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Author
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Topic: How many Lap Steels is too much???
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Terry VunCannon
Member From: Randleman, North Carolina, USA
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posted 22 May 2004 08:45 AM
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Some times it seems that buying just one more Lap Steel or Guitar is like a sickness. Like everyone, I have my favorite one or two laps that I always play on gigs. But when I go on the forum, or eBay, & see a certain lap for sale, I just "have" to buy it. This seems to happen more with lap steels than with guitars. One friend told me that he does the same thing, that you have to buy these laps & play them to know if they are right for you. Certain ones just seem right, others you play for a while & just sell them.
This is so true. I took inventory this month & realized that I had 14 laps, plus my guitars. I just listed about 1/2 a dozen laps to sale on the forum, but I already have my eye on a couple of instruments that I would like to buy. I just like the process of buying & selling laps(More than Guitars). How many of you out there find yourself in this position of constantly looking, buying, & selling, & how many laps do you own? |
Russ Young
Member From: Seattle, Washington, USA
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posted 22 May 2004 09:23 AM
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quote:
How many Lap Steels is too much?
Hmm ... how about "one more than I now own?" I only have two electric lap steels right now -- a Rick B-6 and an MOTS National "Chicagoan." So I have my GAS completely under control! (Provided you don't count my two acoustic lap steels, and three squareneck resonators.  ) |
Mike Neer
Member From: NJ
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posted 22 May 2004 09:44 AM
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It's definitely the most sensible way to find the instruments that are for you. This is how I acquired all of the guitars I currently own, including archtops. I do find that, left unchecked, it does become a major distraction that takes away from playing time. For the time being, I'm completely set with the instruments that I want/need, so that energy can now go to more productive pursuits. |
Loni Specter
Member From: West Hills, CA, USA
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posted 22 May 2004 09:57 AM
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You can never have too many instruments. For me, that includes lap steels, guitars, bass, trumpet, drums, harmonica, amplifiers, cameras, firearms, and motorcycles.
My wife doesn't understand this and after 27 years together, she finally has stopped asking, "Where did that old thing come from?"( sometimes, I thought she was talking about me)
Oh yes, I recently found an old upright grand piano at a yard sale and managed to sneak it into the garage.(I don't play piano, yet) She did comment on that.
With musical instruments, I always buy whatever strikes my fancy knowing that I can always sell it at a profit or at least break even selling to a friend, if I decide not to keep it.I often search for instruments for friends knowing what they like. Most of the time I'm just buying a 'cleaner' version of something that I already own. I then put up worn piece for sale.
I often loan guitars and such to friends, sometimes forgetting about it for years, until they are returnred, or I visit the friend and and comment how I have a guitar like that, and they reply to me. "Loni, That's yours"
As you know guitars and lap steels etc, each have their oun voice. Even two of the same exact model will almost always sound a little diferent. That's the beauty of it!
If I could get away with collecting wives...
well you have to draw the line somewhere ;-}
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C Dixon
Member From: Duluth, GA USA
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posted 22 May 2004 10:44 AM
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I think the ole saying, "The only difference between men and boys, is the cost of their toys!", is appropo here carl |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 22 May 2004 11:09 AM
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quote:
How many of you out there find yourself in this position of constantly looking, buying, & selling,....?
Dum de dum de dum.......  Steinar ------------------
www.gregertsen.com
[This message was edited by Steinar Gregertsen on 22 May 2004 at 11:09 AM.]
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HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 22 May 2004 11:20 AM
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quote:
How many Lap Steels is too much???
Hmmm, I'm still trying to find the answer to that one.... When you have to take out a home equity loan to replace all of the strings would be a good indication.[This message was edited by HowardR on 22 May 2004 at 11:21 AM.] |
Dave Mayes
Member From: Piedmont, Ca.
