Scott's Guitar Blog

SBM Skateboard Lapsteel Guitar!

This one is pretty cool folks...At 49, I was dragged into skateboarding by a very persuasive kid I know who talked me into boarding into town for lunch.  In addition to skateboarding, he knows a few licks on the steel guitar.  I thought "how cool would it be to combine the two worlds!" The result: The S.B. MacDonald SkateSteel. Yes, it is a functional skateboard, and when the upper deck is removed, a quality and toneful lapsteel guitar!  It uses the same humbucking pickup as my Resonator Electric, so tone and vibe are plentiful.  I made this on a Sunday, and finished it before breakfast the next day. Hey...it's an oak board, skateboard trucks, wheels, a pickup and some electronics...no biggie!  My new milling machine made quick work of drilling, boring alignment holes, etc... Here's some photos of it in use!

Please visit Customguitars.com for less dangerous species of guitars!

New Old Tool in Shop!

Sorry it's been so long since the last post...I'm soooo busy!  I have several cool things saved up, and will hopefully post some of them soon.  This article is about a cool milling machine I hunted down after my friend and fellow luthier Ken Parker put the bug in my ear after a visit to my shop.  Ken said it would change my life, and when people at such high levels in their art and experience give you ideas and advice, you'd be foolish to ignore it.

Most vertical milling machines are HUGE.  A Bridgeport can weight 3,000 lbs and stand at 7' tall.

I have no room for a monster like that.  Ken told me about these cool smaller mills made by Clausing in the 70s.  They only weigh 600 lbs, and are 71" tall at the highest point.  They are also pretty darned hard to find.  I got very lucky and found one in 3 days, only an hour's drive from my shop.  After taking it apart, moving it, getting it into the shop and putting it back together, I was as wiped out as I can remember.

Then I did a test pass on a scrap of rosewood I had laying around.  It cut through it like butter, leaving a deep smooth groove 1/2" wide, as smooth or smoother than any router I've used.  Very exciting.  I'm beginning to realize all the parts and materials I can make with this.  Wood, aluminum, steel, brass...

I can make: bridges, tailpieces, nuts, perform slotting, make cavities, etc....all with a precision never possible by doing the work on drill presses and sanders.  Off to the shop, thanks for stopping by!

Please visit the site at Custom Guitars.com