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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
 Posted - 01/27/2005 : 08:31:35 AM
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Aloha all your happy sliders -
I've been looking into flight cases for my Weisenheimer so I could take the puppy to camp, and came up with a novel idea... why not bring a lap steel & battery-powered amp instead? As in -- something solid, cheap, small, affordable & it all fits inside my suitacase or an overhead compartment.
Here's what I got -
1) Artisan Lap Steel from Musicians Friend. Cheap ain't the half of it -- $68.00. It's small, lightweight, kinda cool looking (Dark Blue Sparkle.) Nice single coil pickup, tone & volume. Decent (?) bridge, decent nut, cheap - *ss tuners that nevertheless hold their tune. The fretboard is kinda cool in the way those really ugly LA apartment houses are kinda cool.
It sounds absolutely great - it's a very bitchen pickup, loud & with some great single coil bite & pop.
The downside -- some demented idiot placed the input jack just to the left of the bridge -- as in, exactly where your picking hand goes. So you need a 90 degree plug -- not a huge problem, but still.... when I get a chance I'll move the jack somewhere sensible.
It comes with a nice little gig bag, which is a big plus.
2) Roland MiniCube Amp. I was unsure of this -- most little amps sounds like, well, little teeny tiny tinny amps. But this is the best sounding battery powered mini job I have heard (save the pro jobs like the Mini Mouse -- just try to find one of those.) Fairly light weight, small (like a cigar box, actually), runs on 4 Ds or AC (wish it was rechargable.) Uses Roland's COSM amp modeling, fairly good FX -- and with the right axe it can get honking loud. Loud enough to use as a practice amp, even above a drummer. Well, some drummers.
The direct outs let you use the amp as a front end for the modeling and FX -- kinda cool idea.
Dial in a clean tone with a Fender Blackface model, tremolo & huge amounts of 'verb and you're in Santo & Johnny land.
It's not as portable as, say, the Dano Honey Tone. And more dough -- aroung $125. Sounds OK with an acoustic, so that's a plus for those rare outdoor wedding gigs in the wilderness.
If you are looking for a really inexpensive way to explore the world of steel - or if you want to have another axe on hand for trying out different tunings, I'd suggest checking out the Artisan.
Happy playing!
Mark
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2005 : 08:56:03 AM
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Artisan EA-1 Electric Lap Steel Guitar
Oh Mark... you've got me so tempted at these prices. Here's another link for ease of finding a picture.
I don't have time for lap steel... I don't have time for lap steel... |
Andy |
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wdf
Ha`aha`a
USA
1154 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2005 : 10:04:24 AM
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| The little Pignose AAA powered amp sounds pretty good. |
Dusty |
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jmk
Lokahi
USA
115 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2005 : 09:49:40 AM
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Does anyone know what tunings (for steel guitar) are being taught at Keola's camp?
Last year at George's camp, Bob Brozman taught cross-over Taropatch for steel.
Mahalo!
Jeri |
Nahenahe |
Edited by - jmk on 01/30/2005 2:44:01 PM |
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Larry Miller
Akahai
USA
65 Posts |
Posted - 01/30/2005 : 06:10:58 AM
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Musician's Friend also has a very nice Weissenheimer (!) case for about $85.
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Whee ha!
Larry M |
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seldomfed
Aloha
USA
33 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2005 : 09:32:42 AM
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Thanks!
I wondered how the Artisan was going to be. Perhaps I should get one to try. I have a few students that ask for cheapo's, I usually say 'ebay'. :)
Roland micro-cube is amazing. I got one in OCT and use it almost daily to rehearse. Take it to jams and it's perfect for steel in low vol. jams. Get this - I didn't have to change batteries until DEC!
Granted - perhaps :30min. of use every other day or so - but still - the batteries last quite long. An excellent amp!
Chris
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2005 : 11:46:33 AM
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quote:
Does anyone know what tunings (for steel guitar) are being taught at Keola's camp?
Last year at George's camp, Bob Brozman taught cross-over Taropatch for steel.
I'm afraid we do not have a steel instructor at the Aloha Music Camp this summer.
KonaBob tells me he's been asked to teach at George's Maui camp in June, so you might write him directly and find out what he's gonna do -- I think he mostly plays in Low G (as in TaroPatch.)
I'll have my steel on Moloka`i, but my playing is very much in the "where the heck is that note?" catagory still.
cheers,
Mark |
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