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posted 22 May 2004 11:31 AM
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One Lap Steel = "Sitting at the right hand of God"
Two Lap Steels = "At the Table"Three Lap Steels = "Serving Those At the Table" Four Lap Steels = "Purgatory" Five Lap Steels = "Limbo" Six Lap Steels = "ETERNAL DAMNATION" !!! |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 22 May 2004 11:37 AM
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Seven Lap Steels = Kosher Deli |
John Pelz
Member From: Maineville, Ohio, USA
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posted 22 May 2004 02:32 PM
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"Too many lap-steels?" No such thing. Although Howard does have a good point above-- you might have too many if you have to take out a home-equity loan just to replace the strings... |
Kevin Ruddell
Member From: Toledo Ohio USA
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posted 22 May 2004 02:38 PM
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My name is Kevin and ... I'm a lapaholic. I started on a Regal squareneck , tried a Morrell for a while and now I have a Goldtone . Sometimes I have to play it before noon.
I just bid on another lap steel on that ebay place.
One's too many and a hundred ain't enough
doh ! |
Chuck Fisher
Member From: Santa Cruz, California, USA
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posted 22 May 2004 04:36 PM
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Iagree that its necessary to buy a few to try them for a while, some are you, some are not...I'm thinning mine down to all 22.5 to 22 7/8 scales with wide spaceing. I play 6 tunings, I musta gotta have:
- two 6-strings one for D tunings one for E tunings
- An 8 string for E13
- My Benoit 8 Reso
I kinda think a C6 ic going to need to be here but I'm not sure.
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Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 22 May 2004 04:47 PM
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I'll try to settle with this setup:GeorgeBoards 8-string in A6.
'Readneck' equipped strat in D, E and G related tunings (has Hipshot Trilogy bridge).
National New Yorker in E and C#m7.
National Dynamic in G and G6.
Oahu Diana in C6. As I said, I'll try to settle with this setup, which theoretically should cover a lot of ground. but as we all know, there's always one more out there.... Steinar ------------------
www.gregertsen.com
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Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
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posted 22 May 2004 05:09 PM
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Steel Guitars are like money and spare time ... you never have ENOUGH !!!------------------
www.horseshoemagnets.com |
Tighe Falato
Member From: South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
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posted 23 May 2004 05:07 AM
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I think the Lay's potato chip slogan almost applies.....you can't own just one! So many flavors, tones, body styles, etc. plus it's a lot cheaper than collecting vintage archtops  ! Of course just the historical significance since they were some of the first electric instruments marketed makes them even more interesting. I'm sure several SGF members have collections that require that second mortgage come string changin' time ! |
Ian McLatchie
Member From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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posted 23 May 2004 05:40 AM
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Better you should ask how much income is enough to buy all the lap steels one wants. As to how many steels one actually "needs" (a broad term, for which my wife's definition is very different from my own), my priorities have changed somewhat over time. At one point I had about 25 lap steels, in addition to my resophonic and acoustic Hawaiian guitars, and loved - and used - them all. The majority were Valcos, Harmonys, Oahus and so on - comparatively low-priced but visually appealing instruments which I valued as much or more for their beauty as their playability, although many were also excellent sounding guitars. If I'd had the foresight to grab more high-end Rickenbachers and Fenders when the prices were still relatively low, I'd probably still have many of those other guitars. Instead, I've gradually sold them all off to help finance the instruments I most desired; here the priority was overwhelmingly their value as players, although these also happen to be the lap steels I most treasure for their visual beauty. The current lineup includes pre-war 6 and 7 string bakelites, a Silver Hawaiian, a 7-string EH-150, a triple-eight Stringmaster and a Dual Professional, none of which I'm likely to part with in the foreseeable future, although I'm actually giving serious thought to selling my Fender Deluxe 8 to help finance a Weissenborn copy. Of my other instruments, the Yanuziello resophonic is certainly not going to leave my hands and the only conceivable way the Knutsen would do so would be to get me a frying pan. |
Brad Bechtel
Moderator From: San Francisco, CA
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posted 23 May 2004 09:17 AM
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I haven't reached that magic number myself yet.
