Ryan's Lap Steel Guitar built from a 2X4

[@loofonme]

Finally, someone who can build an instrument AND play it well. Thank you.

[@rzsdad1]

Thanks Nick!

[@stephenpascoe1148]

Great build... superb playing...impressive...Well done !!

[@rzsdad1]

Thank you so much!

[@Beemerboy324]

That is the very BEST sounding dimension lumber I have EVER heard! Nice job!

[@rzsdad1]

Thank you! It is a passion.

[@moreorlesslikeso]

This one's got a really cool mellow "vintage" sound. Would have thought you'll need a humbucker for this, but obviously the single coil does just fine!

[@rzsdad1]

Thank you!

[@mulekickhandmadeguitars8465]

Fabulous sound!

[@vickikgibson9470]

I like the idea of playing something that just picks at one end and using the slider to get the notes....and would love to build one ...soon!:) Thanks for sharing...

[@rzsdad1]

Thanks for watching! I hope to see your progress.

[@maksland8099]

fretboard is not available. How to calculate it properly? Where can I get ready-made vector files for such a guitar?

[@rzsdad1]

lapsteel-builder.weebly.com/fretboards.html www.georgeboards.com/parts.html

[@voxsteven]

Beautiful build and such nice playing!

[@rzsdad1]

Thank you!

[@custerranch]

WOW! Totally didn't expect you know know how to play it too! Very Good! Hope mine turns out this well!

[@rzsdad1]

Thank you!

[@kellygraham4451]

I have built electric guitars back when I was a teenager. They sounded OK but having heard what can be done on a properly tuned 2x4, I want to try it.

[@rzsdad1]

Thanks! Have fun with it.

[@MrPatdeeee]

I have a question about the metal plate that you attached the bridge, vol and tone controls, etc. Is it steel or aluminum and how thick is it? Thanks kind Sir.

[@rzsdad1]

Aluminum about 1/8" thick or so

[@skellez83]

That is absolutely great! Exactly the sound i am looking for in my first lap. What pickup did you use? How did you find the parts?!

[@rzsdad1]

I got very little money in this build, cheap import tuners from Ebay $5, A cheap pickup from Ebay $5. Fret board sticker from George Boards $15, and the rest was built from aluminum scraps. The nut and bridge is 3/8" steel rod

[@skellez83]

hehe wow...good job! It doesn't sound like a 30 bucks lap at all. wow Thanks for the reply)

[@larrydering1598]

Awesome job Dick. Did you go with a hardwood 2x4 or just the stock soft pine?

[@rzsdad1]

Just pine construction lumber

[@larrydering1598]

​@@rzsdad1 Thanks for the reply. Looks great. I'm considering a D6 or D8 build. I could build 2 separately and then join them like Fender Stringmasters.

[@rzsdad1]

@@larrydering1598 That would be really cool

[@magicdaveable]

Very nice lap steel.

[@rzsdad1]

Thank you!

[@greenlightspeedshop7053]

Lucky son ur a awsome pop

[@rzsdad1]

Thank you!

[@raymartinez5389]

nice jam!

[@rzsdad1]

Thanks!

[@raymartinez5389]

@@rzsdad1 was that in c6? or open? or...?

[@rzsdad1]

@@raymartinez5389 A6

[@Formelyknownasnone]

what did you use for the nut and did you cut slots in it

[@rzsdad1]

It was a 3/8" piece of steel rod. I chucked it in my drill press and filed 6 shallow grooves in it and polished it. Drilled and counter sunk mount holes it the ends and mounted it on top of a piece of 1/8" aluminum to give me a string height of 1/2"

[@michaeld.mcclish]

Where did you find the fingerboard/fretboard? Great job and great playing!

[@rzsdad1]

George Boards web site had those fret boards.

[@michaeld.mcclish]

Thanks!

[@patrickmcgee4248]

can you apply more pressure on the strings than a regular slide guitar

[@rzsdad1]

I think so. I don't play a regular slide guitar so I can't say I know for sure though

[@KountryCuz1]

Good use for 2x4 sounds great !!!!!!

[@rzsdad1]

Thanks Danny!

