Lunch Report, 2/8/12 - Special Edition Wednesday

[zombywoof]

I'm Back.

Lunch Today - hmmm boy. I got me some Trail bologna and swiss cheese from Troyers Market. For the uninitiated, Trail bologna is named for the small Ohio town of Trail where some 100 years ago the Troyer family started making and selling it. Gonna eat it with some Tricuits (possibly the perfect food) and tomato soup.



G&L Thought of the Day

Lawdy, yesterday I asked for some SC love an ya'll drowned me in it.

Today, I am turning it over to those of you who own Limited Edition and Special Run G&Ls to testify. I wanna hear about those Supers, Juniors, Blondies, Spalted Maple sweeties, and the rest. What was it about that guitar that you couldn't get on an off the shelf G&L that got your ass and spirit moving.

Again, photos are mandatory - none of that ahhh, they don't want to see that old pic of mine again crapoloa.

Musical Hodgepodge.

As I hinted at yesterday I want to draw all you guys and gals who play steel with or without pedals out into the open. Even you acoustic lap guitar folks can chime in.

At one point you could pick up lap steels for what change you had in your pocket. Getting harder these days though. One of the problems is geetar players have finally figured out that the P-90s and single coils slapped on the lap steels were the same ones adorning Les Pauls and Teles in the 1950s. The Rick bass guys would snag a lap steel just to get the magnets out of the horseshoe pickups.

Anyway, I love the suckers. If any guitar can imitate the wail of a new born baby or a frieght train whistle sounding in the dead of night it is a lap steel.

So lets see and hear about 'em. What do ya play on yours? What are your favorite tunings? Anybody thought about making a lap steel with an MFD on it?
Food for thought that is.

Here be mine - a 1950s Valco-made Oahu Tonemaster. I pretty much play the blues on mine and stick to Open D, E, G, Dm, and the like. I play it with a bottleneck. It is a longer scale so it will ring to Kingdom Come but it makes slants a bit tougher. The "strings through" single coil pickups in these were the best Valco had to offer and have taken on kinda a legendary status since Ry Cooder slapped one in the bridge position of his Coodercaster.



This one was originally made as a lap guitar but I converted to a regular "Spanish" style - a 1929-1931 Oscar Schmidt-made First Hawaiin Conservatory of Music concert. Pretty much a Stella right down to the birch wood construction, square top kerfing and angled neck heel. You got these free when you signed up for lessons with Schmidt's mail order music business. I recently bought a nut extender though and am thinking of reverting it back for lap playing.





Gotta run so eat up.

[kakerlak]

Once again, gotta re-check this when I get home to see the pics I'm a missing...

Never had any special edition models. My dad had one of the mid '90s ASAT IIIs for a while, but I'm not sure that counts as a special edition.

I do have a lap steel, though, but I don't really know what I'm doing playing it and am never sure what tuning makes sense. Mine's an early '50s Supro, covered in white pearloid with a pickup that's got a rectangular steel plate under which the strings run. It has about the nastiest, bright and raunchy sound you could ever hope for in a lap steel... Delightful! (I also have a Supro Ozark "regular" guitar that's covered in the same pearloid. They make a neat pair) Any thoughts on what sort of tuning would be most accessible to an ignorant guitar player?

[gitman001]

Hey ZW

I have to play some catch up from yesterday….

SC-2 Love

I guess i jumped the gun a bit posting the SC-2 on monday! So i went and found a video… Here is my band doing a version of a Pearl Jam song called Yellow Ledbetter. For me the SC-2 has a special combination of responsiveness and articulation that is unlike my other G&L's. And the hotter bridge has a real nice growl to it. Oh yeah… I am 6'1 and 180 for those interested in the aspect ratio of guitar/player.

[youtube]mb2e0whi398[/youtube]

My only special edition is a 25th anniversary. It also has its own unique sound and is by far the most resonant G&L i have played.

Here is a special 2-for pic for Tues/Wed.



Scott

[sickbutnottired]

I am really enjoying your reports. I didn't play yesterday 'cause i have never had or heard (in person) an SC, but I have always thought they looked great.

Enjoyed all the pictures yesterday.

