Help: Adapting guitar to use as 'Lap top'.

Subject: Adapting guitar to use as 'Lap top'.
From: beachcomber
Date: 16 Aug 02 - 05:44 PM

I recently "turned up" an old Yamaha, middle range, guitar which I would like to tune to an "open" chord and try to learn how a dobro is played. What adaptation is required regarding the "nut" and Bridge and whatever else?? I would appreciate any opinions on this .

beachcomber

Subject: RE: Help: Adapting guitar to use as 'Lap top'.
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 16 Aug 02 - 06:08 PM

All you really need for starters is a cheap nut extension available from many music stores, including Elderly Instruments click here. Also, if you're going to tune like a real Dobro (GBDGBD) you'll need Dobro strings. If you're going to use any of the other common open tunings, regular strings should do.

If you fall in love with the style, you may want to have a scecial nut cut and maybe a higher saddle installed, but that's for later.

Subject: RE: Help: Adapting guitar to use as 'Lap top'.
From: GUEST,CraigS
Date: 16 Aug 02 - 07:01 PM

For your laptop:

In addition to the software described above (NutExtender v2.1 and DobroStrings v6.0), I would suggest a straight bridge slide, as the Yamaha will have a curved one to almost match the camber of the fingerboard. You could get that from Elderly (Flatbridge v3.0?). The Dobro strings are not really necessary as long as you realise that the major difference is that the fifth string is slightly lighter than in a normal set. You will probably want a steel bar as well. For this style of playing you really want an old-style one with a pointy end, rather than a modern one with a rounded end, which is really more suitable for pedal steel work.

Subject: RE: Help: Adapting guitar to use as 'Lap top'.
From: GUEST,Mark Ross on the road
Date: 17 Aug 02 - 03:27 PM

Basful Brother Oswald(Roy Acuffs' dobro player)used a bullet steel with a rounded end, I'm told. I've converted a cheap old Harmony(Japanese made, from the '70's, it cost me a dollar, but that's another story)to play lap style guitar. Any medium gauge strings will do, it depends on what kind of sound you want, I prefer phosphor bronze myself.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Help: Adapting guitar to use as 'Lap top'.
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Aug 02 - 04:15 PM

Steven's steel hawaiian slide and a dobro nut. Our shop converted mine in about 5 minutes.

~S~

Subject: RE: Help: Adapting guitar to use as 'Lap top'.
From: Genie
Date: 18 Aug 02 - 04:06 AM

Where do you install the battery and hard drive?

Genie

Sorry, folks. Can't help it.   Every time I see this thread title, questions like that pop into my mind.

Subject: RE: Help: Adapting guitar to use as 'Lap top'.
From: beachcomber
Date: 18 Aug 02 - 04:42 PM

Genie, I've become so accustomed to having my feeble attempts to "get a thread going" that I now resort to wording in a slightly obscure fashion . As you can see, this time , apart from your good self, quite an amount of assistance has been given. Thanks to bee-dubya-ell, WYSISYG and two guests for their information. cheers,

beach

Subject: RE: Help: Adapting guitar to use as 'Lap top'.
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Aug 02 - 06:16 PM

Actually we had a Thread Name Game just for such occasions. Bert started it, to make a safe place to put the things that jump to mind when we see thread titles. It was hilarious.

~S~

Subject: RE: Help: Adapting guitar to use as 'Lap top'.
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 18 Aug 02 - 07:27 PM

Yes, Susan, but then you don't have the fun of sticking them into the threads. OK, OK, I guess I've filled my puerility quotient for the month. Besides, Genie beat me to it...I was going to ask if you can use the pickup jack as a USB connector.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Help: Adapting guitar to use as 'Lap top'.
From: Genie
Date: 19 Aug 02 - 02:56 AM

Yeah, Mark, as they say, great minds ...

Subject: RE: Help: Adapting guitar to use as 'Lap top'.
From: Giac
Date: 19 Aug 02 - 08:15 AM

Well, I thought he was going to install a little flat screen, that only he could see, so he could surf Mudcat whilst playing. Now there's an idea.

~;o) Mary

Subject: RE: Help: Adapting guitar to use as 'Lap top'.
From: RichM
Date: 19 Aug 02 - 08:40 AM

I'm often sitting at the computer with guitar in hand when I am composing and writing music into the Muse software program. It's awkward, and I was hoping you had come up with a practical solution to combining the two :))...

Beachcomber, have fun with your laptop! Personally, I like to use a Stevens bar--it's hourglass shaped, so it fits well to the hand.

Rich

Subject: RE: Help: Adapting guitar to use as 'Lap top'.
From: Genie
Date: 19 Aug 02 - 02:49 PM

bee-dubya, thanks for that link. And, beachcomber, thanks for the thread. I have a couple of guitars that I don't use, and you've given me an idea, to convert one of them to a lap guitar.

Genie

Subject: RE: Help: Adapting guitar to use as 'Lap top'.
From: Mooh
Date: 19 Aug 02 - 09:41 PM

I keep an old Harmony Sovereign set up for lap style, because I'm too cheap to get the neck reset. I use a cheapo raised nut, the kind which slips over the existing nut, though I do have a real raised bone nut for it too. I've kept the radiused saddle because it helps me miss strings by tilting the bar less than with a flat saddle. Strings of choice are D'Addario FlatTops medium guage, often tuned to open F or F# (same intervals as open G). Bar of choice is a Shubb SP2 double cutaway semi-bullet. Capo of choice is also a Shubb.

Good luck, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help: Adapting guitar to use as 'Lap top'.
From: Mooh
Date: 20 Aug 02 - 07:40 AM

...oh yeah, and I love to amplify the thing with a Dimarzio humbucking soundhole pickup and a bit of delay and overdrive for sustain, but only when I'm in an electric mood. Great fun!

Thumbpicks and fingernails.

I once had a very early Fender lapsteel but had to let it go in hungrier times. I encountered it again at a guitar show a couple of years ago but the owner wouldn't part with it...oh well...

Jerry Douglas just slays me.

Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help: Adapting guitar to use as 'Lap top'.
From: beachcomber
Date: 20 Aug 02 - 05:54 PM

Thanks people. You've given me marvellous assistance and from now on I'll know how to get attention for my postings.

Cheers

beach

Subject: RE: Help: Adapting guitar to use as 'Lap top'.
From: Venthony
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 08:54 AM

In my experience -- which is hardly comprehensive -- none of the retrofit stuff works. You will always buzz, and you will always be slightly out of tune.

Buy a real high-nut resophonic. Regal makes a nice one for around $400 (You can get a used one for less). Stay away from Johnson, etc.

Then have a GOOD luthier (ever so gently) adjust the bridge and set the intonation.

Finally, invest in a really GOOD bar, and keep it wrapped in cotton cloth inside the little plastic case.

Best o luck, Tony