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Author
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Topic: Little Roy Wiggins Model
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Boo Bernstein
Member From: Los Angeles, CA
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posted 21 July 2002 12:34 PM
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I have been interested in getting an 8-string lap steel. I just saw in the Elderly Instruments catalog that they are selling a Morrell Little Roy Wiggins model for $325. Does anyone have any experience with these -- how is their sound and playability? Interestingly, it doesn't have a tone control.As long as I'm asking, do they still make 10-string Melobars -- that would be fun to own as well. Look forward to the input. Thanks in advance. Boo |
John Hanusch
Member From: Tucson, AZ
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posted 22 July 2002 08:37 AM
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Boo, my 2cents worth -- go for the Melobar. The Morrells are compact & relatively lightweight, but the tone is lacking. I've a Roy Wiggins model (beautiful maple) that I modded with Stringmaster type bridge, nut & single repro p/u and with strings-thru-body. It sounds better(similar to a Stringmaster with one p/u  ). Maybe a Lawrence p/u might help it??
Anway, it's for sale for half-price of a new one, if interested. |
Jeff Strouse
Member From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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posted 22 July 2002 10:38 AM
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I have a Morrell Little Roy model, and my 2 cents also is to get the Melobar. The Morrell is light and compact like John says, but personally, I find the string spacing too tight. If you want an inexpensive practice guitar, and if you're used to the tighter string spacing (more like you'd find on pedal guitars), the Morrell may work for you; but, hindsight being 20/20, I wouldn't have purchased mine...it's been resting in its case under my bed for about 3 years. Again...only my two cents worth. |
Tom Campbell
Member From: Houston, Texas, USA
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posted 22 July 2002 02:34 PM
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Boo
Take a look at West Coast Steels Hawaiian model. I have one and it has outstanding tone. Maple body, brass nut and bridge, through the body stringing and a GL 10-1 pickup. The web site is: www.westcoaststeel.com. |
David Siegler
Member From: Mill Valley, CA USA
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posted 22 July 2002 05:45 PM
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I think Tom meant to send you to West Coast Steels via this link: http://www.pedalsteel.com/westcoaststeel/ it would be pretty cool if there was a lap steel on the "Samples of Our Work" page for the link he used! |
Kevin Ruddell
Member From: Toledo Ohio USA
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posted 27 July 2002 08:49 AM
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Boo , I have the Little Roy Wiggins 8 string lap steel by Morrell and it comes with a very low output pickup which sounds much, much better plugged into a direct box before your amp to get the output level up to line level. I use a SansAmp active EQ direct box, but a $40 Whirlwind Imp direct box would probably do just as well. John's offer of his guitar with improved bridge and pickup sounds like a sweet deal. The string spacing is 5/16 " as compared to my Regal Dobro's 3/8". I'm not sure how much the Melobar 8 string lap models cost although they have a fine reputation. |
John Bechtel
Member From: Nashville, Tennessee,U.S.A.
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posted 27 July 2002 11:12 PM
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I had a Morrell S-8 Little Roy Mod. I found that you can improve the sound somewhat by pulling that white plastic nut out of there and replacing it with an aluminum one! I no longer own the guitar, but it sounded better when I left it than it did when I first got it! No need to keep it under the bed! John |
Jeff Strouse
Member From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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posted 28 July 2002 12:18 PM
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Thanks for the tip John! I may give that a try. I've always said that axe isn't doing me any good under the bed, but I'm not much of a handyman type. Did you have the aluminum nut special made? |
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