I really want a lap steal, I have been playing ton's of slide and want to mess with a lap steal for a while...

editing: trying to make the incomprehensible more comprehensible. and oh yea, triscuits are great!

[darwinohm]

Woof, the SC's sure showed up yesterday. Bunch of nice colors and ages.

You have some cool guitars that you use for slide. I have always admired steel players and Tom Brumley was one of my heroes. They would really be nice for blues players.

My Custom Creations F-100 Return is my picture for today. When I first saw it, I didn't realize what it was. It was after I brought it home and did some research that I discovered what it was. Here it is -- Darwin

[zombywoof]

I do have a lap steel, though, but I don't really know what I'm doing playing it and am never sure what tuning makes sense. Mine's an early '50s Supro, covered in white pearloid with a pickup that's got a rectangular steel plate under which the strings run. It has about the nastiest, bright and raunchy sound you could ever hope for in a lap steel...

Yeah, I ain't all that sure what I am doing either. Alot of times I will slip on a ring slide and use that along with a bottleneck. I have a bar but just feel more at home with a bottleneck. As is my habit I play with my fingers - no thumb or fingerpicks although I have been working on trying to get the hang of a metal thumbpick.

I am always on the lookout for a Supro Comet lap steel. Your Supro, of course, has the same pickup as my Oahua. Your description of the pup is spot on - it is the nastiest most in your face single coil I have ever heard.

I believe it is Lollar which now reproducing those pickups as the Chicago Steels.

[kakerlak]

I do have a lap steel, though, but I don't really know what I'm doing playing it and am never sure what tuning makes sense. Mine's an early '50s Supro, covered in white pearloid with a pickup that's got a rectangular steel plate under which the strings run. It has about the nastiest, bright and raunchy sound you could ever hope for in a lap steel...

Yeah, I ain't all that sure what I am doing either. Alot of times I will slip on a ring slide and use that along with a bottleneck. I have a bar but just feel more at home with a bottleneck. As is my habit I play with my fingers - no thumb or fingerpicks although I have been working on trying to get the hang of a metal thumbpick.

I am always on the lookout for a Supro Comet lap steel. Your Supro, of course, has the same pickup as my Oahua. Your description of the pup is spot on - it is the nastiest most in your face single coil I have ever heard.

I believe it is Lollar which now reproducing those pickups as the Chicago Steels.

Mine is exactly like this one, same color underside felt, same case, everything (though mine's missing the big plastic bridge cover).

[zombywoof]

That be the one I am looking for although the seller is a bit over the top on his asking price.

The steel plate over the pickup is where they got the name strings though pickup.

You really got yourself a good one. Dave Lindley plays Supro Comets and you can't get a better recommendation than that

[kakerlak]

OK, here's my happy little Supro family:



So tell me about that Airline/National head; I'm diggin' the chrome!

[louis cyfer]

OK, here's my happy little Supro family:



So tell me about that Airline/National head; I'm diggin' the chrome!

nice ampeg.

[louis cyfer]

Hey ZW

I have to play some catch up from yesterday….

SC-2 Love

I guess i jumped the gun a bit posting the SC-2 on monday! So i went and found a video… Here is my band doing a version of a Pearl Jam song called Yellow Ledbetter. For me the SC-2 has a special combination of responsiveness and articulation that is unlike my other G&L's. And the hotter bridge has a real nice growl to it. Oh yeah… I am 6'1 and 180 for those interested in the aspect ratio of guitar/player.

[youtube]mb2e0whi398[/youtube]

My only special edition is a 25th anniversary. It also has its own unique sound and is by far the most resonant G&L i have played.

Here is a special 2-for pic for Tues/Wed.



Scott

love your tone. much better than anything i have ever heard from pj.

[kakerlak]

nice ampeg.

Thanks, it's an early '60s R-12 Rocket, but it broke a while back and I haven't gotten around to messing with it (I suspect the stack of capacitors blew...). A fun amp, though, 2 7591As and a single 12.

[westsideduck]

Here's my lapper, came with it's origional stand which is real hard to come by, a friend of mine was at a farm auction, thought of me when she saw it and bid $175.00 and got it. Never really had the time to get it down, but a buddy of mine that jams with us tears that thing up, you should hear it through my Fuchs!



