GUITAR N00B SHIT

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HEY DUDES.

I think I might get a guitar for my birfday, but I don't know where to begin.

I really like the sound of lap steel, and have always wanted to play one, but would I be better off starting with a plain old cheap acoustic? Or a cheap electric? Or a cheap lap steel? Or what?

N.B. - I have small, carny hands that are not very flexible -- they're wired all wrong. Srsly, I can't even do the boy scout pledge. Part of the appeal of the lap steel is that I wouldn't have to finger chords. And that sweet sound.

JJusten, help!

― underwater ghost ship picture (skowly), Sunday, 14 January 2007 15:36 (eighteen years ago)

Pretty

http://www.chandlerguitars.com/images/studio6.gif

― underwater ghost ship picture (skowly), Sunday, 14 January 2007 15:39 (eighteen years ago)

Playing a lap steel is almost as different from playing other kinds of guitar as playing cello. That said, it's a great instrument.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Sunday, 14 January 2007 16:24 (eighteen years ago)

oh, i know it is...but there's really no overlap? ie - learning to play acoustic guitar won't lay much groundwork for lap steel?

― underwater ghost ship picture (skowly), Sunday, 14 January 2007 16:57 (eighteen years ago)

Learning to play guitar will teach you about the basic workings of a fretboard, which will help on a lapsteel, and learning to fingerpick on an acoustic helps a bit with lap steel picking skills.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Sunday, 14 January 2007 17:11 (eighteen years ago)

...i think i'm going to go for a lap steel, just because i love the sound so much. however, still torn between acoustic and electric. pros, cons?

― underwater ghost ship picture (skowly), Sunday, 14 January 2007 19:57 (eighteen years ago)

Hmm, you mean like a dobro?

I always find it sort of limited as an instrument - like it almost automatically has that pseudo-bluesy AAA radio sound, whereas an electric lapsteel is a bit more versatile on account of what you can do with effects and amps.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Sunday, 14 January 2007 21:13 (eighteen years ago)

You'll be happier with an electric lap steel. Definitely more versatile, and won't lead to the blank stares of soundmen if you play it live. As often.

― John Justen says Toonces was one of the most talented cats on televison (johnjus, Monday, 15 January 2007 00:29 (eighteen years ago)

HA.
Yeah.
Even if you had the right mic and set it up yourself, they wouldn't know what to do usually.

― Lukewarm Watery G. Tornado, Smackababy with a Grampas Guitars (The GZeus), Monday, 15 January 2007 02:01 (eighteen years ago)

well it's either an electric lap or an acoustic regular guitar.

what would you guys recommend for either? we're looking around 350-400

― underwater ghost ship picture (skowly), Monday, 15 January 2007 03:49 (eighteen years ago)

Well, if you have woodworking experience/tools and would like a little experience in regards to electronics, you could make one.
There are alot of plans for electrics.

John has one for sale, too, as I recall.

― Lukewarm Watery G. Tornado, Smackababy with a Grampas Guitars (The GZeus), Monday, 15 January 2007 03:53 (eighteen years ago)

o rly?

maybe i will look at it

― underwater ghost ship picture (skowly), Monday, 15 January 2007 03:55 (eighteen years ago)

HI DERE FENDER LAP STEEL:

http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0950072321

― John Justen says Toonces was one of the most talented cats on televison (johnjus, Monday, 15 January 2007 23:29 (eighteen years ago)

a-ron hubb otm. get the electric lap steel. in my experience with them, which is slightly limited, but whatever, they don't need to be quite as perfectly crafted as a regular guitar - measurements and such dont need to be as exact and construction as robust because of the simple mechanics involved...ie, no fretting involved, not usually any big bends like a regular guitar, etc.

for 400 you could get a decent lap steel and an amp good enough to use!

― AaronK (AaronK), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 03:48 (eighteen years ago)

i think that's what i'm going to do!

― underwater ghost ship picture (skowly), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 15:35 (eighteen years ago)

three years pass...

are steel-string acoustic guitars well-suited for playing classical pieces?

― Daniel, Esq., Sunday, 25 April 2010 22:25 (fifteen years ago)

if not, i need to exchange what i just got for a nylon-string "classical guitar."

― Daniel, Esq., Sunday, 25 April 2010 22:25 (fifteen years ago)

never heard of anyone playing classical on a steel string tbh.

― call all destroyer, Sunday, 25 April 2010 22:48 (fifteen years ago)

Yeah, you'll never be able to play classical (or Brazilian for that matter) on that.

― Blecch Generation (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 April 2010 23:07 (fifteen years ago)

Yep, in total agreement with what everyones saying. Get a classical.

― Q: What's brown and Sticky? A: The insect that lives in your stomach (jjjusten), Sunday, 25 April 2010 23:11 (fifteen years ago)

thanks, all.

― Daniel, Esq., Sunday, 25 April 2010 23:13 (fifteen years ago)

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