| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
FROPPE
Akahai
USA
81 Posts |
 Posted - 06/22/2007 : 2:53:33 PM
|
Aloha, fellow 'Patchers!
I am considering purchasing a resonator or lap steel guitar, and have next to zero experience with them.
Hawaiian and acoustic blues styles are what interest me the most. Am I being reasonable to look for an acoustic or acoustic-electric instrument that will work for both styles? Taropatch (Open G) tuning is what I'm familiar with for my slack-key playing, and I would prefer to stay with what I know.
The square neck vs. round neck issue is a little confusing, especially with what I've heard with regard to tunings. At this point, my research (?) has me leaning toward a square neck resonator. My budget will probably fall in the $1,000 to $1,500 range. I would prefer to try out the brand or model before I buy, which will probably rule out some of the finer custom luthiers. (Price range probably will, too) I am serious and would like to acquire a nice instrument up front, so I'm not regretting my decision a year or two from now.
Thus far, the instruments that I have seen that come closest are the Regal and Goldtones. I live in Austin, Texas, and am pretty much confined to looking in music stores.
Any advice and/or experiences will certainly be appreciated. Mahalo!
Aloha,
Ben Sterling
|
|
|
Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2007 : 4:29:28 PM
|
Ben, I play 5 different steel guitars - all of them acoustic. If you are seriously thinking about acoustic Hawaiian Lap steel, I would suggest that you do try to find a square neck. The round neck guitars will tend to go out of tune as you move your bar up and down the neck, unless they are large and have a nice big truss rod.
As far as reso vs non-reso, it will depend on what you enjoy listening to. Resophonics have wonderful dynamic range, and a distinctive sound, but the wooden guitars have a sweetness that you just won't get from a cone. I have a single cone which I use when I am teaching steel guitar classes, because everyone can hear me. The squareneck resophonic is best at certain styles of music that are brighter, faster, and played with other instruments (that's what they were designed for).
One of my students has a nice Gold Tone dobro type of guitar, and it is certainly a usable guitar. But it always reminds me of bluegrass more than Hawaiian music. I think you can get these Gold Tones for much less than you mention in your budget. Maybe get one to learn on, and keep a slush fund going for your next steel!
My Weissenborn style guitar (cedar top Superior) is much too quiet for group playing, but if I am playing a solo set on stage, I generally go with the Superior because there are subtle effects which I can't do on the resophonic. Look at the "Superior" brand guitars at: http://www.berkeleymusic.com/Hawaiian.htm They are in your price range, and some of them are very beautiful. Using your right hand to dampen the strings is not possible with a covered bridge used on resonator guitars. I get over the quietness of the Superior by using a humbucker coil type pickup that I mount in the soundhole when I need it.
I have been playing in Taro Patch G tuning for about 8 years now, and I find that between Taro Patch G and G6th (tuning the 4th string up to an E) I am able to play a lot of different styles. C6th is popular here in Hawaii too, but there are many types of music that don't sound that hot with a 6th tuning.
Best advice I got when starting on the lap steel was from Ken Emerson who told me; "Stick with just one tuning for at least a year, or you will drive yourself crazy and may give up completely." I have to agree. If you stick with Taro Patch G, not only will your slack key playing help your steel playing, but you will learn things playing your steel that you can apply to your slack key playing!
Aloha,
-Konabob
|
Konabob's Walkingbass - http://www.konawalkingbass.com
Taropatch Steel - http://www.konaweb.com/konabob/
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=Konabob2+Walkingbass |
Edited by - Konabob on 06/22/2007 4:49:20 PM |
 |
|
|
slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2007 : 07:54:42 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Konabob
Ben, I play 5 different steel guitars - all of them acoustic. If you are seriously thinking about acoustic Hawaiian Lap steel, I would suggest that you do try to find a square neck. The round neck guitars will tend to go out of tune as you move your bar up and down the neck, unless they are large and have a nice big truss rod.
As far as reso vs non-reso, it will depend on what you enjoy listening to. Resophonics have wonderful dynamic range, and a distinctive sound, but the wooden guitars have a sweetness that you just won't get from a cone. I have a single cone which I use when I am teaching steel guitar classes, because everyone can hear me. The squareneck resophonic is best at certain styles of music that are brighter, faster, and played with other instruments (that's what they were designed for).
One of my students has a nice Gold Tone dobro type of guitar, and it is certainly a usable guitar. But it always reminds me of bluegrass more than Hawaiian music. I think you can get these Gold Tones for much less than you mention in your budget. Maybe get one to learn on, and keep a slush fund going for your next steel!
My Weissenborn style guitar (cedar top Superior) is much too quiet for group playing, but if I am playing a solo set on stage, I generally go with the Superior because there are subtle effects which I can't do on the resophonic. Look at the "Superior" brand guitars at: http://www.berkeleymusic.com/Hawaiian.htm They are in your price range, and some of them are very beautiful. Using your right hand to dampen the strings is not possible with a covered bridge used on resonator guitars. I get over the quietness of the Superior by using a humbucker coil type pickup that I mount in the soundhole when I need it.