I wouldn't call this a special edition, it's just an ASAT wioth a Leo sticker on it, that's as close as I'll get.

[blargfromouterspace]

My lap steel is the most boring looking thing on the planet compared to the MOTS beauties above. Sounds good though. I still can't play it properly - seems to be a common thing. One day I'll sit down and actually learn to play it. Here's a nice clip of fellow Australian Mia Dyson playing one though an Australian Goldentone amp and getting a lovely sound

[youtube]PDb8jAGgD2M[/youtube]

[louis cyfer]

nice ampeg.

Thanks, it's an early '60s R-12 Rocket, but it broke a while back and I haven't gotten around to messing with it (I suspect the stack of capacitors blew...). A fun amp, though, 2 7591As and a single 12.

i know, i have one. the gs 12r. have the reissue as well actually with the el34's.

[kakerlak]

nice ampeg.

Thanks, it's an early '60s R-12 Rocket, but it broke a while back and I haven't gotten around to messing with it (I suspect the stack of capacitors blew...). A fun amp, though, 2 7591As and a single 12.

i know, i have one. the gs 12r. have the reissue as well actually with the el34's.

That's cool, Louis; I wish mine was the reverb model.

You know, I used to love that little Ampeg. It had a great sound when you pushed it.
I ought to get the it fixed because it has some sentimental value beyond it's utility. It's kind of interesting to see how many tube configurations Ampeg went through with the Rocket. I've seen 6V6 and 7591 versions (tube chart and schematic on mine both have 6V6 scratched out and 7591 handwritten) and I've also seen some w/ 12AX7s, instead of the 6SL7s in mine.

Til I do, I'll have to make do with my main amp (Super Reverb) and a Magnatone that I got on the cheap, which is a real oddball of an amp.

[zombywoof]

My first real amp was an Ampeg B15 Portaflex I bought from a friend. That sucker had ot be the quietest 25 watts ever built.

I love Magnatone amps. Everybody should keep at least a Maggie suitcase amp on hand.

[kakerlak]

Here's my Maggie (technically a "Noble"):






Think I paid like $250 for it from local CL. It was already loaded up w/ vintage Telefunkens and RCAs, recently re-capped and everything, yet the guy that had it didn't seem to know what the heck it was. He wanted the money to buy more old Teisco guitars and Silvertone amps

[zombywoof]

I played through a Titano 260 for a few years. Never should have sold that amp. I actually tried to buy it back a year or so ago and found that it had been taken to the Dallas Guitar Show and sold.

[blargfromouterspace]

Here's my Maggie (technically a "Noble"):

That wiring looks like one of the many electronics projects I abandoned when it got too messy. Perhaps I should just persevere! Beautiful looking amp, Colin

[kakerlak]

I played through a Titano 260 for a few years. Never should have sold that amp. I actually tried to buy it back a year or so ago and found that it had been taken to the Dallas Guitar Show and sold.

Mine's essentially a 480 model, but w/o reverb. I really haven't put many hours of playing into mine since I got it a couple years ago and have yet to find an opportunity to open it up and see what it does at a louder volume. I also don't really understand the switching and inputs. It has jacks for "Channel 1" and Channel 2", then a jack between them that says "Stereo Input" then a set of knobs for a section labeled "Stereo Vibrato Channel 1 Only."

Fancy stuff in its day, though. Probably the only combo amp I've seen with a knob to turn on/off the "internal speakers," as it calls them.

[zapcosongs]

Just want to say hi, ZW.

I don't own any Special Editions, nor have I ever touched a lap steel, so I don't have much to add (though I really like your taste in older, middle-class instrumental gems).

You're doing a great job this week - showing and getting a lot of love here. You go, boy! - ed

[yowhatsshakin]

Right up my alley Woof, you had to get me out of my shelter so here goes:

First seven Limited Editions, left-to-right '98 ASAT Classic III, '98 Junior, '01 20th Anniversary Model, '06 25th Anniversary Model, '07 F-100 Return Edition, '08 Phyllis Model 'Blondie', and '09 C.L.F. Centennial ASAT

followed by 4 Korina's, 3 of which are Limited Edition, left-to-right '11 Korina ASAT Classic prototype, '11 Korina Collection ASAT Classic Bluesboy, '11 Korina Collection ASAT Junior II, '12 Korina Collection ASAT Deluxe II
.

