Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hiya. Not really Rickenbacker specific, but I'm wondering if any of you play lapsteel. I'd like to buy one and play around with it, but have no idea what to look for. I don't need anything too elaborate or expensive.

I guess what I'm looking for is good new/used electric lapsteels that you would recommend to a beginner. I see a lot on eBay in the $100USD range, but have no idea if they are any good.

A lapsteel (not pedal steel, which is a whole different animal!) is the simplest kind of electric string instrument. A piece of wood, some strings, a pickup.

The prices on eBay reflect condition and collectibility, not necessarily playability. If the tuning pegs work and the electronics are OK, a hundred dollar lap steel should be fine to mess around with. Make sure the auction description says that it works, that's all. A common problem is shorted pickup windings, and you don't need that hassle.

First thing I'd do is clean it, change the strings, and squirt some cleaner into the pots and output jack.

Right on. I have a little extra money right now and saw that musician's friend has a cheap electric lap steel for ~$60. I'm going to get that, and if I get serious into it, I'll start looking for something better. I have a few pick ups and tuning peg sets laying around at home. If the supplied ones aren't decent enough, I'll switch them out.

Like you said, wood, metal, etc... pretty simple.

There are a couple that have hollow cavities under the pick up area, and I've heard they make for a really cool/different tone.

Hi Anthony. The Gretsch Synchromatic models (G1700 & G1715) are pretty good and not too expensive (around $300 new over there).



I had a bit of a play with one a few months back and it was great fun!

They sound teriffic!!

Er.... consider this posted under 'The Others'!!