DocFMF Posted October 12, 2016 Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 I have just completed my first electric. It's a Lap Steel Guitar loosely based on a Fender Telecaster. Thus the name Fenderesque Tele Lapster. The neck/body are made from a cherry board that I have saved since the early 1980's for a special project and the fret board is flame maple. The components are aftermarket tele parts and a roller bridge & string guides. I decided to go "strings through body" for longer sustain. The cherry lends itself to a very bright yet rich tone. I have her tuned to C 6th tuning at this time but I am considering changing the strings for an open D tuning for blues and country music. Besides I already have a C 6th lap steel for Hawaiian and rock use. I would welcome any comments on my latest project. DocFMF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocFMF Posted October 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 Oh yeah.... Inlayed mother of pearl dots and a square neck ala dobro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted October 12, 2016 Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 Very nice! I'd be tempted to pick it up and play it conventionally from time to time. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocFMF Posted October 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 Thanks I appreciate your response. Actually I designed it to play both in the lap or conventionally with a strap. Being a lap steel.... It has no actual frets. So either way it is played, I'll still need to use a slide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted October 13, 2016 Report Share Posted October 13, 2016 Good point. Your fret indicators fooled me completely. What did you use for those? SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocFMF Posted October 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2016 I used a roll of black automotive pin stripe from Autozone. Then I covered the whole fretboard with 8 coats of clear enamel paint. Then wet sanding to 1000 grit between each coat. It makes the maple look like aged ivory like you would find on a very old piano. It also makes the MOP dots look like they are floating above the surface of the fretboard. On my next one I will use walnut shims if I use a light color fretboard or maple if I go dark. I do have a sweet piece of purple heart that would make a nice fretboard or shims... Thanks now you have me thinking of a next project... LOL!!! Doc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 16 hours ago, DocFMF said: Thanks now you have me thinking of a next project... LOL!!! Doc. That's the nature of the beast. Like the old Lay's potato chips commercials said: you can't eat just one. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocFMF Posted October 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 Well as I mentioned earlier... This was my first foray into all electric guitars.... But not my first build. I have built many dulcimers of many styles, two arch top mandolins, a banjo, a ukulele, an electric/acoustic 3 string cedar wine box slide guitar, and even a bowed psalmodicon. I think my favorite instrument in my collection is a Russian balalaika my cousin in Germany sent me after I sent her one of the mandolins I built. I'm considering building a double neck console lap steel next. Doc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 Nice collection I love the carve of the new one - brings out the beauty of that lovely piece of cherrywood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocFMF Posted October 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 It was not actually a carve. I started with a small (very very sharp) hatchet then shaped it further with a spoke shave. I then pulled out my two hand plane and so on and so on........ OH!?!? WAIT!!! You meant carve for shape...... DUH!!! LOL!!!! I also carve holiday figurines....... Thus my confusion.... Thank you Andy I appreciate your reply Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted October 15, 2016 Report Share Posted October 15, 2016 21 hours ago, DocFMF said: It was not actually a carve. I started with a small (very very sharp) hatchet then shaped it further with a spoke shave. I then pulled out my two hand plane and so on and so on........ OH!?!? WAIT!!! You meant carve for shape...... DUH!!! LOL!!!! I also carve holiday figurines....... Thus my confusion.... Thank you Andy I appreciate your reply You should do a carve thread next time you do one of those. I do a little of that myself. My avatar, ol' bear, is documented in a thread in the off topics chat section. Well, most of it is.....the beginning few pages were lost in a site crash a few years back. It would be cool to see someone else do a carve thread. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocFMF Posted October 15, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2016 (edited) I'm not sure what you mean by carve thread.... But I am considering attempting to build a 2 neck electric acoustic console lap steel next, I already have the components on order. I'm going to use dual P 90's for the pickups for each neck with a Les Paul style harness. One will be tuned to open D and the other to open G, This one will be a cross between a pedal steel and a lap steel. I'm considering going rectangular box mode with F holes on each side of the top for the body. Rather than using actual pedal steel actuators (which are too cumbersome, heavy, and expensive for my use). I will use volume and wah pedals with my Marshall amp to get as close to the true 12 string pedal steel sound as I can get. Any opinions on this idea? Doc Edited October 16, 2016 by DocFMF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted October 17, 2016 Report Share Posted October 17, 2016 On 10/15/2016 at 6:59 PM, DocFMF said: I'm not sure what you mean by carve thread.... This is what I mean by a carve thread........or at least the last half of one. And I love P-90s, My current build is getting an overwound set. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocFMF Posted October 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2016 (edited) Ahhhhh I see said the blind man. I have never carved anything that large.... I do have to shed a tear for that lovely spalted maple. But it is a very nice carving..... Well done my friend. I do mostly figurines, busts, & Christmas tree ornaments. My favorite carving subjects are my tree spirits. But give me a good looking piece of wood and I'll do something with it. I carry my carving box everywhere. Some days I go to the lake and wander around looking for just the right piece. Then I find a nice shady tree, plop down, & whittle & carve.... It's so nice being retired Doc Edited October 17, 2016 by DocFMF I forgot the pictures the first time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted October 17, 2016 Report Share Posted October 17, 2016 Nice work. I've never tried any tree spirits--I dunno why, I've always liked them. Ol' bear was by far the biggest thing I've ever tried. I picked up a pecan log that was in a neighbor's front yard waiting to be hauled off. I stuck it in the garage and forgot about it for about 8 years. It wasn't spalted when it went in...... I know what you mean about walking around the country side hunting for a piece that speaks to you. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocFMF Posted October 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2016 That's how I found my walking stick (the one with the snake on it). It was a small pin oak tree that was strangled to death by a grape vine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted October 17, 2016 Report Share Posted October 17, 2016 Oddly enough, it was a twisted carved walking stick that I picked up as a kid and kept for years, that inspired me to try my hand at carving. The picture of yours reminded me of that. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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