Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John on May 2, 2017 at 11:39am

Hey, Mike. How does she sound sound with the piezo? Would you have a video? Awesome, job!

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Permalink Reply by Kalmario on May 2, 2017 at 8:54pm

that handle is a great idea.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on May 1, 2017 at 4:08pm

I was trying to decide what to make for the 2x4 challenge when Shane posted his 'mystery" instruments last week. I tried for a pretty close replica. I removed a thin 1/8' plank from the top and bottom so I could hollow out the innards. After cutting the body to shape I re attached top and bottom using small brads. Zither pins for tuners. Aged with a solution of vinegar and steel wool. Here it is

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on May 1, 2017 at 4:55pm

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epinette_des_Vosges

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Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on May 1, 2017 at 9:39pm

Yup!

Exactly.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on May 10, 2017 at 8:31am

Hey cool! Thanks for putting this on the front page!

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Permalink Reply by Shane (www.ShaneSpeal.com) on May 10, 2017 at 5:17pm

that was too cool to pass up.  It's front page worthy!

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Permalink Reply by Milt Haselmire on May 1, 2017 at 6:41pm

I'm wondering if there is any length limitation on the 2X4?  8ft, 10ft, or doesn't matter? 

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Permalink Reply by Shane (www.ShaneSpeal.com) on May 2, 2017 at 8:50am

nope.  no limitation on length

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Permalink Reply by Printer2 on May 4, 2017 at 11:15pm

I am more a 8' 2x4 guy. One thing I would like to ask, if we wanted to build the instrument as a keeper a spruce fretboard would not last too long. While I could replace it afterwards I hate tearing things apart if I don't have to. Any chance for a hardwood fretboard?

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Permalink Reply by John on May 1, 2017 at 11:28pm

No one knows for sure what exactly happened to Mr. Mayfield, but there is a story that has been going around....

The legend goes that after he’d spent the majority of his life working with wood, building instruments with attitude, one day, he just upped and quit it all. He threw all of it out into the backyard and burned it all – except for one piece of 2x4 lumber. After that, he would spend his days out in the garage, sipping whiskey, and staring at one, specific piece of wood – a lone piece of 2x4.

One Saturday, his wife, Nelda, went out to the garage looking for him. “Dinner time!” she’d yelled. She opened the garage door, and he wasn’t there. Just that darn piece of wood which Mr. Mayfield was always staring at. Poor Nelda never saw her husband again, but she kept that piece of wood close for the rest of her life. 

To whoever would listen, she would tell this story that the wood took her husband’s spirit, and this burnt image in the lumber, WAS her husband! “Are you sure that’s a person?” men who beheld the board would ask. She’d reply, “Yes! That’s my husband. His hand’s in the air, shouting hallelujah!”

After Nelda passed away, the piece of wood she cherished for her remaining years was given to a luthier, who had a dream of taking that piece of 2x4, and building it into a lap steel guitar. It’s a simple instrument: simple bolts are installed where nuts and bridges should be. It does have an alnico pickup, its origins are unknown. Six, maybe seven, coats of Tung Oil covers the lap steel, imprisoning the picture, and soul, of Mr. Mayfield.

Is he really in there?

I guess that is up to you to decide.

(lol. I hope the story made you smile. I don't think my 2x4 lap steel is as interesting as some of yours posted...but I still wanted to put mine up here. Thanks for reading and have a good one!) 

Attachments:

• IMG_1201.JPG, 1.3 MB
• IMG_1179.JPG, 2 MB

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Permalink Reply by Lane Martin on May 3, 2017 at 5:23pm

Nice story. Good build.

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