The British Steelies Society

Hi,
I'm a new member here. I have played normal guitar for 50 plus years, but I now have weak fingers making chord playing difficult.

I have always loved Country Music and I like the idea of trying a 6 string Lap Steel that wouldn't need so much finger strength.
What's the problem you may well ask? The problem is I am left Handed. Where can I get a left handed 6 string Lap steel guitar?

I know I can get a normal one and change the strings around like I had too in the early years of normal guitar playing, but where can I get
a proper left handed one? Does anyone actually make one?

I've looked on the web and ebay but to no avail.
Regards,
Baz.

Ronnie Bennett is your man.

dessa wrote:Ronnie Bennett is your man.

Thank you Derek.
I am totally new to this, so who is Ronnie Bennett and where is he located please.
Regards,
Baz.

I don’t have his present contact details but I am sure somebody on this forum will know. He is a long time friend who was the original steel player in the Hillsiders Country band from Liverpool. He makes excellent pedal and lap steels.

Hi Baz. Just a thought, if you approach steel guitar from a Country music angle you should seriously consider an 8 string rather than 6. There's a lot of music in a 6, but it's easier to get Country sounds out of one with more strings.
How handy are you with (very) basic woodwork? Essentially a lap steel guitar is just a plank with strings. If you could cobble one together you would find out a lot about your potential without lashing out much money.
By the way, whereabouts are you? We have members all over and might be able to find help reasonable nearby.

Tony Russell Davis wrote:Hi Baz. Just a thought, if you approach steel guitar from a Country music angle you should seriously consider an 8 string rather than 6. There's a lot of music in a 6, but it's easier to get Country sounds out of one with more strings.
How handy are you with (very) basic woodwork? Essentially a lap steel guitar is just a plank with strings. If you could cobble one together you would find out a lot about your potential without lashing out much money.
By the way, whereabouts are you? We have members all over and might be able to find help reasonable nearby.

Thank you Tony for your reply.
I appreciate your comment regarding 8 strings instead of 6. I am fine working with electronics (another hobby of mine), but totally useless with wood. At 75 years old time is not on my side!
One of my Stratocaster electric guitars I built from parts from all over the world, but that was parts, not woodwork.

In a previous thread someone has condemned anything in my price range! This is why I am here asking advise from the experts.

I live in North West London near Watford. At my local 'Shadows Music Club' a chap came in with a 6 string Lap Steel and it sounded lovely, I'll have a chat with him if he comes to the next meet.

Being a Shadows fan I have quite a few amps and echo units so no problem with the sound, I just need some advice/help to get what you good
people deem to be a reasonable playable instrument for a 'newbee'.
Regards,
Baz.

Hi Baz,
I'm a friend of Tony's and come from a similar background to yourself.I gradualyy developed arthritis in my thumbs and found chords became difficult to play so I decided to try a Lap Steel. My first attempt was to modify a Strat copy into a 6 string Lap Steel and it worked fine, gave it away to my son.That fired me up to make an 8 string, because it has a much wider range of available notes under the bar and I made that from a Scaffold Board (Pine), with cheap tuners and a pickup from eBay. If you have a couple of saws, a drill, a chisel and lots of sandpaper you can do a lot so long as you have a preconceived design. The finish is whatever you desire, stained, oiled, varnished, rattle can, your choice. Electrics are simple and there are lots of diagrams online. If you decide to have a go at a DIY project, PM me and I'm more than willing to help wherever I can.
Keith.

Thank you Keith, that is a very fine gesture from you.
I am very practical and come from a mechanical background, and could make one but I don't really what to go down that road.
This is why I am asking if any of you good people could help me find a left handed one that is practical for a beginner at a reasonable price.

Regards,
Baz.

OK so here is an update so far on my quest for a left handed lap steel guitar.

I have a chance to buy a 'Ronnie Bennett' 8 string lap steel made by him in Scotland, according to the seller it cost £525 new.
I was wondering if it could be converted to left handed by swapping the strings over like my early days of guitar playing?

I have looked at trying to contact Ronnie to ask him, but seem to draw a blank.
Regards,
Baz.

On the "Stones Music" website the pictures of Ronnie's guitars look symmetrical apart from the control knobs and jack out. So the only thing needed would be to adjust the grooves for the string gauges on the nut and bridge and use an angled jack plug.
I wish I had looked more closely at the identical Bennett that one of the lads brought to our last meeting of Steel Guitar North!