Steven Bruce sent these pictures and descriptions of an improved 2x4 lap steel design, based on the free plans posted in Cigar Box Nation.
PHONO JACK:
The phono jack is attached to a 3/8 inch Fender washer. I recessed the washer a little with a 1 1/4" drill bit, then drilled a 7/8" hole about 1.5" deep to accept the jack and a little excess wire needed to solder the thing on.
The Pickup:
I drilled a 1/4" channel to the pickup recess to thread the wire through. The 2x4 was only 3 and 3/8" wide and started to split when I tried to screw the pickup in place; double sided sticky tape to the rescue! (I just cut off the mounting ears entirely.)
EXTRA: How to Mod a Gold Foil Pickup
Headstock: String Tree from Brass Rods
The string trees are lengths of brass rod with the ends sharpened like nails and bent in a vise to fit; pounded them in with a hammer.
Fret Markers:
The fret markers are 1 1/4" star head screws left over from a recent fence project. The knot in the middle of the board gave me a hard time, so I used a coarser head screw there. A few carpet tacks further up the scale; if I'd thought of it earlier, I'd have used them entirely.
FINISHED INSTRUMENT:
Replies
I tweaked the original plans for the 2X4 lap steel and I ended up with this.
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Larry and Steve have raised the bar! I built a "Shane" style lap steel last year, and I am inspired to put mine back on the bench to "refurbish" my original build. Although, a new build might just be more fun. Good work, guys.
Steven, I too bult one very much like Shane's. My problem is figuring what strings to use. I have a couple of guys that want one. Are you using just regular strings and what is your tuning? Thanks so much.
It depends on the tuning. If you go for an open G or open D type tuning, standard guitar strings are fine. If you decide on a C6 (aka Hawaiian tuning), then you'll need to get a set specifically for that tuning.
G and D tuning give you a blues and country blues type sound. If you play regular slide guitar it's pretty easy to do.
The C6 tuning gives a Hawaiian or more modern country sound. It's a bit different and requires a greater degree of skill and precision, mainly with muting and slanted barring, than with blues slide guitar.
I am using regular electric guitar strings. I went to the local music store and asked for the cheapest, of course. The machine sounds great with them. The suggested tuning is open D: from low to high, D A D F# A D. Good luck! My nephew is taking guitar lessons at the Old Town School in Chicago, but the slide guitar I "loaned" him is opening up a whole new world of blues for him!
I was inpspired to give the 2x4 lap steel a go too. Just happened to have a scrap long enough in the garage. CBGitty tuners, 1/8" aluminum bar for nut and bridge, fretboard is just scrap ply and was marked and kerfed on my table saw. Markers are just shallow drill holes. Never really completed it. No finish or electronics yet (diddly bow pickup for testing). Unfortunately, the 2x4 has developed a bit of a twist over time. May have to take another crack at it. Love the fender washer for the jack. "Borrowing" that one!
The table sawed fret board gives me ideas. I am working on building an acoustic version for a friend who wants one for help in opening her chakras! It'll be diatonic tuning, like a dulcimer, but with only two strings––one for reference, and one for intoning up the scale. The plan is to use the 2x4 at each end, and build a box with sound holes out of 1/4 ply, and I would like to get hold of some 1/8 birch or something for the top. Then the notes will each be indicated by a different color for each chakra, a spectrum from red to violet. Yeah, after I fix the washing machine!
Nice! Like the way it looks!
Thanks! It sure exceeded my expectations when I started it!