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Permalink Reply by Peter J Thorne on March 15, 2016 at 7:30am

Nice! Like the way it looks!

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Permalink Reply by Steven Bruce on March 17, 2016 at 4:23pm

Thanks! It sure exceeded my expectations when I started it!

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Permalink Reply by Hal Robertson on March 19, 2016 at 2:41pm

I was inpspired to give the 2x4 lap steel a go too. Just happened to have a scrap long enough in the garage. CBGitty tuners, 1/8" aluminum bar for nut and bridge, fretboard is just scrap ply and was marked and kerfed on my table saw. Markers are just shallow drill holes. Never really completed it. No finish or electronics yet (diddly bow pickup for testing). Unfortunately, the 2x4 has developed a bit of a twist over time. May have to take another crack at it. Love the fender washer for the jack. "Borrowing" that one!

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Permalink Reply by Steven Bruce on March 20, 2016 at 3:24am

The table sawed fret board gives me ideas. I am working on building an acoustic version for a friend who wants one for help in opening her chakras! It'll be diatonic tuning, like a dulcimer, but with only two strings––one for reference, and one for intoning up the scale. The plan is to use the 2x4 at each end, and build a box with sound holes out of 1/4 ply, and I would like to get hold of some 1/8 birch or something for the top. Then the notes will each be indicated by a different color for each chakra, a spectrum from red to violet. Yeah, after I fix the washing machine!

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Permalink Reply by Keith Duvall on March 20, 2016 at 1:42am

Steven, I too bult one very much like Shane's.  My problem is figuring what strings to use. I have a couple of guys that want one.  Are you using just regular strings and what is your tuning?  Thanks so much.

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Permalink Reply by Steven Bruce on March 20, 2016 at 3:13am

I am using regular electric guitar strings. I went to the local music store and asked for the cheapest, of course. The machine sounds great with them. The suggested tuning is open D: from low to high, D A D F# A D. Good luck! My nephew is taking guitar lessons at the Old Town School in Chicago, but the slide guitar I "loaned" him is opening up a whole new world of blues for him!

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Permalink Reply by Frank Carr on March 20, 2016 at 4:33am

It depends on the tuning. If you go for an open G or open D type tuning, standard guitar strings are fine. If you decide on a C6 (aka Hawaiian tuning), then you'll need to get a set specifically for that tuning.

G and D tuning give you a blues and country blues type sound. If you play regular slide guitar it's pretty easy to do.

The C6 tuning gives a Hawaiian or more modern country sound. It's a bit different and requires a greater degree of skill and precision, mainly with muting and slanted barring, than with blues slide guitar.

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Permalink Reply by Larry Hill on September 12, 2016 at 9:24am

I tweaked the original plans for the 2X4 lap steel and I ended up with this.

Attachments:

• IMG_1912.JPG, 1.5 MB

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Permalink Reply by Grandpa on September 12, 2016 at 2:38pm

Larry and Steve have raised the bar! I built a "Shane" style lap steel last year, and I am inspired to put mine back on the bench to "refurbish" my original build. Although, a new build might just be more fun. Good work, guys.

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