Gibson Ultratone Lapsteel

[ChasFred]

OK so I decided to try to learn how to play lap steel. I have this Gibson I bought back in J'ville for $125. I tried to tune it up today and the tuners are so trashed I could not tone but 2 strings. So I am getting ready to but on a set of Grover Deluxe that I just happen to have in my guitar box of goodies.

Here are a few pick of before the change I will post more as things progress. This unit dates to around 1947. Look at the pickup that it has. It is original.

 

[eSGEe]

dude--- that is COOL AS CRAP!
125.00 ?!?!?!?!
were you IN J'ville in 1908????? lol


So --- how does she sound????????? THROUGH THE MESA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ChasFred]

I actually ran it through the Mesa the other night. Hard to say though, I can not get it to tune up, which is why I am changing the tuners on it.
They are SSOOO stiff . . . I am a bit jealous as to how stiff they are.

I lived in J'ville from 1975 till 2001. The last 4-5 years working part time at a pawn shop that dealt with only guitars and amps.

 

[eSGEe]

THis pawn shop you speak of...............does it still exist?
I have a client in J'ville and MIGHT be paying them a visit in the near future...............................

 

[ChasFred]

Nope, unfortunately they closed about 6 months be for I moved. It was called Don's Music and Pawn.

 

[eSGEe]

damn....................

 

[ChasFred]

So here is the first update. I pulled off the old tuners and went to install the new Grovers, as you can see in the pic below this is not going to work without drilling on my Lap Steel. I am not bothered by changing tuners but I refuse to drill on this instrument.

The shafts on both tuners are the same size but the Grovers have that damn collar.

SSOOOOO I have ordered a set of Golden Age Tuners from StewMac through Amazon. Since I am a PRIME member I got them without shipping cost and will get them faster.

When the new ones are installed more pics will follow.