Which cheap lap steel guitar is best? Rogue vs SX vs Epiphone shootout. pros and cons of each, plus easy and not-so-easy mods. Subscribe to this channel for steel guitar performance videos and free lessons in the future.
Watching some of your videos made me pull my 8 string out of the closet after many years. Having learned more music from playing guitar, I quickly figured out the major and minor triads for C6. Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks so much Ethan. So helpful. I feel like it’s not real country without the steel. It’s my favorite sounding instrument. But I never knew I can try it out for under $200. So I might pick up an SX and see if I dig it.
I’ve had a SX for about 15 years and love it. It’s a great mod platform. The only original thing left on mine is the wood and the nut. I even shortened the fretboard and added a neck pickup with pickguard. Yea, a lot can happen in 15 years😊.
Thanks for posting this. I bought an SX six string (Swamp Ash) body, and it seems pretty nice. I know 6 strings kind of limits what you can do, but I was coming from really not knowing how to play regular guitar, let alone lap steel. Since I was embarking on learning regular guitar, it seemed like a good idea to remove a few variables so that switching back and forth between the two styles of guitar wouldn't be so jarring.
A lot of great music has been played on 6-string lap steels! Jerry Byrd could do more on one than most people could do on a 14-string universal pedal steel!
Extremely helpful. Thanks. My dad played banjo and dobro... I'm a drummer, but have been interested in lap steel. My left hand does not work for guitar, but this may do the trick.
I’ve had a rogue for a number of years, never thought about the scale length. I’ve never really gotten into playing it, so that may be the issue. I’m going to look into the conversion kit and see how that goes. I’ve also considered changing the pickup, but didn’t think about removing the cover. I’ll give that a shot too
Great demo. I have a couple SX 6 string lap steels and a Morrell 8, Supro 6, and a Dillon 8. Each has it's own sound. The Dillon 8 is by far the nicer of this bunch. I play pedal steel the most. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences.
The SX also has that 3-octave board markings that is so fun. I bought the 6-string and the 8-string version and bought the Certano benders for the 6-string.
I bought a Rogue and did the George Boards modification on it. I also replaced the pickup with a Wilkinson “Hot Rails” style Strat sized humbucker. That eliminated the noise from the pickup.
Great video. I just got a the Epiphone at a good price. I'm going to try A6 tuning for a while. You're a good teacher and I hope you make more videos...:)
Nice comparison. I sprang for a Powerslide on sale (~170?) some years ago to slip into from dobro when our acoustic band did electric night instead of real practice. It seemed pretty meh, like a glorified K-mart cigarbox guitar, altho it was playable standing....sorta (but I know next to nothing about electric steel to this day). I'll have to keep an eye out for that 8-str SX.
Great Video!!... I watched this Before I ever bought one. I bought the Rogue (Metallic Blue) for my very first one, then a Recording King (w/the Humbucker pick-up) shortly thereafter... Both of which, I traded along with about $160. to get a 1956 National D-8, that was in need of some "TLC"... and which I'm nearly finished with (did a complete restore & up-grade on the output jack). Since I got the D-8, I bought a very slightly used Gretsch 5715 (Metallic Black).. but got rid of that as I didn't like the very narrow spacing of the strings (a common complaint by others, as well)... with my very large hands and fat fingers. Then, I bought a new SX-6 string, and a new Epiphone Electar (like you have), which I've kept and about to add a Peters bender, to one or the other... not sure yet, and a roller bridge. I think I enjoy "hot rodding" these lap steels (and my bass guitars), more than I do actually learning to play them (the lap steels).... or so, my beloved wife tells people. lol I also bought a "Chinese" D-6 last year, brand new for Less than $150. off of ebay (then they suddenly jumped to Double the price).... found out that it had one "dead" pickup, but you couldn't tell, because the way it was wired... Both necks played through the "inner" (nearest to me) necks, pick-up, plus... it had No isolation switch to control which neck you are playing... they both "on" simultaneously. Hmmm... I wonder if that was on purpose to "hide" the "dead" pick-up!?!. Anyway... I tore it all apart, got new P90's in it, wired "in" a neck isolation switch (On-off-On - complete with 3 colored LED's - Green - Red - Green, - just for giggles), restrung it with SIT Semi-flats in C6th & A6th (western swing, country, country gospel, etc)... Plays Great, now... though I'm still very much in the learning mode. Going to get One more... but, this time I'm going to build my own.... This is really a lot of Fun!! : )
Nice, the SX sounds best in my opinion. The Epiphone sounds a bit lean, but of course this is through all kind of sources to alter the sounds before it hits my ears. Thanks, nice and no nonsens review.
