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My Weissenborn-style hollow neck lap slide is finished and I decided to call it Red Kite after the majestic birds that I see around my workshop every day. I’ve had the most fun for a long time in building this one. I feel excited but at the same time daunted. I’ve played guitar for 40+ years and when I string them up I can usually play them pretty well and put them through their paces. I’ve only dabbled with slide though so it’s like going back 40 years and being a complete learner again – the nearest I’ve come is when I started playing bouzoukis and citterns. This is going to be my “playing development” for the next year or so and it’s going to be a gas. I’ve done a couple of sound clips. For the first I decided to do what I normally do when stuck and puzzled – put the instrument in DADGAD and play what I hear in my head, so this is called Red Kites to go with the guitar and give a feel for the sight and sound of these wonderful majestic birds. There’s lots of clunking with the bar slide and missed intonation and damping but it gives a flavour of the guitar:

Red Kites

When I went to Martin Simpson Workshops and he taught slide he talked about how people new to slide used to dive in real hard and make noises like “Two skeletons ******* in a dustbin” so for the second clip I put it into Open D and did just that:

Skeletons

Now for some pictures. The top and back are both 4 piece Sapele, the sides are English walnut, the binding is Lutz spruce that Shane Neifer made up for me, the headstock veneer and bridge are Old Rio Rosewood, snakewood bridgepins, ebony fingerboard with rope fret markers, mini Gotoh tuners with ebony buttons. The finish is 4-5 coats of pre-catalysed lacquer over Z-poxy rubbed back to a natural finish.

Front:



Back:



Side:



Fingerboard with rope fret markers:



A closer look at the binding:



Front bracing:



Back bracing:



Thanks for looking and listening.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Coolness! It came out great Dave!

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Dave,

She turned out awesome! The shape is classic! And she sings sweet! It is hard to see in these pics but did the curl show up in the bindings?

Awesome job....I just got some weiss plans and plan a build in the future. It looks like I have 2008 book so maybe 2009 .

Thanks for showing this one Dave

Shane

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Canada

Wow!! Very cool sound! you sure can play that thing!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Dave, that is excelent. Well done.

And thanks for the sound clips, great job.

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I really like "Red Kites". Beautiful song played on a beautiful instrument!

Congratulations!

Lap steels are unfamilliar to me, but I reckon they don't often get played like this!!!

Very cool
Great clips

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Thanks all,

Shane,

There is definitely curl in the bindings but it is hard to photograph. This is my best attempt so far:



I love the look and effect they give. The main thing I learned using them is that next time I will remember to shellac them before doing the dry runs to make sure of the fit - the brown tape took it's toll a bit on them as happens with tops.

The bad/good news is that I am about to continue my tradition of making a 21st Birthday guitar for my daughters. Martha - the second eldest of my 4 girls - was going to have a parlour but when she heard this guitar now it's going to be a Weiss (she's a big, big fan of John Butler ad Ben Harper). So I'm going to need a set of your Lutz for a Weiss pretty soon after Christmas. I'll be in touch.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

very nice - Id love to build one, one day also.
They are just so soulful, and you can really dig into, all those alternate tunings that you never get around to on your regular axe.
Cheers
Charliewood

Super nice job Dave!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Very impressive, Dave...both the superb construction as well as its sound. Thanks for posting.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Dave, several others have made the comment, so this will sound like an echo. So be it, it, it.
But the thing just reeks coolness.
Most impressive.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Man Dave, I just noticed more details! No frets, just an awesome inlay at each fret location, you really 'did 'er up' for a prototype!

I will put a weiss set aside for you. I have also ordered (and they will be here soon) bindings and materials to make bindings for these guitars. I can't remember what I ordered off hand but they are plenty long enough and should be here soon.

Shane

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Canada

Very cool Dave!
It has a sweet tone too.
Love the details.
What are you using to play it? Glass or stainless?

Wade

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Wade
Nashua, NH
http://www.wadefx.com

Look & sounds great Dave. Nice One!!!
Now I'm inspired to build my second one.
By the way... I recently heard that "Weissenborn" is a registered name & if you are selling these instruments they should be referred to as "Weissenborn type" guitars.
Cheers!    Dan

Superb stuff Dave, you managed to put the strings on the right side then .

Absolutely love it! Great sound, you can see the tumbleweed rolling down the main street!

I've been playing about 40 years as well and there comes a time when you have to break out, I did it with lutes and now Spanish guitar, I could easily have gone to lap steel.     It's called a 'challenge' we all need them, we need to move outside our comfort zone. No more scarfs only V-joints that sort of thing. More power to you, we are not worthy.

ColinColin S39071.7508333333

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Thanks all again.

Shane - it really was built from bits and pieces from the workshop apart from your lovely bindings. The frets were one length of gorgeous rope purfling (made in Germany I believe which is appropriate) left over from the baritone I made for myself. Looks like I'll have to get some ordinary size lutz tops from you as well before George Lowden buys them all

Steve - Cool is right on. It's the only instrument I've made that gave me instant street cred with all 4 of my daughters

Wade - I'm using a standard Stevens steel-bar slide.

Dan - Yes John Pearse (Goldtone) own the Weissenborn "brand".

Colin - When I'm ready/good enough to make a lute like you I'll be worthy.

Todd - I'm not really a "plans" person and made up my own design around - more or less - the standard Weissenborn dimensions. I gather that Stew Mac sells a plan and that there is one on the MIMF. I'd be happy to give you any info on the dimensions I used (the bracing pattern you can see from the photos) and the detailed build is photo documented on my website under "Current Projects". pm or e-mail me if you have any questions.Dave White39071.782337963

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

WOW !!





Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

That is an awesome instrument Dave, really beautiful and your craftmanship is top notch as always! and great performances with it my friend, i hope you don't mind me saving them all since i joined the OLF!

Serge

Dave--one more thing:
I really like the rope purfling fret markers.
So much so, that I'd like the name of that design and the manufacturer's info, if possible.

I'm on dial-up, and haven't heard this instrument--yet--but it looks like it sounds great!

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Dave,

It looks good, but man, what TONE! It sounds like what a harp guitar would if it could. You might find yourself making a lot of these when the word gets out!

BTW, I suspect its "coolness" factor with your daughters has a lot to do with how you played it for them. Nice!

Did I mention that it looks good? A hardwood top with softwood bindings--who'da thought?

Nice work, Dave... She's beautiful.
and... Red Kites is a lovely tune.

long

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"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” -Heraclitus of Ephesus

Very nice Dave.
I haven't listened yet, but you can bet I will.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Great looking and sounding Dave...well done sir