Lets see your LAPSTEEL!

[drolo]

This has become my main one for portability and function but I also have an 8 string in Weissenborn shape (I also have an 8 string Weissy):

So it's actually not a pedal steel ?

[shikawkee]

This has become my main one for portability and function but I also have an 8 string in Weissenborn shape (I also have an 8 string Weissy):

So it's actually not a pedal steel ?

Well, there's steel and lots of pedals! <g>

For textural/ambient/free improv I prefer the 10 string lap and not pedal steel.
Much easier to travel with and with effect pedals (like yours of course!!) I can control precisely how I want especially with expression pedal controls.
Much easier for prepared guitar too.

[shikawkee]

This has become my main one for portability and function but I also have an 8 string in Weissenborn shape (I also have an 8 string Weissy):

So it's actually not a pedal steel ?

Well, there's steel and lots of pedals! <g>

For textural/ambient/free improv I prefer the 10 string lap and not pedal steel.
Much easier to travel with and with effect pedals (like yours of course!!) I can control precisely how I want especially with expression pedal controls.
Much easier for prepared guitar too.

[coldbrightsunlight]

My el cheapo:



Is there a big difference using a proper tone bar for these? I'm just using a normal steel guitar slide and it's OK.

[Chankgeez]

It depends on how you wanna play and what you wanna hear when you play.

If you're happy with a guitar slide, use it. If not, try somethin else.

[coldbrightsunlight]

Just wondering what the difference is really. More solid tone, more sustain? I'm not unhappy with what I'm doing, very much a beginner at lap steel so figuring it out.

[Chankgeez]

It's probably easier for most people to use a tone bar (and you can do different things with it). I'd say generally you'd get a more solid tone and more sustain with one. The heavier the object you use to stop the strings, the greater returns you'll get in those respects. There's a balance though. Playing with something that's too heavy will make your control much more difficult (and be a detriment to sustain).

The length of the bar also matters. Especially if you wanna use slants in your playing or wanna play across the entire width of the neck. If you're just using the bar/slide to stop only one or two strings at a time (and getting most of your sound from pedals and such & less of it from technique), it matters less so.

Material of the bar/slide also makes a difference is sound. I often play with a pocketknife and because it has a flat playing surface it buzzes against the strings. There're lots of choices though: metal, ceramic, glass, bakelite, wood, plastic, etc.

I'd say, give a proper tone bar a try. Go to a music shop and test out a few. One of 'em will probably feel more natural in your hand.

[Mudfuzz]

It's probably easier for most people to use a tone bar (and you can do different things with it). I'd say generally you'd get a more solid tone and more sustain with one. The heavier the object you use to stop the strings, the greater returns you'll get in those respects. There's a balance though. Playing with something that's too heavy will make your control much more difficult (and be a detriment to sustain).

The length of the bar also matters. Especially if you wanna use slants in your playing or wanna play across the entire width of the neck. If you're just using the bar/slide to stop only one or two strings at a time (and getting most of your sound from pedals and such & less of it from technique), it matters less so.

Material of the bar/slide also makes a difference is sound. I often play with a pocketknife and because it has a flat playing surface it buzzes against the strings. There're lots of choices though: metal, ceramic, glass, bakelite, wood, plastic, etc.

I'd say, give a proper tone bar a try. Go to a music shop and test out a few. One of 'em will probably feel more natural in your hand.

Great post

Plus.

You can buy bars in different weights.
You can do more oddball things with a bar like roll it down the strings, play without always holding it, use the tip to just play on 1 or 2 strings and so on. The different material thing is important to me... With normal slides a such as bars... I have like 12 slides out of different materials and lengths... I have 4 tonebars atm: steel, brass, porcelain and glass with a brass core. I still want to get a old style metal one and a agate one like they use in India

[Chankgeez]

Yes, that's true as well.

We've also really said not much of yet as to the style/shape of tone bar: flat, bullet, cylinder, Shubb-Pearse, Stevens bar, etc.

[Mudfuzz]

Yes, that's true as well.

We've also really said not much of yet as to the style/shape of tone bar: flat, bullet, cylinder, Shubb-Pearse, Stevens bar, etc.

all of which give me more G.A.S these days then pedals do..

[coldbrightsunlight]

Thanks for the info! I'll definitely have a look at what's out there and try a few different ones and see how the shapes fit with my playing. I do think something heavier than what I'm using might sound a bit better, more sustain and less buzzing (though what I'm doing is good enough for rock and roll as the kids say).

I'm trying to practice slants and larger cross-string intervals, the main barrier I have is less technical and more remembering what the notes are.

[dubkitty]

when i was playing pedal steel briefly i used a chromed tone bar that was basically cylindrical with bullet ends. the great thing about tone bars is that compared to regular slides or a Stevens (dobro) bar, they're larger in diameter and give you more of a sweet spot to find your notes and stay in tune.

[Mudfuzz]

I ended up getting a kent armstrong firebird pickup.. I like cheap firebird pickups for slide so I thought I'd try it. I like it.. for this..

[Chankgeez]

I ended up getting a kent armstrong firebird pickup.. I like cheap firebird pickups for slide so I thought I'd try it. I like it.. for this..

[coldbrightsunlight]

Nice!!