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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/18/2008 12:07 PM
Posts: 114, Visits: 2 |
| Does anyone own a lap steel or have much experience playing one? I was looking at a couple in our local music shop recently, and I thought "that looks like fun" but then wondered why it would be worth buying a specific lap steel (like this one) instead of just laying my tele flat on my knee? Happy New Year, Anton
www.ledaatomica.co.uk
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/27/2008 10:34 PM
Posts: 354, Visits: 253 |
| Anton, Lap Steel Guitars have a raised nut and bridge so the strings are high off the fret board. (see picture below) Players use a metal bar to play, and can get that Hawian tone by pressing down on the strings. I don't think using a Tele would get the same results unless you raise the action very high. Lap Steels are tuned to an open E or G generaly. Pedal Steel Guitars are tuned to an E9th if I remember right.  
"We are what we pretend to be" Kurt Vonnegut, jr. |
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Supreme Being
Group: Moderators
Last Login: 8/22/2007 2:59 PM
Posts: 1,670, Visits: 64 |
| Steel guitar rocks. Lap is played in a way that would not work on your tele. Many of the bends are played by pulling strings behind the bar, something that requires a very high action. Some of the vintage laps have very hot pickups that give them a particular sound.
There are many tunings available for lap steel. Open E and G might be most common. On pedal steel, and even on lap, C6 is used for that Western Swing sound. E9 is the bittersweet sounding country tuning on pedal steel. |
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/18/2008 12:07 PM
Posts: 114, Visits: 2 |
| Thanks guys, I may well do my best to get one of them, they sound so lovely!
www.ledaatomica.co.uk
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