Affinity Strat converted to lap steel

[wesm.vaughan]

Where did this forum come from!! I have searched lap steel several times and only found the exclusive steelguitarforum.com which you must pay $5 to post.

QUESTION #1
>> I have an Affinity Strat ($99 guitar that came with the starter strat pack).
>>that I find useless. I was wondering what would be the main difference
>>between a Lap steel and just dropping a Lap steel Pick up into the strat
>>and raising the action. Which leads me to believe that most of the tone
>>comes from the steel bar used. Electric slide guitars and lap steel sound
>>so different from each other. The only main differences I can see are
>>that lap steels are one piece of wood and are played with a solid steel
>>bar. I can't imagine the solid piece affecting the sound that much. It
>>must come from the steel bar.
>>
>>I was going to use one of these pickups:
>>
>>http://www.vintagevibeguitars.com/w...ing_lapWin.html
>>
>>And These Seymour Duncans Antq.
>>
>>http://www.instrumentpro.com/P-SEYASLS?source=froogle
>>
>>Is there any difference other than the $?

ANSWER #1
You can buy a raised nut at most guitar stores and
> suppliers.
>
> Replace the bridge of equal height and made of aluminum, you should
> replace and use one humbucker
> pick-up wound between 700-1000 ohms and of course the bar will help finish
> off the tone.
> The p/u's in a $99.00 guitar are worth about $2.00 so dump them.
>
> This should make a good lap steel.


QUESTION #2
I would also like to mention that I am going for a country , western swing tone.
You would still recommend a humbucker? Anyone in particular? Pickups wound
to 700-1000 Ohms help achieve that distinct lap steel tone I am guessing?
Why did the Fender Stringmasters use single coils?

-Albert

[wesm.vaughan]

So I am guessing this pickup is wound to 700-1000 Ohms because it is being sold as a Lap steel pickup?

http://www.vintagevibeguitars.com/windo ... apWin.html

Will I be disappointed in the tone from the affinity? I was talking with a guitar luthier and he was saying that I might considering the bodies of Lap steels also contribute a lot to the sound. I do not want to sound like an electric slide guitar. I am going for that country , western swing sound. If I got that humbucker where should I place it. I was told approx. 1.5" from the bridge.

[Dave L]

Hi Albert,
Check out this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBoLXY0fPQ4
James has been making his own lap steels for awhile and has many different styles.
I don't know the story of this pink steel in this vid it looks like he put a square neck on it.
James likes to do things on the cheap, he is Scottish after all (his words not mine).
James is a real gentleman and willing to help and share. If you PM him though youtube I'm sure he will respond.
Dave