Build Your Own Lap Steel Guitar

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Build Your Own Lap Steel Guitar

Build Your Own Lap Steel Guitar!

Start by downloading these vintage plans for making your own lap steel:

Then join in the discussion on building techniques, improvements to the plans and more. 

Want even more lap steel goodness?  Check out Guitar World's columns on making a lap steel from a 2x4 plank:

How to Build a 2x4 Lap Steel Guitar pt. 1

How to Build a 2x4 Lap Steel Guitar pt. 2 - Cool Mods

Members: 153
Latest Activity: Jan 22, 2021

Discussion Forum

Gibson Scale Lap Steel Fret Template:Standard & Metric

Started by BrianQ.. Last reply by Southern Ray Jan 22, 2021. 1 Reply

Standard Metric …Continue

Eliminating hum

Started by Andy R. Last reply by Andy R Jul 7, 2017. 5 Replies

So I got my lap steel painted up, ready to go, install the humbucker and it doesn't buck.. it humsI had the issue in my CBG with a single coil and attaching foil to ground all internals solved it.How…Continue

Pickup for Lapsteel

Started by Lou "cubancigar2000". Last reply by Peter Hendley Jun 30, 2017. 4 Replies

I am building a simple lap steel. I would like to buy a pickup ( 6 string) that is already to go ( dont want to build it) Any suggestions on where to go to find one. My strings spacing on my bridge…Continue

String spacing on the 2 x 4 lap steel

Started by Andy R. Last reply by Andy R May 18, 2017. 3 Replies

Hey I got a lap steel kit from CB Gitty and am about to drill the holes below the bridge for the string feed.Has anyone here put them together using the plans that come with the kit?If so, should the…Continue

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Comment by c# merle on June 6, 2011 at 12:19am

not familiar with australian eucalypts david, but just about any wood is suitable for a lap steel - even a big lump of pine.

this is how i put mine together  8 string lap steel blog

Comment by Alan Roberts on June 5, 2011 at 7:03pm

G'day, David.

You can make a lapsteel out of just about anything. Your traditional guitars are fussy, because of the thin neck. The lapsteel is such a massive chunk of lumber you could make it out of balsa (ok, maybe not balsa). I have no idea about the sustain you can get out of a gum tree. Keep us posted, eh? Just be sure that your wood is properly CURED.

Comment by David T on June 5, 2011 at 2:52pm

Wow, the tone is so full...A magnetic pickup, I presume. What sort.

Also, could you make a a solid bodied lapsteel out of a hardwood. I don't suppose you would be familiar with Australian Eucalypts, but I have a lot of spotted-gun on a block of land down south and have wondered whether I could use it, or some of the other hardwoods, for a lapstyle guitar. The spotted gum is predominantly used for feature flooring timber with similar characteristics to hickory.

Comment by c# merle on June 3, 2011 at 1:48am

welcome to the nation david. with my lap steel, i went for a solid body because of the extra sustain (plus i had the wood handy). obviously it has zero acoustic sound but with a hollow body - cigarbox etc - you could play without an amp.

this is the finished guitar  http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/8-string-lap-steel

real fun to play, enjoy your building!

Comment by David T on June 1, 2011 at 5:22pm

 Hi, I'm a new member from Oz. Just tryin to get a handle oncigar box lapstyle guitars.Notice some folks use solid bodies...and some build with cigar boxes...what's the difference. Why would you go one way versus the other?

cheers,

David T

Comment by Mama Mojo on February 22, 2011 at 3:54am
Very nicely done, Merle! I hope to one-day build one of these....
Comment by c# merle on October 17, 2010 at 1:18am
based loosely on the vintage plans, my take on the 8 string lapsteel

just need to learn to play now...
Comment by c# merle on October 6, 2010 at 10:10am
now we're cooking with gas

Comment by c# merle on September 30, 2010 at 5:52am
got the basic neck shape done

Comment by c# merle on September 29, 2010 at 1:46am
made a start on the lap steel

routed out the basic shape

 

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Discussion Forum

Eliminating hum

Started by Andy R. Last reply by Andy R Jul 7, 2017. 5 Replies

Pickup for Lapsteel

Started by Lou "cubancigar2000". Last reply by Peter Hendley Jun 30, 2017. 4 Replies

String spacing on the 2 x 4 lap steel

Started by Andy R. Last reply by Andy R May 18, 2017. 3 Replies

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