Starting out and looking for recommendations

[siwilks]

Hi folks,

I'm interested in getting into lap steel playing and have stumbled across this site - and wondered if anyone could advise me...

I've been playing guitar for 22 years now, and am now wanting to take the plunge with lap steel. I'm wanting to avoid breaking the bank obviously. If money were no object I'd snap up a Gold Tone LS-6, both on the basis of its looks and the sound of some players I've heard who've used them, but I don't think I can stretch to that - especially with the shipping and import duty (I've not seen any UK ones for sale).

At the other end of the scale, I've seen ludicrous prices (http://www.thomann.de/gb/recording_king_rg_31_na_lap_steel.htm) on these Chinese Recording Kings - but really mixed reviews. Some seem to say it's a lovely instrument and a good one for starting out - others that their ones have had dodgy electronics or fallen apart, or have inaccurate fret markings, poor tuners and really bad pickups - all of which sound like things to avoid.

Another one that I've seen is the Ashbury - the body and neck of which looks exactly the same as the Recording King. It's a bit more expensive and also seems to be an Asian import. I'm guessing that it's not got anything special to make it worth double the price of the Recording King.

I've seen quite a lot of talk - and really positive reviews - about the Rondo SX Lap, but they seem to not be available in the UK. What I have seen though is the Revelation Deluxe - which looks very similar. I wonder if it's the same guitar under a different name? Unfortunately I've not been able to find a single review. Does anyone have experience of these?

There is another option I've wondered about - actually it was my very first idea, but I've kind-of gone off it for the moment I think. I made myself a new years resolution to make something this year. I've seen a lot of folks recommend building your own lap steel - and seen some interesting looking tutorials. However, my last experience of woodcraft was GCSE Tech 20 years ago; plus I've got three children under five, so I do envisage I'd end up taking years and spending much more money and end up with a bad-sounding unplayable lump of wood.

So, does anyone have any thoughts?! Thanks very much in advance!

[Tony Russell Davis]

Where do you live? I recommend getting in touch with one of us to have a try first. You may wish to check out 6, 7 or even 8 strings before making a choice - depends on the music you want to play.

[WineRider]

Tony always has good advice and has played steel guitars for years and years and years. I am new to lap steel and he has given me immeasurable help and advice. But to build a simple functional lap steel is not as hard as it seems, I built my first one in less than a week and the second refined version in just over a week. I only use 6 strings which is enough for me, but Tony is right when he say's find a local player to you and see if he will let you try his or hers, then decide. Thomann sell good stuff and also a load of rubbish, you just have to know what you are buying, as for the Rondo SX 6 I think that Greg Cutshaw uses one and he can produce some good sounds from it. You might be lucky and find someone who has a steel for sale...you can always ask.

WineRider

http://www.winerider.com/guitars.html

[siwilks]

Thanks very much for your responses, they're really helpful and encouraging - I live in Sheffield, so would be glad to hear from anyone locally.

[Tony Russell Davis]

You are 80 miles from me - not sure who might be nearer though

[mick hearn]

Dare I say it - I would never ever buy a Clearwater steel that you see on Ebay. Two cheap P90's - well they had to be for the price. The pickup cavities were so deep that there was no way of raising the pickup enough to get them under the strings so therefore there was very little volume. Had to glue in wood blocks to raise them. Similarly the bridge was fixed in such a way that the strings went one side of the pole pieces instead of over the top. I could not move the pickups sideways so had to try and move the bridge. As the new screw holes were to be right beside the old ones this prevented accurate drilling. Now gonna fill everything and fit a gibson wrap over bridge.

Similarly I bought a cheap dobro. Looked nice but the workmanship inside looked as though it had been made by a bricklayer. Serve me right on buying on the cheap

Take the previous advice and visit someone who already has a steel. Go to a music dealer with someone who plays so they can check it over for you. As you say the Recording King can be a fine little instrument if you happen to latch on to the right one - quality control in China appears to be rather hap hazard to say the least.
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