NLP - New Lapsteel Day?

[Paulie2]

This 1946 Gibson BR-3 popped up locally for a great price, so when my wife asked what I wanted for Christmas I decided to grab this. I have always been into the sound and thought it might be fun break from working on jazz guitar. Now I just have to figure out what the hell I am doing on it!!

Anyone on the forum into lap steel guitars?

[MjBobolink]

I'm into lap steel more than I play it, unfortunately! I have a Silvertone 1315 from 1952 that has a Gibson-made P13 pickup. A lot of country swing players like C6 tuning. Andy Volk's book "Exploring C6th Lap Steel Guitar" seems pretty good. I started working through it right before COVID. I have S.I.T. "Scotty's" C6th, non pedal/Lap Steel strings on mine. I've been meaning to pick it up again. If you go into the weeds of lap steel, there are all sorts of tunings and recommended string sets, etc. The Lap Steel Lunatics group on Facebook is a pretty good place; they have zero tolerance for nonsense--good folks there.

Your lap steel is a nice find. They're fun to play, and interesting to learn about that whole world of playing.

Take care!

[bmw2002]

Over on the Steel Guitar Forum you’ll find a whole sub-forum devoted to the topic: Steel Without Pedals. The very first topic is a link to tabs for the lap steel. Steel Without Pedals : The Steel Guitar Forum

I used to play pedal steel and always admired folks who could play lap steel. Lots of slanted bar and palm muting if I remember correctly. Have fun!

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Love ‘em! That Gibson is truly neat!

I even take mine on some blues gigs. If you want a usable carrying case at a reasonable price, look at pedalboard gig bags. I got an oddball bag in a close out pile new for $15 that was made for some kind of small keyboard or synthesizer.

The Stringtone changer on mine is really cool, too. I stumbled across this one at a guitar show. No one wanted it, so I took it home for pocket change.

[Greentone]

I have had a lap steel for about 30 years. It is in C6.

Enjoy!

[Paulie2]

I have had a lap steel for about 30 years. It is in C6.

Enjoy!

I am trying to work on it in C6 as well. The open tunings seem way easier, but C6 seems way more versatile

[Paulie2]

I'm into lap steel more than I play it, unfortunately! I have a Silvertone 1315 from 1952 that has a Gibson-made P13 pickup. A lot of country swing players like C6 tuning. Andy Volk's book "Exploring C6th Lap Steel Guitar" seems pretty good. I started working through it right before COVID. I have S.I.T. "Scotty's" C6th, non pedal/Lap Steel strings on mine. I've been meaning to pick it up again. If you go into the weeds of lap steel, there are all sorts of tunings and recommended string sets, etc. The Lap Steel Lunatics group on Facebook is a pretty good place; they have zero tolerance for nonsense--good folks there.

Your lap steel is a nice find. They're fun to play, and interesting to learn about that whole world of playing.

Take care!

Thanks! Yes those are the exact same strings I just put on it as well. I will check out the book too

[AllanAllen]

These three videos will have you off to the races.

[Flat]

This is my Rickenbacher Electro B6 (from back before they became Rickenbacker).

I think the pickguard plates were originally white for the "panda" look. But these black replacements are well-cut heavy plastic and work fine.

I'm a big fan of the lap steel playing of David Lindley, and Greg Leisz with Bill Frisell. My Ricky has the more narrow 1.5-inch(?) horseshoe pickup, but if you ever shop for one of these, I understand the wider 2-inch(?) pickup is a bit ballsier and more desirable.

Weighs a ton. Bakelite body. A joy to play. Or so I expect if I ever do learn properly...