Eastwood Airline Lap Steel Mods - Duesenberg Multibender Setup

[@KendallSwan]

I have this same setup and I love it! I bought it already modified from a guy on reverb. It's been endless fun, and it actually helped me get a bit of a head start learning pedal steel.

[@MrSkeyxc]

Thank you, again, Bill. I ordered the Reamer, the Bridge you sent strings through the Guitar Body so that one won't work. There's no doubt the screw is stripped for sure. Your videos are "very" entertaining by the way. You've been quite nice with all of your help; it's appreciated. I did (finally) locate a Lap Steel Bridge at StewMac. I'll let you know how everything goes.

[@kevinmackfurniture]

The Algorithm God's sent me to you. Im a fine furniture maker, currently building myself a faithful "reproduction" of a (left handed) Duesenburg Fairytale. Duesenburg sells most of the critical parts. 70° speed pots, pickups, bridges and benders. It'll still cost me about a thousand bucks all in. Liked and subscribed. Great video, lots of resources and rabbit holes to climb down... 🙌

[@MrSkeyxc]

Billy, You're correct, (thanks for the response) I really do like the Airline very much; everything works great (except). I do have a problem, I have a terrible Buzzing (high E String, C6 Tuning) also the Intonation on that string was way off. When I attempted to adjust the saddle the screw would turn (lots of turns) and it wouldn't move, either direction, the saddle at all. Like you, I do all the work on all of my guitars, but being completely new to Lap Steels I'm not sure what bridge to buy to replace it. I haven't had any luck attempting to find specific Bridges for Lap Steel (if you even need a specific type of one). I was hoping that you may have an idea of which one may be a direct drop-in, or close to it, to fix this problem. I don't want to send back the guitar when It's something I can do. Also, I didn't see a link to the 10mm reamer you used for the hip-shot locking tuners, which I'll be replacing also. Thanks so much my friend for any advice you may have. I'm 76 and I've fallen in love with playing Lap Steel, it will be nice when all 6 strings sound right!!!

[@billyhellmaker]

This is the reamer I used - a.co/d/b4NjP2V Since I replaced the bridge with the paddle unit I don't really have a reference for that. I would detune the string and see if I could work each leg of the bridge piece - maybe it's stripped. I do think that is a standard strat stle guitar bridge, so anything that might screw down in that place would work. www.amazon.com/Fender-Hardtail-Bridge-Assembly-Models/dp/B005SGDK6W

[@TheElrondo]

Nice review. I have an Eastwood on order from the US. Could you be so kind and tell me what the string spacing is on the nut? So i can order a fitting nut already. Thank you in advance. Best wishes from Bavaria Germany 🇩🇪

[@robertmcdowell6936]

Hello Billy Hell. Fantastic video! I'm doing all the upgrades you did on yours I have the new Jack, and Hipshot tuners, because I'm a fan of them as well. A lot of my guitars already have them, especially on my Danelectro's. I have my Duesenberg Multi-bender. Now here is the rub. Robert Allen from Melbert Guitars didn't see your video yet. I talked to him directly and really hit it off. He has not found a machinist to do more because they are made special and with few orders, it costs too much for commercial orders because everyone wants huge orders. Anyway, he sent me all the remaining parts he has since I'm an amateur machinist, to try and put together one. If it wouldn't be too much trouble, could I get a couple of close-up pictures so I could see the finished product altogether?

[@billyhellmaker]

Sure. I’ll grab some when I head down stairs

[@robertmcdowell6936]

@@billyhellmaker Thank you, so much. I'm looking so forward to this project.

[@robertmcdowell6936]

@@billyhellmaker I left my email in Facebook Messenger, in case that would be easier to send any pictures. Thanks again!

[@studioart62]

moleskin works great for the tone bar also

[@MrSkeyxc]

Billy, Thank you so much for all of your time and effort in the making this video. You've answered so many points that I've been wondering about. I'm waiting for my new Airline to arrive (from London, I'm in the USA); I wanted the Black, like you have, so it was my only choice. I think, at this point, that I'll set it to C6 Tuning (it comes with a set of quite light C6 strings). Like you, being new to Lap Steel, but a long time Guitar Player, I was wondering how you liked the strings that came with the Airline. I assumed, that I may want to change the strings (same C6 tuning) to a higher/heavier gauge string. I'm hoping that I don't have to file out the Nut to accommodate the heavier strings. Was that a problem for you, hence getting the Nut you now have? Like you again, I change about all of my guitars to Locking Tuners, it makes life a lot easier, quicker and really holds the tuning in place. Again, your video was "Great", thanks my friend...

[@billyhellmaker]

I think you will be fine with those stock strings and I think I could have kept the stock nut with the benders. C6 is for every country song made so if that's your style the options are huge (Hank Sr., etc). I know you will love it!

[@donnyhughes9617]

Hello great video. I also bought a Airline used and was lucky enough to get a good deal off Reverb on a never installed Duesinburg bender . But as i am getting ready to install it i feel like i need a 1/4 inch thick spacer under the base of the bender to maintain the same string hight . How did you overcome the difference between the original saddle and the new one. Is it possible there's two benders one for a guitar and one for a lap steel. There's two screws on each individual saddle but to get the strings as high as originally the front jacked up in the front resembling a car hauling moonshine . Please give me your thoughts on this.

[@billyhellmaker]

I didn't have to raise mine. I can send pics if that helps.

[@Dudleydorad]

How much $$$ do you have into that now? Would you build another one? How much would you sell it for?

[@billyhellmaker]

I think I found the Airline for like $300 (cheap) and the bender was like $250. Yes I would build another if I didn't have this one. This instrument led to me being in band. The video for our single (heavily featuring my lap steel) in on my YT channel. You might here us on KROQ in LA soon!

[@billyhellmaker]

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[@terryedson9325]

Te Dulcimer is the same way as far as tunimg