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Lap steel build

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Likeakite
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My son asked me to build him a lap steel guitar so thought I'd give it a go. I got him involved and guided him through the process from start to finish...a great bit of father and son time during lockdown. The copper alien control plate was fun to make.

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Russ
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Superb @likeakite. That's what it's all about..... spending quality time with your son.....and building a guitar..... perfect. 👍😁 

🎸🎶🙂🙏

🗝️ "Life's what you make it"🗝️


   
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Boo
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@likeakite Wow, that looks amazing, something I’ve never done. Very nice woods and yes I love the alien plate too. Top job! 👍

Make guitars, not war 🌍✌️🎸


   
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Likeakite
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Cheers Russ and Boo. Made from spalted beech. Next project is an electric guitar for our daughter. May be I need to organise the wkrkshop a little better first 🙂 Hope everyone is doing well.


   
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Boo
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Next project is an electric guitar for our daughter. May be I need to organise the wkrkshop a little better first

@likeakite I look forward to seeing the next build. I know how you feel, I definitely need to tidy my workshop soon, it’s got totally out of hand. 

Make guitars, not war 🌍✌️🎸


   
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Russ
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@likeakite. Is your daughter going to join you in the guitar build? 😁 

🙏🙂🎶🎸

🗝️ "Life's what you make it"🗝️


   
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Likeakite
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She lives a bit of a distance so may not be able to help too much...but that would be wonderful to share the experience with her. She's given me orders it has to be purple with gold. It also needs to be very light weight for her as she's got physical issues, so I've picked up bass wood for the body and haven't decided on neck material yet.


   
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Koendb
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@likeakite That looks great! Some day I ll build one of those too


   
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Likeakite
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Yeah, it was a fun build, slightly more complicated than I thought it would be though 🤔


   
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mattbeels
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I definitely need to tidy my workshop soon, it’s got totally out of hand. 

@boo

You got that right!

Practice on scrap...


   
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mattbeels
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Great job there @likeakite & son! You’ve definitely inspired me, I don’t know when but I’m going to build one too!

What were the unexpected complications? 

Practice on scrap...


   
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Likeakite
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Hi Matt, the complications were more niggles than anything. Width of the stock I wanted to use was "just" wide enough so I couldn't round the edges by the fretboard which I wanted to do, ended up putting binding around it, which was fine. Because it is a 23" scale length I would possibly use a slightly differnt bridge with a bit more adjustment for the intonation, this one was a cheap Chinese made thing. However; it is intonated and plays really nicely. Go make one, it's fun 😁 It's like learning a new instrument though which is also fun ! C6 tuning at the moment.


   
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Clinton
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@likeakite Oh yeah! Very nice. I made one as well some eons ago. 


   
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Likeakite
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They're cool Clint...it really is like trying to learn a new instrument ...fun 😁


   
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Rocknroller912
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@likeakite

Great work did you use ready made plans or draw your own from scratch

Some people call me a tool, others are less complimentary. Tools being useful things.


   
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Likeakite
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Hi Rocknroller, I drew rough plans up from scratch but then just made it up as I went along, once I knew length of headstock, and scale length.


   
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Likeakite
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More father and son time making a tonebar for the lap steel we made. Drilled through a 20mm round brass bar, parted it off to length, polished to fit the multi layered laminate hold we made from ebony, spalted beach, maple and mahogany.

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Deej
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That tonebar is stunning

I have too many guitars...said no one in the world..ever!


   
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Likeakite
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Thank you Deej 😁


   
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tv1
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WOW !!!!

Online guitar making courses – guitarmaking.co.uk


   
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