Members Elias Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 The answer to the question that no one was asking is 'yes, it can be done'. Warning: if you are a fan of beautiful woodworking and craftsmanship, I'd suggest you either lower your standards for a few minutes or just stop reading now... this thing is ugly as sin. I guess this was inspired in equal parts by the thing Jack White builds in the intro to It Might Get Loud, and by seeing the beautiful instruments Quarter has built and wanting to give lap steels a try. (Hopefully it's not an insult to Quarter to say that his work inspired this!) I had all the parts laying around from an LP build that I've had to put on hold and figured why not whip something up and put them to use. I grabbed a 2x4 and spent about 90 minutes with a drill, a router, and a handsaw and created this: Yes, this really is a complete hack job. I can honestly say that it's ugly on purpose. It's a miracle that the tailpiece actually stays in, and yes that is masking tape holding the volume pot in place. The pickup is a killer P-90 from bg-pups.com, and it honestly deserves a much better fate than to spend it's life in this abomination. I've got the thing tuned to open A at the moment and have had a blast busting out some really sloppy blues riffs. This thing honestly doesn't sound that bad, but all the credit for that needs to go to the pickup. Feel free to ridicule this as much as you want! Besides the shoddy workmanship, there are some really stupid design flaws (the tailpiece, the tuners touch the floor when I lay it down, etc...). Oh well, this was nothing more than a fun way to spend some time as well as a cheap way to try my hand at playing some lap steel. Eventually all the parts will be reclaimed and find a proper home, but in the meantime I'm actually enjoying this monstrosity! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mightysasquatch Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 I can't believe the tailpiece stays in either, but I like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Northstar Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 Wow. Just... wow. How does it sound? Clips? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Northstar Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 Total cost? How long to build? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rocknhard Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 Careful some rich kid who likes relic'd guitars might offer you 5 grand for it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members etawful Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 I dig this thing. I may have to make one . I have an extra humbucker around and a set of tuners I could use. I don't have a bridge though. I'll have to think about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members symphonictank Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 actually, that's friggin brilliant! I'm going to make one with the spare parts I have around the house. I've definitely got all the hardware for it, and seeing your design gives me some good ideas on how to improve the bridge and tailpiece setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Northstar Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 Let's see, I have three spare pickups, I have 6 tuning pegs, I have various knobs and jacks. I don't have a tailpiece, neither a nut nor a bridge but I think these could be home-made. I have a 2x4. Decisions, decisions... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Blackhell Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 Haha! That's pretty cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Quarter Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 I've got the thing tuned to open A at the moment and have had a blast busting out some really sloppy blues riffs. Cool ... thats the important part! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Into Nation Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 Careful with that thing... You might hurt yourself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Northstar Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 Cool ... thats the important part! Watch out Quarter, you now have some real competition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Posted January 23, 2010 Author Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 Thanks guys, the reception has been a lot warmer than I had anticipated! Total build time was maybe two hours with wiring, and maybe another twenty minutes to mark the lines with a sharpie.Total cost was probably about $150, although there is no way anyone in their right mind would spend more than $20 to buy one of these! I really don't have a good point of reference as to how it sounds. I like the sound enough to enjoy playing it, but that's as all I can say. I would love to see what you guys could come up with for cheap and easy lap steel builds... there could be some interesting variations on this theme! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Coda_ Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 ...clips or its made of play-doh... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members headless Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 Locking tuners (Gotoh?)! Flat-wound strings. I know nothing about lap-steels: Is that the norm for this type of instrument? When I get access to a camera I'll post my, "To much time/not enough money" DIY build that came-about from some donated 3/4" x 3 1/2" Poplar, and pieces from Maple furniture that were destined for the bonfire. Up until now I had been to embarrassed to show it, but you've given me inspiration to come out of the closet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members danman1980 Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 That thing is rad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PunkKitty Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 I totally dig it! Very cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bro Blue Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 That is really awesome. I've thought about doing this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ChrisGansz Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 You know - that is a COOL build so that you can test pickups on before installing them into a guitar. You should make the pickup swappable! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mike Fiasco Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 That's some fine work you've done there considering they don't have any sandpaper in North. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ChrisGansz Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 Thanks guys, the reception has been a lot warmer than I had anticipated! Total build time was maybe two hours with wiring, and maybe another twenty minutes to mark the lines with a sharpie.Total cost was probably about $150, although there is no way anyone in their right mind would spend more than $20 to buy one of these!I really don't have a good point of reference as to how it sounds. I like the sound enough to enjoy playing it, but that's as all I can say.I would love to see what you guys could come up with for cheap and easy lap steel builds... there could be some interesting variations on this theme!Don't let Wal Mart get a hold of it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Roy Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 leaving the AFPA stamp on there was a nice touch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SirJackdeFuzz Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 I like it . . . very Jack White'ish Also reminds me somewhat of Seasick Steve's Didly bow. [YOUTUBE]g5YFolCXn3w[/YOUTUBE] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5YFolCXn3w Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hellion_213 Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 That's really freaking awesome man!! And in 2 hours no less Great job, would to hear a clip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Northstar Posted January 23, 2010 Members Share Posted January 23, 2010 C L I P S CLIPS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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