Let's see - three Fenders, a Gibson, two Nationals, a Magnatone, two Rickenbackers... and a Zumsteel. That's not counting acoustics.------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
Scott Houston
Member From: Oakland, CA
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posted 23 May 2004 11:31 AM
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If you have more than you play regularly, you are taking instruments out of the hands of people who may treasure them or at least make music on them.Find a young person who could use something constructive to focus on, or someone who has expressed interest in your instrument, and loan them your extras. Expect that the loan may even be permanent. I understand the delight that collecting and acquiring instruments brings to people, but if you have more than you actually use, why not consider the good you do with them instead? |
George Keoki Lake
Member From: Edmonton, AB., Canada
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posted 23 May 2004 12:03 PM
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I guess I'm headed for "eternal damnation" (above) with 17 in my collection so far. Not that I am proud of it, well, perhaps I am. But each guitar has something distictive. Almost like each individual child in a family ... hard to part with any one of them. It's definitely an addiction ... difficult to pass up a guitar seen hanging forelornly on a retail wall or might be found in a dusty garage sale. But there are far worse addictions in this world ... right ? |
Ray Montee
Member From: Portland, OR, USA
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posted 23 May 2004 12:30 PM
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When the walls in your music room are too small on which to hang/display them. |
John Pelz
Member From: Maineville, Ohio, USA
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posted 23 May 2004 12:48 PM
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Isn't that when you just build another room, Ray? I agree with George-- there are far worse things than lap-steel to be addicted to. But I prefer to call it an "avid interest"... (I'm not in denial, I swear I'm not!) It's a well-known fact that, like humans and apes, lap-steels are social animals and become depressed when isolated and when kept from enjoying the company of other lap-steels.  The most humane thing to do let them be around other lap-steels... (But what do I know? I've just got 2, as you can see in my signature. That doesn't keep me from regularly monitoring "Buy & Sell" & E-bay, though...)------------------
1952 Fender Dual 8 Professional
circa 1938 Rickenbacker 59 student lap-steel
Peavey Delta Blues |
Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 23 May 2004 02:14 PM
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quote:
"You don't need another steel guitar."-Mrs. Lee
(I love her anyway.)------------------
 Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax[This message was edited by Bobby Lee on 23 May 2004 at 02:15 PM.] |
Stephen Gambrell
Member From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA
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posted 23 May 2004 03:05 PM
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Ask David Siegler |
David Siegler
Member From: Mill Valley, CA USA
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posted 23 May 2004 03:15 PM
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Hey Stephen, I only have 5 of them and would be happy to get rid of two of them. I like my new Ric, my Fender 6 Deluxe and my Gold Tone. The Chandler Hawaiin and the Gibson BR-9 are gonna go.But then there's the issue of all the other types of guitars I like besides lap steels! I envy those who only have GAS for lap steels! |
Donald Ruetenik
Member From: Pleasant Hill, California, USA
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posted 23 May 2004 04:50 PM
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OK, I'll bite. What is 'GAS'? I suspect that it doesn't have anything to do with crab cake burritos and beer?. |
David Siegler
Member From: Mill Valley, CA USA
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posted 23 May 2004 06:00 PM
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Sorry, I wasn't trying to be cryptic. It's fairly well known amongst certain groups of people. Many in this thread for example. GAS = Guitar Acquisition Syndrome[This message was edited by a guy who sometimes has GAS on 23 May 2004 at 06:01 PM.] [This message was edited by David Siegler on 23 May 2004 at 06:02 PM.] |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 23 May 2004 06:03 PM
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Or, to be terribly picky,- Gear Acquisition Syndrome. Even drummers can suffer from GAS....... Steinar ------------------
www.gregertsen.com
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Russ Young
Member From: Seattle, Washington, USA
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posted 23 May 2004 07:03 PM
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While our friend Mr. Siegler was in his local guitar store picking and choosing from all sorts of interesting opportunities, I was spending my Saturday with GAS ... at Home Depot:I acquired a new spark plug for my vintage Craftsman mower, a replacment handle for a rake and a new 50' hose. That's known as "Garden Acquisition Syndrome." Congratulations on the B-6, David! And let us know if you decide to buy anything else. |
Bill Willingham
Member From: Southbury, CT USA
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posted 23 May 2004 07:04 PM
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Okay. This is like quantum physics, right? The outcome is determined by the observer. If the guitarist looks at his/her "set" of instruments, the outcome of the observation will be There aren't enough. If someone perhaps related to the guitarist observes the same "set" the determination will be that there are way way too many. Same data, different outcome. Guitar people will recognize this as String Theory.