I appreciate your vids and posts on Steel Guitar Forum. Please make more. Hope you don't mind a question. If you were to upgrade the tuners on the SX, but were kind of on a budget, which tuners would you chose to keep in tune and eliminate rattle?
Sorry, I just now saw your comment. I think any decent tuners would work. You'd just have ones that are three to a side, like Gibsons. There are usually some on craigslist or ebay. Or maybe guitar center, although I'm not sure they carry them anymore. You can actually probably fix the stock sx tuners with loctite or super glue. Good luck and thanks for watching- I appreciate you!
I’ve been playing guitar for nearly 10 years and I’ve always wanted to get into pedal steel. I never wanted to get a lap steel bc I figured I had the technique down from playing slide guitar and I didn’t see the point in spending money on a lap steel. But I was actually given a rogue by one of my college professors and have taken to playing it. I ran it through a spark amp bc I couldn’t figure out how to get that steel tone (turns out what I was missing was a tremolo pedal bc that was like the secret sauce) and it sounded absolutely fantastic. I get really picky with tuning and intonation and the rogue isn’t perfect but it’s not annoying in the slightest. It does its job great so far.
Thanks for comparison. I'm curious to know for the next price point above these do you have a recommendation for a vintage steel guitar in the 500 to 1000 range?
Thanks for watching! It all depends on what the market is at the time. I don't really know where they're at right now, but a vintage National is usually a pretty good instrument. I got a double neck for about $600, but that was about 11 years ago.
Thanks for the video. I bought a Rogue during covid lockdowns for $80 (new). It's my first and only lap steel. I just wanted to get started to see if I like to learn lap steel (C6). Q. Why is the increasing the scale length better? Wouldn't it make slants more difficult? I wish I bought the 8 string SX instead. I read somewhere that "benders" can be added to the SX. I would like the SX (8 string) so I can try different tuning. I would my current Rogue for open D or G tuning. That's my current plan.
Thanks for watching! The shorter the scale length, the harder it is to play in tune, because you have less room for error. Longer scale length supposedly also affects sustain, but I think that really varies with the instrument. Short scale is definitely easier for slants, but you have to find the balance between that and being able to play in tune easily. I would definitely try the 8 string Sx, and then you'll have a good way to compare scale length, plus you can get into 8-string tunings. I think you have a good plan.
Scale length is to a degree personal preference . It's kind of a Tastes Great vs Less Filling thing . Yes to both the observations : Longer does give more margin of error for intonation , and shorter does make easier for radical slants . Unless , you also play Dobro , then you will be Jonesing for a 25 inch scale length , but there aren't any ultra budget ones .
Your timing was lucky . You must have bought early at the beginning of the Zombie Apocalypse . The prices of those ( plus used steels ) quickly shot up as everyone else with time on their hands started taking up new instruments , and supply and demand kicked in .
