The I promise I will not buy more gear-thread

[Cordelia]

that's beautiful Cordelia, Chandler use to make sweet necks (not sure if they still do). However I'm intrigued by the first link in my post, I believe my buddy has planer. I have the hardware, a couple pieces of wood, build a nut and bridge, how much could it cost?

If anyone could build a nice lap steel, it would be you Hink. Go for it!
The bridge is from a Junior. The nut is a piece of bent aluminum.

Do you play much slide, Hink? I love to play slide but currently neither of my electrics is set up for it (and they just feel so perfect right now).

[Hink]

that's beautiful Cordelia, Chandler use to make sweet necks (not sure if they still do). However I'm intrigued by the first link in my post, I believe my buddy has planer. I have the hardware, a couple pieces of wood, build a nut and bridge, how much could it cost?

If anyone could build a nice lap steel, it would be you Hink. Go for it!
The bridge is from a Junior. The nut is a piece of bent aluminum.

Do you play much slide, Hink? I love to play slide but currently neither of my electrics is set up for it (and they just feel so perfect right now).

I don't play much slide, or at least I haven't in the past. But a couple of months ago I bought a jet slide, I think I'm going to set an older Dean acoustic I have for it. Here's a basic video of someone using it, it's a great concept and really works well

[Hink]

if I built a lap steel would I be nutz to put a floyd rose on it? (I have 4 or 5 doing nothing)

[Nielzie]

I promise I will not b.. ahhh nevermind...

[robogone]

I promise I will not buy any more gear this year.

My wife is buying it for me

[susiwong]

if I built a lap steel would I be nutz to put a floyd rose on it? (I have 4 or 5 doing nothing)

Yes.
Why not think about some good banjo tuners (with the tuning stops) or one of those programmable bridges Landreth plays instead ?
http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.p ... t_list&c=9
http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/B4CADJ.htm
They work great, I once put them on a '76 Firebird, only problem was they made the guitar even more neck heavy than before.
Not an issue on a lap steel.
A graphite saddle would be a nice addition for both.
Ymmv,
susiwong

[Hink]

if I built a lap steel would I be nutz to put a floyd rose on it? (I have 4 or 5 doing nothing)

Yes.
Why not think about some good banjo tuners (with the tuning stops) or one of those programmable bridges Landreth plays instead ?
http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.p ... t_list&c=9
http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/B4CADJ.htm
They work great, I once put them on a '76 Firebird, only problem was they made the guitar even more neck heavy than before.
Not an issue on a lap steel.
A graphite saddle would be a nice addition for both.
Ymmv,
susiwong

yeah but I have a few floyd rose tremolos lying around...I did just order what I need to make my old acoustic a slide guitar, all I needed was bridge pins and steel strings. I have that prime thing on amazon so it cost less than 10 bux and no shipping charges for second day delivery.

The Dean had the back separate from the body years ago, I'll glue it back but it's only on one corner. It also has a pre-amp/pick-up, so all I'm going to do is shim the saddle and shim the nut so they are too high, maybe I should pop the frets and fill them with light colored putty? (I'll think about a graphite saddle though)

That jet slide is the coolest thing ever, though I guess if I mutilate a guitar for just slide it's best feature is moot

I don't know if you saw it, but for my dulcimer I found piezo pick-ups that are about the size of a quarter for 7 and half bux each on ebay, they work awesome. I bought two and they stick on.

FWIW I doubt I'll be too quick in making a lap steel, but you never know. There's a special feeling making music on an instrument you built

[JediMind]

Xmas near + Yamaha SY77 at $250 = unbearable temptation.

[Arglebargle]

I'm actually geared out, and have been for awhile. Even the group buys aren't interesting me these days.

edit: I am more interested in soundbanks though, it's like buying a new synth without the price tag or learning curve.

[susiwong]

I have a few floyd rose tremolos lying around...I did just order what I need to make my old acoustic a slide guitar, all I needed was bridge pins and steel strings. I have that prime thing on amazon so it cost less than 10 bux and no shipping charges for second day delivery.

The Dean had the back separate from the body years ago, I'll glue it back but it's only on one corner. It also has a pre-amp/pick-up, so all I'm going to do is shim the saddle and shim the nut so they are too high, maybe I should pop the frets and fill them with light colored putty? (I'll think about a graphite saddle though)

That jet slide is the coolest thing ever, though I guess if I mutilate a guitar for just slide it's best feature is moot

I don't know if you saw it, but for my dulcimer I found piezo pick-ups that are about the size of a quarter for 7 and half bux each on ebay, they work awesome. I bought two and they stick on.

FWIW I doubt I'll be too quick in making a lap steel, but you never know. There's a special feeling making music on an instrument you built

That Floyd will work as a fixed bridge, so why not ?
I can't really see it making any sense as a vibrato however, for several reasons.
One being the pressure on the steel bar necessary for good tone, and then it would only work for open strings or harmonics imho, using it on notes played with the bar, even lightly, will result in buzzing / dead notes for sure.
Not even talking about brain overload ...
I would keep the frets, they won't get in your way.
With a Floyd I'd simply use a locking nut personally.
Ymmv ...
Have fun, sounds like an easy conversion more or less.
Keep us posted !
Btw, might not be practical for that project, but a P90 in a steel is a thing of beauty.
Cheers,
susiwong

Oh, and for some additional foolishness :
http://www.rockinger.com/index.php?cat= ... f84ec6f3ce

[Hink]

like I said I doubt I'll build a lap steel, but I am turning the dean acoustic into a slide only guitar. I did decide to yank the frets, the body is black with a single cutaway and adequately scratched up to have character. I figured instead of raising the saddle or the nut pulling out the frets would give me the same clearance I want. As crazy as it sounds what I'll wait on the most is the wood filler in the fret slots and glue on back to dry. By then the bridge pins and strings will be here and it will be a matter of stringing it.

I realize that everything I'm doing to this guitar goes against the grain so to speak but with any luck it will sound bad enough to be perfect for what I want

[susiwong]

like I said I doubt I'll build a lap steel, but I am turning the dean acoustic into a slide only guitar. I did decide to yank the frets, the body is black with a single cutaway and adequately scratched up to have character. I figured instead of raising the saddle or the nut pulling out the frets would give me the same clearance I want. As crazy as it sounds what I'll wait on the most is the wood filler in the fret slots and glue on back to dry. By then the bridge pins and strings will be here and it will be a matter of stringing it.

I realize that everything I'm doing to this guitar goes against the grain so to speak but with any luck it will sound bad enough to be perfect for what I want

Ok, with Dean I associated one of these pointy metal axes.
Never saw a Dean Acousic.
Cheers,
susiwong

[flynsk]

There were extenuating circumstances for Alchemy!

...but I promise not to buy anything else until I've fully payed off my current gear debt.

[sureno]

remove this atrocious thread it is offensive to the eyeballs

[Meffy]

How luxuriantly easy it is to have no spending money whatever. Nothing to worry about wanting to buy. The decision is made before the question is asked.

It was true in July and it's just as true now. Haven't bought any music software or hardware since then. Not likely to any time soon either. I could claim to be some kind of epitome of virtuous frugality except it's not a choice; mortgage and bills take priority and right now that takes everything that comes in.