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Author
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Topic: New Lapsteel
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Danny James
Member From: Columbus, Indiana, USA
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posted 14 June 2006 07:06 PM
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I said about a year or so ago that I was building a lapsteel (my first try) and had designed a tuning changer to operate with one single lever that could change up to 4 different tunings.
I built the guitar out of 40 year old rough sawn wild cherry that came out of a garage loft. I made gauged rollers for the nut.
It has an MRI pickup that I wound the coil for, and sent it to Rick Aiello who made and set up the magnet assembly.
Thanks for your help Rick. I am proud of the way it sounds. Rick does really good work and I reccommend him.
I had some problems with the changer and today finished reworking it and it does what it is supposed to.
I have set it up with 6 strings and 3 different tunings---E,---C6th, & A.
(It has an 8 string keyhead and roller nut and is built on a 23" scale)
There are unlimited different tunings that it can be set up for within the capabilities of what the strings will take.
Each tuning can be set up and retuned anytime individually. It's all adjustable. |
Jim Phelps
Member From: Mexico City
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posted 14 June 2006 08:17 PM
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Pictures? |
Jon Zimmerman
Member From: California, USA
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posted 15 June 2006 12:06 AM
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Have you applied a version of the Stringtone Changer ( a one-lever type of mechanical multi-pitch changer ) to your project, Danny? I've been keen about making something work with one of those for some time. Sounds like you have made progress. Inquiring minds...  |
Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
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posted 15 June 2006 05:44 AM
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Danny James
Member From: Columbus, Indiana, USA
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posted 15 June 2006 07:14 AM
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Pictures----I hope to have some in the future, but it may be a while. Someone asked if it was similar to the stringtone changer? As far as I know the stringtone is not adjustable from one tuning to the next. So has limitations that mine doesn't have. My design is much different. It is also different from the Trilogy Hipshot in that mine only has one lever, yet is fully adjustable. I do believe the Trilogy Hipshot is a good changer from all I've read. Thanks for asking.[This message was edited by Danny James on 15 June 2006 at 07:16 AM.] |
Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
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posted 16 June 2006 07:35 AM
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Thought I'd "share" an email I just got this morning ... quote:
You said:"Hold on to your shorts ----- you're in for a "revelation" ----- by the end of the week."
Well it's later than the end of the week, however I didn't really give the MRI a good try to start with because I wanted to rework my changer first.
It is reworked now and I have been experimenting, tuning, retuning, and playing the heck out of my lapsteel guitar all day. I still can't believe all that I'm hearing. It is absolutely outstanding. Anyone who hasn't liked these MRI's just hasn't tinkered with them enough to reach their potential or they need an operation on their ears. :-)
If a person uses the same settings on their amp as they always did with brand X pickup, they may be disappointed. If they will take the time to do a little readjusting and see what these MRIs can really do. WOW hang on to your shorts you ARE REALLY in for a revelation. This MRI pickup is different therefore it deserves the proper attention as to settings.
After taking the time to experiment I realize the volume is a "little" less, however I can blow the doors off the house if I want to, so as far as I'm concerned less volume is NOT even an issue if I can't run the volume wide open without busting eardrums.
Tones --- highs, lows, and in between and plenty of volume ---- It's all there, no question about it. You can quote me on that. This MRI is just plain fun and hard to put down. I have changed the settings around a lot on the guitar and the amp. and it sounds good at a lot of different settings, just depending on the mood I'm in.
More addicting than heroin ... I say 
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[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 16 June 2006 at 07:44 AM.]
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Danny James
Member From: Columbus, Indiana, USA
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posted 16 June 2006 09:52 AM
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I ain't tried the heroin but I sure have tried the MRI. I t is addictive!! I'm proud to admit the quote Rick sent is from me. I had no idea he was going to post it. :-) " MRI "--- Try it you'll like it. |
Alan F. Brookes
Member From: Brummy living in California, USA
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posted 16 June 2006 12:03 PM
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Where did you get your MRI pick-up? I've been searching on the internet but can find no supplier. |
Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
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posted 16 June 2006 01:26 PM
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Jason Lollar and I were making them "commercially" available for awhile.I had to stop making cast steels & magnet assemblies for "retail sale" last winter ... due to "available time" issues. Danny wound his own bobbin last summer and I had made him a MRI Magnet Assembly for it. He did some reworking of the coil about a month ago ... and sent it to me to be re-mounted. ------------------
Slants of the Week
Hawaiian Steel Stuff
The Casteels
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Danny James
Member From: Columbus, Indiana, USA
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posted 21 June 2006 07:39 AM
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I just got through adding the 4th change to my new lapsteel with the changer I designed and built. The four tunings now are E,--C6th,--A,--A6th They are staying in tune and working good. All tunings are separately adjustable and can be changed to any other tuning within the limitations of the string stretch. |
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