[@jessegimbel]

Great build and playing! Quick question, did you file grooves in both the nut and bridge bars? I'm doing a similar thing with aluminum angle and debating how I want to go about the slots.

[@rzsdad1]

Thank you! I just filed groove in the nut. I chucked it in my drill press and used a small triangular shaped file.

[@jessegimbel]

Great, thanks so much for the response! Just picked up a couple fine files and triangular files, as well as some rasps for taking off wood a little easier. Really appreciate your help!

[@jessegimbel]

Any tips for nut/bridge spacing and depth of grooves? I'm getting to the late stages of my build and still haven't quite settled on this.

[@rzsdad1]

I only grooved the nut at 3/8" string spacing. I did not need to groove the bridge because the string anchors in the plate holds the strings in position. I didn't have a lathe so I chucked the nut in my drill press and with a small triangle file work some shallow grooves in it just enough to hold the strings in position.

[@jessegimbel]

Thanks! Did you do 3/8" across all strings, or adjusted per string depending on the gauge of each string? I've also found varying opinions on the strings being parallel, vs. slightly smaller than 3/8" at the nut and tapering out toward the bridge. I'm a more experienced builder than player so I haven't yet determined if 3/8" at the bridge will feel tight for playing.

[@sensorysyrynx]

Well done!

[@rzsdad1]

Thanks!

[@woodedroger2728]

Sounds great

[@rzsdad1]

Thank you!

[@42CAINE]

I like your design and playing style What is the tuning used here? Authentic tone and voicing Just great

[@rzsdad1]

John E Brown A6th thank you!

[@rzsdad1]

A6th thank you!

[@42CAINE]

I have a Fender lap-steel with legs but It is heavy so I was thinking to build one more portable. I usually keep the legs off to play and it saves space I like the way Yours is built. I guess you have to ground the wiring to the bridge as well. Thanks for the tips Mr Miller. I may incorporate a spare guitar fretboard for accurate fret layout

[@nigelpredmore4174]

what tuning is this ? i want to build one now and learn to play like this :)

[@rzsdad1]

A6th tuning. Watch "Western Swing Rules #6" on You Tube Eddie Rivers explains it and makes it simple.

[@nigelpredmore4174]

i have decided to make one after watching you, i looked at kits and none of them had the metal bridge plate you have or the metal bridge and nut, im also interested in what scale you were playng around with, thanks for the quick reply and keep playing

[@rzsdad1]

It was a 23" scale. Thank you!

[@堺誠司-b6z]

Gond Job❣️

[@kirbonite]

kick ass

[@rzsdad1]

Kirby Nils thanks!

[@jeff0566jsm]

what key? C6th?

[@rzsdad1]

A6th thank you for watching!

[@davecaauwe5127]

Fantastic, what would you charge to build one for me?

[@rzsdad1]

I have been thinking of building a few of these and putting them on Ebay. I will let you know if I do.

[@dannysherman]

Let me know too please! I'm going to start learning but can't buy an expensive guitar. thanks!!!

[@BoscoeFrance]

Wow....

[@rzsdad1]

Thanks for watching!

[@soldier4christsoldier4chri90]

I want to build one, but i don't like that Hawaiian sound that so many have.

[@rzsdad1]

Go ahead build one and make the sound that makes you happy😊

[@heplar]

Very Very cool. Nice work. I wish I could play mine like that! There is quite a learning curve for sure even after 3 or 4 years of playing it. Anyway, I'm impressed. I messed around with Cmaj7 tuning so I could play some Poco tunes. L-H (CEGBEG) Fun tuning. I'd love to hear you work that up. I am working on Poco's Indian Summer with that Cmaj7 tuning. I built a couple of these bad boys from kits. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmqxnp14fa-gqqc

[@rzsdad1]

htredneck.weebly.com/htredneckcom.html Check out this site if you are in to building a pedal steel guitar!

[@rzsdad1]

If you would like to be able to build a steel guitar watch this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZXNlJeZrpd6e6M

[@leewarren]

rzsdad1 Nice job. I enjoyed your playing too ... you have great touch and intonation.

[@rzsdad1]

@@leewarren Thanks Lee!