier it is to pitch, BUT harder to do accurate slants, conversely the short scale is easier to slant accurately but overall pitch can suffer as will sustain.

20'"is shorter than short.. 22.5" is considered the ideal for Hawaiian style and is called short scale the longer scale lengths are used when you want a 'High tuned first string" as in the Don Helms E13th or the C6 with a high G (Really an A6th up three frets)

I've been playing professionally for over 50 years and I can assure you that even after that length of time playing I would only very reluctantly play a 20" scale guitar.. Deffo OK to learn, but when the time comes, consider upgrading rather than any modifications to the existing guitar.

This is me switching betwixt 22.5", 23", and 24".

[telboy]

Terry thats really helpful, thank you so much.

Is the 20" scale on the short side as most seem to be 22 1/2 upwards?

Still I'll get started and see how I go!

hi wozzer, you may want to tune to C6[low to high CEGACE] SEEMS TO BE THE MOST USED TUNING FOR LAP STEEL? BUT IM SURE SOMEONE WILL TELL YOU OTHERWISE