New Lap Steel Member
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 10:47 pmHello 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
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
. 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.