Hear Our Lap Steel
Hourglass body shape, Weissenborn bridge, P-90 pickups.
Performed by Jacob Raagaard.
Inspired by the iconic Weissenborn
Electric Lap Steel
$2800 USD – save $100 if paid in full up front.
Featuring the perfect proportions of the iconic Weissenborn shape and traditional appointments in a modern lap steel crafted with cutting edge guitar construction techniques. A truly versatile instrument that is equally at home with the sweetest Hawaiian licks or overdriven rock and blues.
Featuring AAA Grade figured Tasmanian Blackwood top, handcrafted pickups from Lollar and premium hardware and components.
Available in both hourglass and teardrop body shapes.
Current Build Time: 12-18 months
Our Lap Steels are made-to-order. If you don't see the options you want or have any questions about the ordering process, ask us today!
Lap Steel Specifications
Each guitar is individually handcrafted by Richard Wilson; some specifications can differ for aesthetic, tonal or structural reasons. Left-handed, short scale and custom variations available on request.
Tonewoods
Solid, Quartersawn, Air Dried
Construction
Three-piece with neck-through body
Neck
Carbon fibre reinforced
Tone Chambers
70+ "honeycomb" body chambers
Scale Length
25" (635mm)
Length
36" (920mm)
Pickups (x2)
Lollar Pickups
Imperial Humbuckers or P-90s
Controls
CTS Volume & Tone
Orange capacitor
Switchcraft 3-way toggle switch
Body Shape
Weissenborn inspired
Top & Fretboard
Figured Tasmanian Blackwood with Rope marquetry binding (Maple & Pau Ferro)
Inlay
Mother of Pearl
Bridge
Weissenborn-style or Schroeder TL
String Spacing
1.6" (40.5mm) Nut
2.125" (54mm) Saddle
Tuning Machines
Golden Age - 1920s Waverley Style
Finish
Satin lacquer
Case
Soft case
'Hourglass' Lap Steel
The traditional hourglass Weissenborn body shape. Pictured with nickel Schroeder bridge.
'Teardrop' Lap Steel
An homage to the truly unique teardrop Weissenborn. Pictured with Weissenborn-style ebony bridge
We'll Build Your Dream Lap Steel Guitar
Custom Electric Lap Steels
Whether it's an electric lap steel with our standard features or a truly custom creation, Richard Wilson can work with you to create the lap steel guitar of your dreams.
Tonewoods
The focus of these lap steels is the stunning figured Tasmanian Blackwood or Hawaiian Koa top on a solid body of Tasmanian Blackwood, Queensland Maple, Silver Quandong or Bunya Pine.
We select the best quartersawn, air-dried premium grade tonewoods and process each body from rough lumber.
Traditional and exotic tonewood options are available on request.
Design & Construction
Blending old-world aesthetics with cutting edge electric guitar design. While remaining faithful to the creations of H. Weissenborn, on the inside these lap steels make the most of modern advancements in solidbody guitar design and construction techniques.
Each electric lap steel is individually crafted in Brisbane, Australia.
Tone Chambers
Honeycomb-shaped tone chambers are carved within the solid body to give the lap steel increased sustain and volume while reducing feedback and decreasing weight.
The matrix of 70 chambers throughout the body achieves superior tone, maximum strength while the instrument feels solid, light with truly balanced weight.
Carbon Fiber Reinforcement
Twin carbon fiber rods located within the neck gives these lap steels a rigid, light spine that increases the tonal response of the lap steel while ensuring perfect action and a neck that can handle heavy string gauges and will remain true for decades to come.
Components
Every component has been individually selected for quality, tone and aesthetics from the world's leading boutique manufacturers.
Lollar Pickups are a world renowned boutique pickup maker based in Tacoma, Washington. Just like our guitars, every pickup is individually handcrafted.
Our standard pickups are the Lollar Imperial Humbuckers or P-90s, which are perfectly suited to most common styles including rock, blues, Hawaiian and country but we will happily work with you to find the ideal pickups for your requirements.
Weissenborn Inspiration
This lap steel guitar was designed from the ground up as a nod to the iconic H. Weissenborn guitar shape and their unique styling. Scale length, string spacing and action have also been adapted to make this guitar the ideal electric companion for any Weissenborn aficionado.
The optional wooden bridge captures the traditional Weissenborn shape in a size and string spacing that perfectly suits electric lap steels.