Another ‘second lap steel’ thread! Opinions

Mark Evans · Post by **Mark Evans** » 31 Dec 2024 2:16 pm

Greetings
Yeah, I’ve combed the forum posts, but thought I’d put it out and see what y’all suggest.

I’m mostly jamming (not really genre specific… freestyle, trancey, psychedelic?)
Playing Weissenborn (change key with a capo) and an Oahu Tonemaster (which I capo, too), string thru, longish scale.
Play mostly straight bar, no slants

I’ve started to think playing with lap steels (vs Weissenborn) would be easier, vol tone control and cutting thru the mix… so I’d like to pick up a second vintage lap to keep in a second tuning. Oahu is open E.

Love the string thru PU tone/volume
6 strings
Longer scale (24.5 or more?)

I’d like to swap/trade one of my acoustic lap steels (weissenborn), or can go over $500 bucks to get into sumpin’ good. Should I angle for another Oahu? Or???

Suggestions?

Thanks!
Mark in Denver

Glenn Wilde · Post by **Glenn Wilde** » 2 Jan 2025 2:09 pm

I've got one of these in storage, dunno if it's anything you'd be interested in, it's got the Valco pickup! It's a six string.

Joseph Lazo · Post by **Joseph Lazo** » 5 Jan 2025 8:35 am

Mark, I'd suggest you look for an 8-string lap steel instead of another 6er.

Mark Evans · Post by **Mark Evans** » 5 Jan 2025 10:19 am

Joseph Lazo wrote:Mark, I'd suggest you look for an 8-string lap steel instead of another 6er.

Curious to hear this. Some time back I was asking questions about tunings and a forumite suggested go 8 strings. Eventually I did, a Caladesi. Sounded soooo good, like a piano… but I soon discovered that my desire to get more educated on other 8 string tunings (6ths, 7ths, 9ths, 11th, etc) just wasn’t happening. I was a folk/blues/singer-somgwriter player from the 70’s forward. Open D, G, maybe E in small jams. 6 strings is just comfortable and I’m happy to be there.

Thanks for the reminder!