Sorry |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 23 May 2004 08:30 PM
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quote:
If you have more than you play regularly, you are taking instruments out of the hands of people who may treasure them or at least make music on them.
In the spirit of this very sensible remark by Scott, I'd like to draw the attention of you all to this thread by Dan Tyack: http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum15/HTML/006364.html
Steinar ------------------
www.gregertsen.com
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HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 23 May 2004 08:56 PM
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quote:
Garden Acquisition Syndrome
Ooooh, Russ....you get the hook for that one. |
James Quackenbush
Member From: Pomona, New York, USA
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posted 26 May 2004 08:21 AM
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I've said it before, and I'll say it again ...
"Variety is the spice of life "
There is no such thing as "too many " when it comes to instruments !!.... If you have the room, and can afford to buy more, buy more.....If you don't have the room , build a bigger room !!... ....Jim |
Scott Houston
Member From: Oakland, CA
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posted 26 May 2004 11:34 AM
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Thanks for the link and the comment, Steinar. That's the first time anybody's ever called my remarking "sensible."
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Jody Carver
Member From: The Knight Of Fender Tweed. Dodger Blue Forever
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posted 26 May 2004 11:41 AM
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How many Lap Steels is too much?,,,When you fantasize and change your name to LEO. |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 26 May 2004 12:03 PM
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I'm quick to buy and even quicker at selling if I don't connect with the instrument.This one is definitely a keeper, got it today, and though it's 47 years old it doesn't look as if it's been out of the case at all. And the sound is as warm and smooth as the midnight sun....... 
Steinar ------------------
www.gregertsen.com
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HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 26 May 2004 06:46 PM
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Steinar, that's a later model NY'R (50s I believe) and that is one of the finest sounding laps IMO. Mine has 2 pick ups under the hood and the knob is a blend control. Sweet!GAS.....Lead me not to temptation,...I can find the way myself! |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 26 May 2004 06:49 PM
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Howard you're absolutely correct,- according to the serial number it's a '57.
I was just about to make a post about all the different pickups used on the New Yorker over the years,- stay tuned.Steinar ------------------
www.gregertsen.com
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Richard Shatz
Member From: Quincy, IL, United States
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posted 29 August 2004 02:28 PM
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I'm new to the forum, but I've been collecting and plunking on lap steels for 13 or 14 years. When I read this string, I knew I had finally found some soul mates who can rest easy in that there is always someone else with a worse case of GAS than they have. I'm the one. I think my case of GAS might be terminal. My wife doesn't even care if I buy more, as she knows neither of us can control the situation.I have about 80 lap steels. They adorn the walls of my family room and office to constantly enjoy. They are also great conversation pieces for my guests, musicians and non-musicians alike. I collect other stuff too, but this is the most adictive. I won't stop until I run out of space to hang them or run out of money. ------------------
Richard N Shatz |
George Keoki Lake
Member From: Edmonton, AB., Canada
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posted 29 August 2004 02:58 PM
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WOW ! 80 !! I'm sure many of us would like to see some pictures of your walls ! |
Richard Shatz
Member From: Quincy, IL, United States
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posted 29 August 2004 04:50 PM
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This is the family room. I'll post the office photos later. http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/r_shatz/album?.dir=/1978 |
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