Then 5 Special Build models, left-to-right '07 ASAT Classic Bluesboy w/ spalted top, '04 ASAT Super, '07 ASAT Classic 'S', '04 ASAT HB, and '08 ASAT Classic w/ spalted top.


Finally the 4 models designed by Tim 'BuffaloBros' Page (with assistance of a few others), left-to-right '99 ASAT Blues Boy #9, '99 ASAT '50, '99 ASAT Z-2, and '06 Trinity (built for Bob Page):

In short my story is this, I once played a Super at 'Emerald City Guitars' and didn't buy it. So once I found one, I started looking for a Junior and the ball got rolling to keep looking for rare, limited production models even though some like the Classic 'S' and Blues Boy (now Bluesboy) wouldn't qualify any more. I'm not the greatest guitar player, but I love finding these rarities in the most unexpected places and than document them: do research, take pictures, and write a page on my web site. About every one of these guitars sounds amazing and the build quality is very high (as may be expected). Are they a nest egg? Undoubtedly so, but the big difference with an IRA is this. Other people play with my money in my IRA's but I can play my own guitars

Nothing to offer on the lap steel front though

- Jos

[zapcosongs]

Bastid!!!

- ed

[yowhatsshakin]

Bastid!!!

- ed

I know Ed. I am very disappointed myself too I cannot contribute even a single item as far as lap steels are concerned

- Jos

P.S. OK, I'm over it already ...

[louis cyfer]

jos, now you are just showing off. you really need all of those played, and obviously you don't have the time. if you need any help, i would be willing to sacrifice some time to help you out.

[kakerlak]

Fargin' ice-hole!

[JagInTheBag]

About every one of these guitars sounds amazing and the build quality is very high (as may be expected). Are they a nest egg? Undoubtedly so, but the big difference with an IRA is this. Other people play with my money in my IRA's but I can play my own guitars

- Jos

VERY well put Jos. Now all you need is a rare vintage muscle car to go with each. We call that a CAR01k. You have a GUITAR01k.

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

Bastid!!!

- ed

I know Ed. I am very disappointed myself too I cannot contribute even a single item as far as lap steels are concerned

- Jos

P.S. OK, I'm over it already ...

Clever comment Jos as are Jag's "car01k" and "guitar01k" plans.


One of my favorites on lap steel:

[youtube]4eimv2RoONw[/youtube]

[kakerlak]

Back to the steel...

I think Junior Brown and Jeremy Wakefield are the two best non-pedal steel players out there right now:

[youtube]J1bQfZCrhYU[/youtube]

[youtube]LNUmvagiNl8[/youtube]

[gitman001]

love your tone. much better than anything i have ever heard from pj.

Hey Louie, thanks, i appreciate it.


Some other really great vids today..... just what i needed some gas for another stringed instrument! I have a hard enough time staying on top of the six standard tuned ones i've got! Man my wife will kill me if a bring something else in the house

Scott

[zapcosongs]

Just got a chance to check out the vid. Fantastic Job! I'm with Louis here on the fine tone. He might just want to pick up a little SC one day thanks to you, Scott. - ed

[darwinohm]

Jos, that is the finest collection of G&L's that I have seen!!! -- Darwin

[zapcosongs]

I agree, Darwin.

Don't you wonder what Jos would do if the house was on fire and he could only save ONE???? - ed

[yowhatsshakin]

Jos, that is the finest collection of G&L's that I have seen!!! -- Darwin

I agree, Darwin.

Don't you wonder what Jos would do if the house was on fire and he could only save ONE???? - ed

Thanks Ed and Darwin. And I rather only would like to have to answer that question in case of such unforeseen calamity. Lets just hope that'll never happen ...

- Jos

[JagInTheBag]

Jos, that is the finest collection of G&L's that I have seen!!! -- Darwin

I agree, Darwin.

Don't you wonder what Jos would do if the house was on fire and he could only save ONE???? - ed

Thanks Ed and Darwin. And I rather only would like to have to answer that question in case of such unforeseen calamity. Lets just hope that'll never happen ...

- Jos

NOTE TO SELF: Install fireproof vault tomorrow...