Built keyless C6 Lap Steel / Practice Board

[Glenn Demichele]

Did this with hand-tools and silver-solder from hardware store parts (except for pickup, fretboard and output jack).

[Tim Toberer]

Really cool! I love the minimalistic design.

[Sam Weisenberg]

I like this design. Can you post a photo of the bridge end?

[Glenn Demichele]

Attached is a picture of the bridge. The head and bridge are both made of 1/2" Aluminum U-Channel. I made the head out of 2 pieces cut into an "L" side by side because 1). I needed the travel for the tuners, and 2). Using only 1 or 2 nuts as the tuning traveler along the screw didn't work because the string tension is pulling the nut off-axis causing the screw to bind up, making it difficult to turn. My solution was to use 1/2" threaded hex spacers which prevented this, and I needed more space to fit these.
When tuning it up however, I found that the tuned strings went flat when I tightened another one. Some of it might be the flimsy Aluminum, but I think most of it was the "L" at the headmost end of the guitar lifting against the wood screws and leaning toward the bridge. I epoxied square Aluminum spacers to help prevent this from happening. In retrospect, the head should be made of a U instead of 2 L's.

[John Hyland]

Well done. In my pedal steel project I too have used hardware angles and nuts and bolts.

I have a couple of comments though.

Did you consider heavier wall thickness (3mm) angles as it looks like, from the tuner end photo, the leg is deflecting a little despite the addition of the side blocks.
For longlevity, cap head socket screws would be preferable to the Phillips head screws. https://www.mcmaster.com/products/socke ... ap-screws/

As an aside I have success gluing alum to thicken legs. A single length glued on the outside of the the bridge leg might work instead of what looks like individual epoxied blocks by aiding deflection and allow the fixing screws to be closer to the up leg.

[J D Sauser]

It's an idea that has long sat on my "To-Do" list, as I travel a lot, mostly by air and I could really use something which fits into a checked suitcase or even carry on or just throw it into the trunk of my car.

I just got so many projects, I need to talk to my live-extension Doctors!

Good for you!... J-D.

[Jacobus De Bruyn]

I agree with a travel board. Great concept, simple but affective. All you need to travel is a small earplug mini amp and you set.

[Johnie King]

Who needs keys!
That’s cool keyless !!

[J D Sauser]

Who needs keys!
That’s cool keyless !!

I really like that one!... J-D.

[Doug Anderson]

Love this post. I'm looking to build a travel lap steel that is small, light, thin and not too expensive to build.

Where did you buy the keyless tuner (or is that a hand build)?

I'd love to hear any resources/photos/designs etc from others.

[Bill Hatcher]

i like your instrument. only thing that i question is the string angle over the front of the keyless unit. you really need more angle there.

[George Piburn]

My observation is : looks like that aluminum angle from a home center, it is of a much lower grade of aluminum, that works , BUT is going to produce a Pithy Thin sound , opposed to using 1/8" 6061 angle,
--6061 is a machinist grade aluminum, with far greater sonic quality.

My personal preference is Brass 385 or 360 - brass over aluminum is a personal choice.

I agree with Bill Hatcher , on adding some elbow grease filing to soften that string angle.

[Tim Toberer]

My observation is : looks like that aluminum angle from a home center, it is of a much lower grade of aluminum, that works , BUT is going to produce a Pithy Thin sound , opposed to using 1/8" 6061 angle,
--6061 is a machinist grade aluminum, with far greater sonic quality.

The aluminum I have found at big home centers is 6063, which is slightly softer, but has a better finish. It doesn't machine well but for some things it seems fine. Personally I doubt it makes much difference in this case. 1/8 channel would be better. That low string angle looks like it could cause the sitar effect. Overall design of this guitar is great!