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[Bob Kagy]

You might try this web address:
http://www.iwaynet.net/~steelgtr/build.html

Just click on it.

It's in John Tipka's site. He visits the forum occasionally and has always had good advice about lap steels and building lap steels.

See if it answers your question; if not you might try e-mailing John.

Hope this helps, Bob

[Jon Light (deceased)]

Just a quick survey of what I've got lying around--

Stringmaster--3/8"
Rick Silver Hawaiian--7/16"
Harmony student model--1/2"

I have heard complaints about the Stringmaster being too easy to bottom out.

This ought to give you some ballpark guidance.

[Ricky Davis]

I'll have to agree with brother Jon in that he has heard right about the Stringmasters are too low.
When building my SS HAWAIIAN; seen at> www.mightyfinemusic.com
I took that into major consideration because height is part of the perception of seeing the strings against the fretboard.
I have 1/2 inch from fret board and believe it to be perfect never a prob. with picks hitting and/or bar hammers; and still looks well against the fret board. I've tried all string heights until I came up with that one.
Ricky

[Bob Kagy]

Listen to these guys Layzis, they know what they're talking about.

Also, my Sierra ranges from 7/16" at the nut to 1/2" near the pickup. You probably know that you have to allow enough to be able to adjust the pickup height distance from the strings.