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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Now if you want infinite tuning capability, and don't want to worry about string guages,
get one of these http://www.line6.com/VariaxAcousticPreview/US/

I wonder if it can be played with a slide? I'm going to find out. The reso tones are intriguing.

Would this be cool for a lap steel or what?
You could have a frypan, ricky bakelite, wiesenborn, tricone, etc. all in one instrument - ouch? I'd buy one!

chris

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Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"There is no spoon"
www.book-em-danno.com

I'm amazed that this product isn't more popular. One would think the design 'taylor-made' for non-pedal steel guitar.

Jeff: String spacing is a tad greater than the common 3/8", if I remember it's 7/16. I sort of like the wider spacing. The trilogy I have is one piece with built in adjustable bridge saddles, I don't think they do that anymore. So I suppose by creating your own saddle you can accomodate some spacing variations.

It's easy to use and I can leave the Stringmaster home and still have a 'two neck' guitar. And theoretically 3**8 = 6,561 necks (I think).

The use model for this thing is just to quickly re-tune your guitar. If you want to retune between licks - that's a pedal steel I've played slack key for 30 years and lots of open tunings on guitars so I'm comfortable with multi tunings, as I get more used to the steel tunings I find that perhaps the mechanical thing isn't that necessary, but it is nice.

I don't have a roller bridge and I think that would help. It stays in tune about 97% of the time , I still have to tweak it sometimes. Esp. for that low C in the Hawaiian C13.

I orig. thought this would be really cool for all the tunings out there until I remembered the string guage issue - rats.

I also checked with the Transperformance folks here in town (Ft. Collins, CO). They said they'd help me put their system in a six string if I paid the R&D. Yikes. Not worth it, but it would be cool. http://209.130.59.73/index1.html Rumor is they're trying to hook up with Fender or Gibson for a cost-effective entry point. Now it's too expensive for the masses.

SO this new Line6 Variax looks like it could really provide all the multi-tuning functions for lap steel! If it can do the tone it would be wild. I think the value would be the capability to quickly try different tunings. You know - have it loaded with JB tunings, Leon's tunings, Leavitt tunings etc. so you could quickly try things. It just seems to make sense to me. I sent Line6 an email for a new product suggestion. If you all do as well perhaps we'll be able to get one.

I've heard the elec. Variax and you'd be amazed at the sounds. But I don't think it does multi-tunings.

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Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"There is no spoon" www.book-em-danno.com

[This message was edited by seldomfed on 16 March 2004 at 11:01 AM.]

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

Yup, the info was there and seems to be gone. Back in 2000 they advertised the 8 string bridge, and also eluded to a new lap steel coming from them. That's when I orderd mine. It took me 5 months to get it. Clearly a one-off process even then. Gradually the product got less visibility. Finally, last year they said it was avail. but without bridge saddles.

Yet another victim of the limited market for our favorite and rare instruments. If 8 strings were hip, you'd find hardware everywhere!

chrisk

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Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"There is no spoon"
www.book-em-danno.com

Bigsby Palm Pedals

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Dan Balde
U-12/8&5, S-7/D 3&1, S-6/E&A

[This message was edited by db on 26 December 2004 at 09:33 AM.]

BTW: The Chapman "Stick" has been around for more than 30 years...What does it have to do with Steel guitar?

[This message was edited by db on 15 May 2004 at 03:50 PM.]

It works great, its a Maple guitar, a particularly heavy piece of rock maple was used on this one. Morrells are cheepies but only the paint is morrell on this one. Sustains like mad.

Because of my disability/unorthadox playing position I cannot play it as the Trilogy is in my way, a player using normal technique would not have this issue.

I wish I could use it, its really neat, however it must go to a good home. $450 + shipping, has case (chipboard) The hardware is pretty much worth that.

It does E D DADGAD E7 Em Em7 G C and others.

CF

[This message was edited by Chuck Fisher on 15 May 2004 at 07:10 PM.]

I use the 6-string Trilogy, and I set the middle positions as C6 (lo to hi: C E G A C E). Now I can instantly change to the following tunings (lo to hi):

A7: C# E G A C# E
A6 (or F#m7): C# E F# A C# E
A9: C# E G A B E

and of course C6/A7 or C13.

Might handy. A truly great and innovative product.

I make a 5 palm pedal, 1 hip/knee lever model PS-67 that will effect changes in pitch of 6 of the 8 strings (1st and 8th or any other in-between strings "fixed"). It has the basic A, B, C pedal functions plus the lever (available with F or D lever functions).
Bigsby Palm Pedals
The web site only shows the assembly mounted on a std 7 string guitar for bottle-neck play, but they also work well with lap-play, by adding an end strap to your left leg or mounting a left leg post to hold the guitar in place when the lever is to be used.
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Dan Balde
U-12/8&5, S-7/D 3&1, S-6/E&A

[This message was edited by db on 26 December 2004 at 09:34 AM.]

I'm really looking forward to seing how this thing works,- would make life as a gigging musician a lot easier.
(Plus the idea of a three-pickup lap steel is quite intriguing too!)

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Loni,- thanks for the tip, will do!

Jerry,- there's a pretty good example of how to set them up at their website.

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

[This message was edited by Steinar Gregertsen on 20 May 2004 at 07:58 AM.]

If any of you are interested in seeing the PS-67F “Pedal-Slide” guitar tailpiece in action…. Robert McBride (one of the “house” guitar players) at the Illinois Steel Guitar Jam will have his guitars on display and will be available for personal demonstrations… “Pulling-off” some very credible “Mooney” and “Sneaky Pete” licks.
His “Bio” includes working with Shelly West and he plays a “Not-So-Standard” Telecaster set-up with a Glaser ‘B’ and a Bigsby ‘G’ bender as his primary “Axe”.
So, he knows his way around “Bender” technology.
If you have any questions or interest in “going down this road” out there…
Be sure to visit with Bob at the convention on June 27th .
It should be quite an event!

Thanks,

Dan ‘db’ Balde
db Systems/ Bigsby Palm Pedals
Bigsby Palm Pedals

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Dan Balde
U-12/8&5, S-7/D 3&1, S-6/E&A

[This message was edited by db on 26 December 2004 at 09:35 AM.]

Mitchell is playing a Parker Fly guitar through what I suppose is a Roland VG88, and has obviously programmed her own tunings for it. Gone are all those long breaks between songs....

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

[This message was edited by Steinar Gregertsen on 09 January 2005 at 03:06 PM.]