Welcome to Bluestem Strings, Thanks for stopping in!
Bluestem Strings provides a free source of information related to electric lap steel guitar construction and also serves to display my instruments and related accessories. Ordering information is also provided if you wish to purchase a Bluestem electric lap steel guitar.You'll find lots of free information related to lap steel construction, as well as free detailed electric lap steel plans and other lap-related information. I have been an avid experimenter/builder of musical instruments for over 30 years, and it is my intent to provide the lap steel community with a source of free information that will hopefully encourage those who desire to construct an instrument but lack the necessary information to do so. I have maintained a website for several years with free plans and construction guides for various musical instruments (see link at the bottom of this page); this site serves the same purpose but focus is primarily on the lap steel guitar. Enjoy your pursuit, and good luck in your endeavors!
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Bluestem 6 lap steel features:
- Ebony headstock overlay with mother of pearl "Bluestem" script logo
- 22-1/2" scale
- Gotoh enclosed deluxe tuners
- Solid brass nut
- Ebony fretboard with mother of pearl position markers
- Standard string spacing 1-3/4" or 1-7/8" at nut and 2" at bridge, other spacings on request
- 24 wide profile 18% nickel-silver frets
- Solid brass bridge with stainless steel top load bridge plate
- Top string ferrules for through body string attachment available
- Available with split single coil pickup (high output and rich tone, but without the hum), high output humbucker, or P-90 style pickup
- Solid stainless steel control plate
- Single 500K CGE audio taper volume control with integral treble bleed circuit and large custom volume knob
- 1/4" Switchcraft output jack
- Stainless steel screws used at all body locations
- Figured maple capped body, flame maple or plain maple available
If you desire to contact me about Bluestem Strings products:
Due to scoundrelous spammers actively mining sites for e-mail addresses, I'm forced to include the following text version of my e-mail address meant to confuse the automated robo-search of websites for e-mail addresses. Please e-mail me at:rcordle (substitute the at symbol here) fastmail (substitute the dot here) fm
Please include "Bluestem Info Request" in the subject line, Thanks!
Please visit my other website designed to provide information on musical instrument construction. There are free plans as well as construction tips and techniques available at:
Rudy's Sketchbook of Musical Instrument Plans, Ideas, and Inspiration