Steel Guitar Builder

I am going to buy an SX lap steel. The only ones they carry are the right handed ones and I am a lefty. Is it possible to just get another piece of angle iron or angle aluminum of some type and change it over to make it a lefty (cutting the spots for the string to lay in) ? Played at a guitar for some time but not really any good at it. Was going to try a pedal but fingers, knees, feet and hands will not work all at the same time. Getting to old to think that fast anymore. Thanks for the help.

Johnny

Very possible to do what you suggested. You can cut the string groves with a set of acetylene torch tip cleaners. If you want to get fancy, StewMac sells nut slotting files. You may have to reverse the saddles on the bridge also, depending on how it is made, but that should be removing some screws and reassembling it.

Rondo also sells a left handed lap steel... http://www.rondomusic.com/lap1naleft.html

That one is out of stock....so I guess I will just get a right handed one and try it. Wonder if I could take one of the nut extenders and put over the nut or just make one from really thin aluminum and cut the grooves? Just another thought. I put ads all over craigslist for one either right or left (wanted one that has the guitar look) for something really cheap to learn on but never got the first hit. I think the word "cheap" scared them off. Oh well, will keep plugging away at it. Hopefully I will be able to learn to play. Saw the user name. Never thought of using my call.

Johnny
Caldwell, Texas
N4GCA

Are you a member of the SteelGuitarForum? They have a "Wanted" section.

No but I will look into it...thanks

Johnny

Johnny, this was posted on the other forum, might male for a good experimental piece. Its a "B"stock SX Lap 2 Ash 3TS w/Bag, but has a small dent in the back of the neck. http://www.rondomusic.com/product4284.html

If it is still there tomorrow evening, I will probably get that one. Good experimental model. Thanks for the assistance.

Johnny

I also took a look at the bridge situation, if you had to, you could by a new bridge from StewMac without string groves and refile the groves. But I think a re-arraigning of the parts in the bridge will do what you want. And, you could try the extender nut. The one on StewMac looks like all groves are the same. Making the nut out of some aluminum angle is not too hard, just go slow. I actually have a "backwards" nut for a Rogue RLS-1. I didn't take my time making it... oops!