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Can I cover my build with cloth?

Perhaps this is a weird question but, then again, being a beginner I tend to think questions should be asked lol. I'm building an lap steel type instrument but with a tin and a piezo pickup inside the tin. The bridge is going to sit atop the tin and the piezo inside the tin lid. I like pretty things, in the traditional sense of the word, and I'm wondering could I cover my build with material glued around the bottom, sides, under the tin, nut, bridge and strings? I suspect this would affect the acoustic sound but would it affect the amped sound? I live in a ground floor apartment too so a quieter acoustic sound that doesn't affect the amped sound would only be a good thing because I could use headphones late at night when I'd usually be unable to play. I'm genuinely intrigued as to whether this could work.

Thanks in advance for all help and advice.

Dani 'Still Need A Cool Nickname' Garside :)

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Seasick Mick on January 7, 2016 at 9:57am

If it's an electric lapsteel and the strings don't touch the fretboard,you can cover it in anything you want...bottletops...fake fur...decoupage..whatever you like....Enjoy the build and if it doesn't work well for you,try again...

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on January 7, 2016 at 10:09am

I'm really getting my thinking cap on. I'm definitely raiding the material stockpile tomorrow now! Thanks for replying so quickly :)

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on January 7, 2016 at 8:28pm

Thank you for that comment, Wayfinder. Just understanding that failure is expected at times, especially if we do experiment, makes failing feel more accepted around here. In itself, that understanding frees us up to experiment more. I appreciate you giving me that understanding. Thank you :)

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on January 8, 2016 at 3:09am

It can teach us patience and I need to learn patience for sure. In this day of having things immediately my patience skills are seriously lacking.

Permalink Reply by MadGomer on January 7, 2016 at 10:06am

I'd avoid having any cloth between the tin and bridge or tin and nut. Other than that, have at it!

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on January 7, 2016 at 10:10am

Thanks for replying. Have at it I shall. I was thinking of hand painting it with a design at first but since I'm so utterly rubbish at painting, or art in general for that matter, this was an idea.

Permalink Reply by Carl on January 7, 2016 at 11:26am

Dani,
Art is subjective. You might think you're rubbish whereas someone else might want something you've painted in a gallery. To me, CBG's ARE art whether they're clinical, radical or ratty in appearance and when you cover your lap steel in cloth it too becomes a piece of art.
Two that come to mind - Mark Hunt's #20 which is clean and clinical and bloody stunning and pretty much everything I've seen here by Swamp Witch which is at the other end of the spectrum but again bloody stunning.
As Shane say's, "no rules" so go for it and have fun.

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on January 7, 2016 at 8:33pm

Art is most definitely of an individual taste and discernment, Carl. I graduated my Photography degree in 2012 with the highest grade possible and right up to the end I considered everything I did to be utter trash. Perhaps my own perceptions of what is art and what is decent are somewhat skewed. I like your explanation very much. I still think I can't paint or draw worth toffee though so I'll add some pretty fabric to my build and call it art instead lol

Thanks very much for your comment and explanation.

Permalink Reply by Jim Dickison on January 7, 2016 at 11:02am

If ZZ Top can do this...

I don't see why not!

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on January 7, 2016 at 11:10am

HAHA! That's this question answered then :D I'll post photos when it's complete.

Permalink Reply by Jim Dickison on January 7, 2016 at 12:06pm

There's also a pretty well-established tradition of covering guitars with paisley print (usually Telecasters!) Often done with wallpaper... but sometimes done with fabric.

Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on January 8, 2016 at 12:04am

what MadGomer said "avoid having any cloth between the tin and bridge or tin and nut. Other than that, have at it!.............. leather .....tin ....... whatever .