Aluminum lap steel?

[Joe Evans]

What are y’all’s thoughts on aluminum bodied guitars? I see that Fouke and Clinesmith make them. Anyone else?

I’ve heard tuning stability can be less than wood or Bakelite guitars?

How different is the tone?

Any recordings I could check out?

I’d love thoughts from you more experienced folk out there.

[Rick Aiello]

The only recording JB made with a Rickenbacher frypan … he borrowed it from Pua Almeida for this song

https://youtu.be/23BIwj6rmEY?si=yUAvvWHvJBFqlfZn

[David Wren]

Mine is very old, a 1936 National, 7 string... all aluminum body.... and the electronics still work (amazing). It sounds incredible BTW.

[Noah Miller]

I've had aluminum (or mostly-aluminum) steels from Rickenbacker, Vega, Gibson, Magnatone, Clinesmith, National-Dobro, and Trotmore. None had the slightest issue with tuning stability, including going from a cold car to hot stage lights.

[Jack Hanson]

Like Dave, I also have a '36 National, but it's a 6-string. It may be just a tad more sensitive to tuning under hot stage lighting, outside in bright, hot sunshine, or when acclimating to room tempature when bringing it inside in winter weather than a wood-bodied guitar. Under normal conditions, its tuning stability seems to be a minor issue, if not a non-issue altogether.

It's up for sale, but not because of its sound or its tuning stability. All of my other electric lap steels are 22.5" scale. I just can't seem to adapt to the National's 25" scale, therefore it sits unplayed in its case. It's awesome to ogle, but hard for me to play. Someone who would play it (like Dave's, the factory electronics are perfect) deserves to be its caretaker. It's in truly awesome condition for a 90-year-old instrument. A piece of electric guitar history.

[Mark Eaton]

What are y’all’s thoughts on aluminum bodied guitars? I see that Fouke and Clinesmith make them. Anyone else?

I’ve heard tuning stability can be less than wood or Bakelite guitars?

Actually, Bakelite guitars have a reputation for tuning instability. The old Rickenbackers over time may have developed some warpage, and tuning can fluctuate with temperature and humidity changes, but players have put up with these annoyances over the decades because of the pleasing tone.

[Bill Groner]

I have two similar aluminum lap steels. Both sound amazing. It is true they are temp sensitive, but not that objectionable. It is the reason I have a piece of 3mm acrylic on the top and bottom for insulators. Those 2 steels have the best tone out of any I built. However they both have Lollar String through Pups on them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GICEMRvN0lw

[Joe Evans]

.
It's up for sale,

Thanks Jack. Do you have a link to the sale post? Or is it posted elsewhere. I’m actually looking for a longer scale currently.

[Jack Hanson]

I just sent you a PM, Joe. Thanks for your interest.

[Joe Evans]

I just sent you a PM, Joe. Thanks for your interest.

For some reason I’m not seeing any messages. Possible I’m missing something. To be honest I’m not entirely sure how to get to the inbox. I found what looks like it might be it under “User control panel.” Is that it?

[Jack Hanson]

I don't see it either, Joe. Either I screwed up, or something went wrong... I will try again.

[David Walker]

I have two of the old circa 1936 National Dobro steel guitars, a six and an eight string. Both came with no electronics, and I installed Bill Lawrence rail pickups. I really like the tone and sustain. I think more overtones are coming through than with my wood or Bakelite steels. Tuning stability can be an issue, but the tone is so nice, I just deal with it. I try not to leave an instrument in a cold car, and I try to get it on stage about 30 minutes early in winter. Once it equilibrates, there is no problem. I also run it through a tuner pedal and fiddle with the tuning as needed, but little is needed after it settles in. I have a couple of National amps from the same era. The National steels plus matching amps sound pretty sweet to my ear. I do like the long scale. It helps me hit the notes accurately I think. I have played in some pretty rowdy joints, and the solid metal bodies are nicely impervious to damage. There are bars that my Bakelite Ricky might not survive.