UK MADE LAP STEEL GUITARS FOR SALE

[Basil Henriques]

If it did not have this type of bridge it would not be a Les Paul Lap steel

Then it's not, because, for them to be "A Les Paul built as a Lap Steel," then they really should have "Humbuckers"..as per a Les Paul otherwise why use the comparison ? especially as the "Les Paul" reason is given for the bridge..

The pole pieces should be arranged like this:-


With the part of the humbucker coil nearest the bridge with the polepieces and the neck one as a "Mirror Image" with the polepieces situated EXACTLY where the 24th fret WOULD be.. any configuration other than that is NOT "Les Paul" Per se.

I think "Swallow" has not understood my comments. I DID say that the guitars were "Beautiful looking guitars, made with obvious attention to detail and expert luthiery," and "displayed an obvious passion and expertise in construction,"...

[bob adams]

True passion is an all consuming thing especially amongst steel players whether related to the build of the instrument or the creation of its sounds. I have no doubt debate over its perception or indeed perfection will go on ad infinitum, all that is really important however is that we continue to share the immense wealth of knowledge that exists amongst our community especially those more senior, what a void there would be if that was lost. How refreshing it is to see new quality workmanship related to our genre and indeed as you say Basil, beautiful looking guitars, made with obvious attention to detail and expert luthiery, displaying an obvious passion and expertise in construction, whether or not ‘we’ may feel the need to tweak the odd thing!

Thank you guys for your respective content on this post, most definitely very interesting reading for us all!

[Basil Henriques]

Hey Bob, do you have "Splinters in your bum" ? because you're doing an incredibly good job of THIS
Not for one moment would I decry the need for, and the timeliness of this type of guitar in a UK assembled configuration/construction.. Glad someone took "The Bull by the Horns" Maybe having one of these "Tone Monsters" will spur on someone here to become another David Lindley or Robert Randolph..

[bazzrd9th]

come along chaps.....listen to uncle Basil....he's been there and done it........
We all wanted the latest solid state amps and a plethora of effects to replace our simple valve amps when they came out.....and what is the holy grail now......simple valve amps..........(round, like a circle in a wheel in an ever spinning wheel).....
Barry

[SWALLOW]

You mean like my LS1 custom. I should have said the LS2 P90 was build with P90’s at the customers request.








I should say be you do the Vol & tone are not as per Les Paul but thats were the customer asked me to put them.

[Basil Henriques]

Now we're getting somewhere Swallow. That's MUCH more like the design requirements for a Les Paul Style Lap Steel..
AND, your willingness to relocate the controls is noted, and usually beneficial.

My suggestion for an available option would be, not four, but just two knobs i.e. one volume and one tone, BUT, both twin ganged and the volume one with a 'centre indent'..and reverse wiring on the two tracks..i.e. maximum volume fully clockwise on one track and fully anticlockwise on the other. The centre indent would be both pickups on, then as you rotate the ganged pair you seamlessly change the balance of the two pickups.
Trust me, when I say that to include that this option would make YOUR guitar unique, as the USA makers ones haven't thought of this. YET...

[SWALLOW]

It looks like I’m ahead of the USA builders as the LS1 STANDER has a master volume, pan and tone, as the photo shows. I do not use this now. But use a concentric pot with stack knobs with the master volume near the bridge

[James Crowbear]

that's a real nice one Swallow !
in my previous post when i mentioned "not giving a hoot about the bridge" did'nt mean i was'nt favorable to it
a handy option i guess
i just meant that as long as the steel is in tune & sings is my main concern
Asher has been making these kind of Weiss lektrik lap steels for some time now & being quite successful at it
so more power to you Swallow, you seem to be in the right direction
end of diatribe

[Paul Howells]

ok, here's my two pence worth, and then I might have to duck…

its fine to mention the Les Paul influence and use P90s:
1) because that's what Les Pauls started out with
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Paul_guitar#Goldtop
2) in my not so humble opinion (and clearly most Les Paul buyers disagree with me) a Les Paul sounds much better with P90s

The big fat (original) single coil on my Sho~Bud has reminded me of a P90 more than once. There are many other great tones that I wouldn't mind owning in addition, but to me (other than improving my playing) my Sho~Bud couldn't sound any better!

I also reckon that a tun-o-matic (when made from quality metal) is more than appropriate on a £1500 Les Paul inspired guitar, just as it is on a new Gibson goldtop for which you can easily pay over £2500.

Having said all that, I've read many of Basil’s posts and have a lot of respect for his opinion. Basil you wrote of a 'purpose built customised bridge', I'd love to know what you had in mind and your ideas on building a bridge that improves the tone!

I personally think that the bridge on a lap steel is a hugely neglected area. Despite the original work done by Paul Bigsby and ideas revisited by say the Dusenberg Pomona, I believe there is great opportunity for new creative designs combining ergonomics with ingenuity to bring a bit of string bending to the lap steels for sale today.

If I had my own workshop I'd love to be tinkering with a lap-steel, foot pedals and bits of bicycle break cable It could be a much lighter, grab and go option compared to my pedal steel.

Basil, I'm sure you've appreciated my forthright opinions. I hope so anyway, I do hope one day to make it to a Steelie gathering and make your acquaintance (especially if you bring your Fender with you LOL

Swallow, all the best with your luthiering venture! I have bags of respect for anyone who 'has a go' and starts a business.

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

I am not bored either, good looking axe but I would think a little pricey when you look at the quality and price of 6 string guitars coming out of Korea that have a great finish and perfectly playable. Nothing like that was available when I started to play guitar..... things have sure moved on >>>>>>