The British Steelies Society

I decided to get lap steel for which can allocate max of 250 euros.I already have Gretsch G5700 which I use for the country and Hawaiian tunes and new instrument I intend to use for the blues-rock stuff.So far I have not had the opportunity to try any other instrument except G5700 so any advice would be of great benefit and will be appreciated.This is what I found on offer and thank you in advance for your advice.

http://www.thomann.de/de/search_dir.htm ... gibgsg&bn=

It's difficult to judge guitars within your budget from a picture on the website, but the Gretsch you have seems as good as any there. As several of us have said before, avoid a steel guitar with a six saddle adjustable bridge (a "Strat" type). You should get one with a solid bridge, like the guitar you already have. Do you need two guitars? But maybe you want two tunings.
Here's a thought. Would you not be better waiting until a decent 8 string comes on the second hand market? That would be better for Hawaiian and country music and your present guitar would play the rock and blues, for which 6 strings may be quite enough. That way you would have different guitars rather than two of the same kind.
I noticed a Silder-8 on the website, just above budget, but it looks like the wrong type of bridge. Does anyone know for sure?

Guyatone 306c is a pretty ok lapsteel. There is one on EBay at the moment, only problem is that it is worth 200-250 GBP and seller wants 450GBP.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Guyatone-6-st ... _Guitars_C

Tony Russell Davis wrote:It's difficult to judge guitars within your budget from a picture on the website, but the Gretsch you have seems as good as any there. As several of us have said before, avoid a steel guitar with a six saddle adjustable bridge (a "Strat" type). You should get one with a solid bridge, like the guitar you already have. Do you need two guitars? But maybe you want two tunings.
Here's a thought. Would you not be better waiting until a decent 8 string comes on the second hand market? That would be better for Hawaiian and country music and your present guitar would play the rock and blues, for which 6 strings may be quite enough. That way you would have different guitars rather than two of the same kind.
I noticed a Silder-8 on the website, just above budget, but it looks like the wrong type of bridge. Does anyone know for sure?

Hi Tony and thank you for the advice."Six saddle adjustable bridge (a" Strat "type)" for me is new information because before I thought it was better thing (better bridge = more sustain and stable tuning).Yes,I've been thinking about 8 strings but it is more expensive for that reason I go by the logic that for the same money can buy better quality six string lap steel because I need just one more tuning.

Best Regards!
Toni

You get better sustain and increased transfer of sound to body with a solid bridge with a flat top and no moving parts. The number of different parts in an adjustable bridge just filter out some of the vibrations. And you don't need the adjustments for height and intonation on a steel guitar, like you do on a standard guitar: because (for example) a G# in a chord comes out as a G#, never an Ab (which would sound flat); the placement of the bar sees to that. But let's not go back through equal/unjust temperament? But you can check it out on a music theory site.

thefatcyclist wrote:Guyatone 306c is a pretty ok lapsteel. There is one on EBay at the moment, only problem is that it is worth 200-250 GBP and seller wants 450GBP.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Guyatone-6-st ... _Guitars_C

Hi John!

Looks nice but the price is too high considering that this is the copy of the fender string master.I have long follow sale lap steel and pedal steel guitars on ebay and know that with a little luck for 450GBP you can get a pedal steel.Two years ago, I missed the opportunity to buy MSA double neck 10 string for 700 euros,I will never get over.Thanks for the information,in the future I will continue to monitor sales Guyatone 306C under scrutiny .

Best Regards!
Toni

Tony Russell Davis wrote:You get better sustain and increased transfer of sound to body with a solid bridge with a flat top and no moving parts. The number of different parts in an adjustable bridge just filter out some of the vibrations. And you don't need the adjustments for height and intonation on a steel guitar, like you do on a standard guitar: because (for example) a G# in a chord comes out as a G#, never an Ab (which would sound flat); the placement of the bar sees to that. But let's not go back through equal/unjust temperament? But you can check it out on a music theory site.

Hi Tony!

This is good information for me because I've always thought about changing the bridge on the G5700.Standard guitar is my main instrument so I thought so and question about intonation is caused suspicion.

Best Regards!
Toni

Hey Toni

I have the Harley Benton Slider 8 for sale. I had it 3 months while my other Lap Steel Guitar steel was being built. If my wife didn't force me to get rid of this I would hold onto it. I love the sound and the action is so perfect. It has been setup with the best string spacing for high speed playing and chordal work. Amazing German engineering and design for a great price. I got mine for £212.

If you are interested I am based in London and you can buy off me for £200.

Trust me it kicks ass and sounds better than even steels that are twice the price. Don't get caught up with brand names and other meaningless stuff. The sound is the most important and then the playability. The fact it is 8 strings is better. 6 strings is TOO LIMITING I find. Too many compromises.

sabatica wrote:Hey Toni

I have the Harley Benton Slider 8 for sale. I had it 3 months while my other Lap Steel Guitar steel was being built. If my wife didn't force me to get rid of this I would hold onto it. I love the sound and the action is so perfect. It has been setup with the best string spacing for high speed playing and chordal work. Amazing German engineering and design for a great price. I got mine for £212.

If you are interested I am based in London and you can buy off me for £200.

Trust me it kicks ass and sounds better than even steels that are twice the price. Don't get caught up with brand names and other meaningless stuff. The sound is the most important and then the playability. The fact it is 8 strings is better. 6 strings is TOO LIMITING I find. Too many compromises.

Thanks for the advice and offer but unfortunately I live in the country from which the purchases and orders over the Internet still a risky thing.I already have several such failed attempts because I would not go into more such adventures,so I asked a friend who is currently on holiday in Germany to do it for me in the store.

Best regards!
Toni

Let me know how the 8 String worked out for you in the end.