Creative thinking comes in a lot of different packages over here. While photography is a huge driver for me creatively, I also try all kinds of other things when inspiration or boredom strikes.
My dad who has passed some years ago loved to play Hawaiian lap steel guitar or slide guitar as it’s also known. While serving in the USCG, he had been stationed in Hawaii in the 50s and fell in love with the people, the culture and the music. And one thing I fondly remember while growing up were friends of his coming by the house and jam sessions of country western and Hawaiian music. He could play box guitar and slide guitar. He also could play the accordion to a degree which always struck me as a bit odd. I never got answer that I can recall where he picked up that skill from.
He passed away years ago but I got this bug to build a lap steel after seeing an ad for making one from 2x4s of all things. So I order the “kit” from C.B.GITTY which was the electronics , some strings and a sheet of instructions.
I am already a capable woodworker. I didn’t have any fear of that part of the project. I restore vintage electronics, so the electronics didn’t bother me. I still have my dad’s old hand saw from when I was a kid and I used that on this project as a gesture to his memory. I also used an antique wood plane I had restored and a wooden marker scribe that I also restored back to working order.
I enjoy working with vintage tools like the hand plane and such. Often times, there is very little wrong that a good cleaning and some maintenance wont fix. And despite the age, they often work better than the new tools.
the project started with gluing two pieces of 2×1 together to give me a 2×4. Then I had to cut away the head stock, drill holes and carve out openings. I did miss my mark on the holes for the tuning pegs. So I had to insert glued dowels and re-drill them correctly.
Once I managed to drill the correct holes and get the headstock notch cut and smoothed out, I did a trial fit of the parts. When everything fit correctly, I decided it was time to paint. I start with black but decided after seeing the black, I wanted red. I’m partial to primary colors :D. So I just matched the color of the my 4Runner. I used lacquer automotive paint for this. I happen to have it and the red with a clear coat is very durable.
Final assembly went well since i had trial fitted all the parts before painting. It really came alive when the chrome pegs went into place and the “pearl” fret board was installed. Note.. the fret board is an extra option.
I bought some 3D printed leg mounts but I have yet to put it on any legs. I keep going back and forth on that. Maybe someday but for now, it’s a true lap steel guitar. I use my Fender Champ amp and it has very good sound to my uneducated ear. What it DOES sound like is my dads old lap steel from years ago. He had a Rickenbacker Model 100 like this one I found for sale at Garys Classic Guitars from 1956. I really wish he had kept it but he used to cycle guitars like I change shirts. So its long gone to the mists of time. He had the leg kit for it and he also used a Fender Champ amp. that is a match made in heaven for sound quality.
I am not going to post any audio 🙂 I am at the very beginning of learning how to play the guitar. Give me a few months and I might be able to knock out a simple tune. Right now, it’s just noise. But it’s pretty noise. If anyone has ideas for online tutorials or CDs, please post a comment.
You will need to buy a few things.. like a chrome slide and some finger picks. I went for a traditional bar slide but there are other options. The best finger picks for me are the metal ones that I can adjust for my finger size. They also have a nice sound to them.
If anyone wants to give this a go, I can highly recommend C.B. GITTY’s kit. It has just enough stuff and the parts are of a decent quality. Not concert quality but definitely good enough for the backyard Luau with friends and family. Its easy enough to do with basic hand tools and is a lot of fun. Now I’m thinking maybe a box guitar is in my future as a project.
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