New Lap Steel Member

[Brian Dixon]

Hello all,
Firstly can I offer my thanks to two people, James Kerr and John Marsden have helped me initially and made me aware that this site existed.

I initially started out on this journey by investigating on-line plans for lap steel and eventually decided on a six string tuned in C6 (I thought that most tuition seemed available in this tuning).
I built my own Lap Steel based on a Lap King (which I spotted on Jerry Douglas's web site) choosing a 24" scale, using Sycamore for the body with a maple fingerboard for fret markers. I fitted good quality pots and a Gibson p90 pick up and the instrument sounds ok and seems to do what it should do.

I have some musical experience and play fiddle and bass probably to intermediate standard and I hope the knowledge I have gained from these will be of benefit in learning the Lap Steel.

I live in Newcastle on Tyne and would like to know of their are any local players who might be willing to give me a few tips as and when required, I also have access to Skype for anyone else who may live further afield but may be willing to help now and then.

Regards to all
Brian

[flester]

Any photos of the instrument you made??

[Basil Henriques]

07800-646-645 or text, voice or 'Facetime' ANYTIME.. or Skype (basil-henriques) by prior arrangement via text..

[Tony Russell Davis]

Newcastle - Tom Fletcher plays pedal steel, so does Steve Conway but I think he might have moved away . A couple of pals, Jim Hornsby (Diesil Therapy) and Jim Murray (Hokum Hotshots) play Dobro and National respectively but both use G high bass predominantly. Danny Holmes (also Diesil Therapy) had a lap steel at one time and so did John France. You could try contacting David Porthouse - he makes lap steel guitars and so he should know who's got them. Not sure I've met David, unless it was him who brought a guitar to Porters (Tynemouth) when I was there with Al Perkins and some of the above named. If so, he makes very good guitars; worth a search for his website.
If you have a mind to make a trip out to Wensleydale some day you're more than welcome to get in touch ("PM" me). I'm between Bedale and Masham. And look out for the North of England Steel Guitar Festival (here) in August - website link for this year and details will be posted on this forum soon. Earlier festival details here http://www.chanos-isgf.org/NESGF/
So far as Skype goes - I must look into that, but you've already heard from Basil and you can't go far wrong on lap steel with his help.
Welcome anyway, Tony.

[flester]

Sorry, replied to the wrong thread!