I have been playing in Taro Patch G tuning for about 8 years now, and I find that between Taro Patch G and G6th (tuning the 4th string up to an E) I am able to play a lot of different styles. C6th is popular here in Hawaii too, but there are many types of music that don't sound that hot with a 6th tuning.
Best advice I got when starting on the lap steel was from Ken Emerson who told me; "Stick with just one tuning for at least a year, or you will drive yourself crazy and may give up completely." I have to agree. If you stick with Taro Patch G, not only will your slack key playing help your steel playing, but you will learn things playing your steel that you can apply to your slack key playing!
Aloha,
-Konabob
I play both resonator and electric. There is a wonderful CD with George Kuo and Barney Isaacs, where Brney plays a Dobro. It's very sweet. The problem with resonator guitars is that most of them are made from plywood or metal, and they often sound tinny and/or thin - way too much treble, as Konabob said. Because I play in bands, I don't have a Weisenborn style because they are just not loud enough. They DO sound sweet, though. I have a Koa 6 string resonator guitar with a Sitka Spruce top. It cost me $2500, but it has a beautiful, deep sound and is a harmonics monster! However, wait until you get going for a purchase like that.
There are some good, inexpensive starter electric steels out there - less than $300. Morell and Conqueror make playable 6 string lap steels for under $100. A couple of my students play them. I have an 8-string Morell I bought from Eldery Instruments for $258 plus shipping. I use it for knocking around and for hauling around on airplnes. Check out Musician's Friend and Elderly Instruments on the Web to augment your music store search. Good luck! |
keaka |
|
|
|
hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2007 : 8:13:20 PM
|
Slipry1/Jack,
What kind of amp do you travel with?
Jesse Tinsley |
|
|
|
slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 06/24/2007 : 07:39:09 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by hapakid
Slipry1/Jack,
What kind of amp do you travel with?
Jesse Tinsley
I usually don't travel with an amp. I use a direct box (usually supplied by the sound system), and I carry a little digital reverb with me to help give "presence" to the sound. It's an old steeler's trick - set the reverb at about 3 out of 10 - it brings up the middle of the sound. Of course, I'm at the mercy of the soundman. I have a nice padded gig bag for my Dobro which I got from Musician's Frend several years ago. It has a very large pocket which I put my steel in a gig bag for it. With a small bungee to capture the neck, I have one carry-on with 2 steels! I haven't had to yet, but if I did, I'd pack my little Fender Champ DSP in a box and put it in baggage, even though I prefer the sound of a tube amp for Hawaiian music. Amps are a drag, unless you have a roadie. Oh - at the HSGA convention in Honolulu they had Fender Twin Reverbs and Vobroluxes for us to play out of on stage. I jammed with my koa 6 string (C13 - Bb E G A C E). |
keaka |
|
|
|
hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2007 : 2:06:43 PM
|
Jack,
Do you use/carry a volume pedal to help you jump out front for pa'ani or to lead songs?
Jesse |
|
|
|
slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2007 : 08:56:00 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by hapakid
Jack,
Do you use/carry a volume pedal to help you jump out front for pa'ani or to lead songs?
Jesse
Coming from country music, I used a volume pedal. In fact, the times we've played together I believe that I was using a volume pedal. It's not used much in Hawaiian music, as far as I can tell. So.... the first move was to abandon the volume pedal, then .... extend the legs & play standing up. In my Hawaii treks and at the HSGA convention, only one person who had a steel with legs played sitting down, and he had balance problems. Those playing lap steel, on their laps  , had to sit down, of course. I switched the tunings on my stringmaster necks so my right hand would be close to the volume and tone knobs when I play in C6. The advantage of the pedal is that you can cover up mistakes, control the attack of a note, or increase the volume for a solo and bring it back for fills. Good news for me!! I just got a Jerry Byrd Shot Jackson designed 8 string Frypan on e-bay. I hope it gets here for my July 4 gig. |
keaka |
|
|
|
Momi
Lokahi
402 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2007 : 6:55:23 PM
|
At Keaka's request, I attach here two photos from tonight's kanikapila at our resident Saint Neeej's hale where he's playing with his new frypan:
And a closeup of the frypan:
It/he sure sounded good. |
Edited by - Momi on 07/28/2007 6:56:12 PM |
|
|
|
noeau
Ha`aha`a
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2007 : 8:41:25 PM
|
| Which one is the frying pan? |
No'eau, eia au he mea pa'ani wale nō. |
|
|
|
dr. cookie
Lokahi
USA
299 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2007 : 9:36:44 PM
|
| Cool thing was during the kani-break when he made us all omlettes . . . |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
