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 Post subject: Designing new lap steel
PostPosted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:56 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Sat May 22, 2010 10:32 am
Posts: 2616
First name: alan
Last Name: stassforth
City: Santa Rosa
State: ca
Zip/Postal Code: 95404
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Hey, I'm starting to design, in my head right now, an acoustic lap steel.
One reason is so I can have a better choice of wood.
The Weiss style wood available is somewhat limited.
So, I'm thing about an om, or sj type thing, with a square neck.
My idea is to curve the sides where they join the neck,
curving up to the nut.
Make sense?
I saw a guitar here that had that feature,
and I liked the look.
Kind of a regular guitar that wanted to look like a Wiess.
Anybody here do it that way with a pic?
Thank you,
Alan.
Oh, also, where does one find plans here?
I can't find them.
Classifieds?


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PostPosted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 6:43 pm 
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Mahogany
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Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:51 am
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Location: Phoenix, AZ
Status: Semi-pro
So, something like a Kona? The body joins a neck at the 7th fret. Bear Creek Guitars makes plenty of new ones in the Kona style. I've played one of Bob Brozman's, and it's awesome. I'd like to build one myself.

http://www.bearcreekguitars.com/models/ ... na-rocket/

Chris J. Knutsen built a ton of oddball Hawaiians - he's the guy who invented the Hawaiian guitar (acoustic steel) and taught Herman Weissenborn how to make them. He also invented the modern American harp guitar, and licensed the design to the Larson Brothers, but that's another story. Look at his convertible guitars (the HCWs, the HCSs). Some of the "Weissenborn-shaped" (HWs) have necks on them as well.

http://www.harpguitars.net/knutsen/hawaiians.htm

I would like a Kona-style guitar, so I think I'll build one. I am the current owner of the Knutsen labeled HW30, a full hollowneck.


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PostPosted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 7:49 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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First name: alan
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Status: Amateur
Hi John, thanks for the info.
I was just now drawing it out.
Looks like the sj dimensions work the best.
It's like the old Konas, but swoops up tighter.
A little longer neck, so I can use available "tonewoods".
I like the way my drawing looks, and I can use the wiess bracing that i've changed, and experimenting with.


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PostPosted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 7:59 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Sat May 22, 2010 10:32 am
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First name: alan
Last Name: stassforth
City: Santa Rosa
State: ca
Zip/Postal Code: 95404
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Using up some old African Mahog, and spruce I have laying around for a proto-type.
Got some stuff done today on it.
See where I'm going?
This is a wiess mold.


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PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 12:30 am 
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Mahogany
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Location: Phoenix, AZ
Status: Semi-pro
Looks pretty intriguing... I'm really interested to see how it comes out!


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PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 2:17 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Sat May 22, 2010 10:32 am
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First name: alan
Last Name: stassforth
City: Santa Rosa
State: ca
Zip/Postal Code: 95404
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Here are some progress pics.
That Af mahog was hard to bend, at .095".
Wanted to spring back.
I'm going with this bracing pattern, as I've found the weiss plan lower brace isn't enough.
Too big a space below the bridge,
hence the hills and dales in the lower bout on a 4 year old build of mine.
Waiting for the humidity to get right before gluing.
Tuned up my lil Stanley,
so I could show some shavings in a pic like some of you do.


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PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:40 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Sat May 22, 2010 10:32 am
Posts: 2616
First name: alan
Last Name: stassforth
City: Santa Rosa
State: ca
Zip/Postal Code: 95404
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Gotta bind, and cut and glue the f.b.
Is it too weird looking?
If you think so,
thank you!


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PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 12:38 am 
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Koa
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Last edited by TonyFrancis on Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:15 am, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 11:35 am 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Fri Dec 16, 2005 1:47 am
Posts: 504
Location: United States
Looks good to me and I tend to prefer the tone of the Konas I've played (I think it's the deeper body). Been meaning to make one for myself for years but never seem to get around to it.


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