And blatantly missing from the comparison : Gretch , and Recording King . The quality of the Gretch is on par with the Epiphone . In the new market , Epi currently has slacked off on advertising and promoting the Electar , and they are not as common on ( brick & mortar) dealer shelves . But can find good deals on used ones . Gretch string spacing is on the narrow side of the spectrum , Electar on the wide end . Recording King looks very similar to the SX , both of them copying the shape of the old Gibson EH series . R.K. is widely available from virtually every internet seller , and distributor to the trade . When a mainstream music store stocks lap steela at all , it will frequently be the R.K. line . R.K. offers both single coil ( P-90) and humbucker versions , and both widely available . ( For the rookies , Single sounds more Western Swing , or old school , all the twang Traditional Country , humbuckers sound more electric Blues , or Country Rock .) But absolutely , the SX is the affordable entry to 8 string . Do you want/ need 8 string as an entry level beginner ? You will most likely start your journey with a basic tuning . Most instructional material is either dual purpose with Dobro , in Dobro tuning , or in C6 . Experienced armpit guitar players have easiest transition to Open D or Open E . About half of used 8 strings out in the wild , are encountered strung up with six strings . That can be taken two ways : Many buyers of 8 strings end up not often using as 8 string instruments . It is Way easier to leave 2 strings off of an 8 string instrument , than to add 2 extra strings to a 6 string .
I had the RG-35 with the Humbucker.... I think it was great and would work well with "early" western swing. I traded it off (along with a Rogue) and some cash, for a 1956 National D-8. The RG - 31 & 32, both have P90 pickups, but different variations of the pickups, and the body colors are different. The RG-31 is "natural" and the RG-32 has a vintage "burst" color to it. Either of them will compare more closely with the Epiphone Electar in sound & tone. Hope this helps you.
Read somewhere that the epiphone comes with 9’s string gauge on them. Can you just swap to fx 12’s without any problems ? Thanks for a good and informativ video
I've had an SX for a number of years but have never really been satisfied with its sound. I want something that has a rich creamy tone like you get on lot of old lapsteels. I wasn't sure why it didn't sound like the lapsteels recordings I hear and like but think now it is all to do with the pick up that is used. I'm thinking that a lapsteel with a humbucker pick up might give me the sound I am looking for. Do you have any recommendations for the type of pick up to look for on a lapsteel?
The old sound you are looking for was probably originally made with steels with single coil pickups or horseshoe pickups (like rickenbachers). The first thing I would try (which is free) is to roll your tone knob down a lot, either on the guitar or on the amp. Also, make sure you are using nickel strings, not stainless steel. A humbucker has less high end than a single coil, but I would try the tone knobs first. Also, a small tube amp helps. Good luck!
You did an excellent review for a complete novice like me at Lap Steel. Rouge would probably be best for me. At 70 I'm only going to be playing with the other old boys at the local senior center. My days of playing nightclubs and other venues are long over with. I'm I right is Rouge for me?
Honestly, I have a Rogue and they are terrible. I would suggest the SX6 which is much better quality and roughly the same price. The Rogue has a very short scale length which doesn't match any other lap steel that I'm aware of. There is an upgrade kit from George Boards where you can stretch the scale length to 22.5", but it's still quite a small scale and the quality of the tuners and pickup is still pretty bad. I have the SX8 which is just the 8 string version of the SX 6 and it's a great instrument. Also, check our Troy Brenningmeyer on RU-vid. He has great teaching videos for lap steel. Enjoy your new journey. I'm not that much younger than you and I just picked up lap steel 2 years ago. It's a lot of fun.
@@modularcuriosity Thank you for sharing your experience with me. I haven't made a purchase yet so I'll weigh what you told me with further research on the matter.
Most individual tuners (not in a strip) should work, but the trick for an 8-string is finding eight of them. You might want to try some green loctite to get the key more stable. The six string version should be pretty easy to replace the tuners. I don't have that steel anymore, though. I'm guessing it would be three tuners in each direction (not like a strat). You can use a set of lap steel strings for whatever tuning you are using. I like both roundwounds and semi-flats.
I think I want to get the electar, but I am put off by the negative reviews on the pick up. Do you think a 40 watt tube will help improve the tone? Im debating between the electar, SX, and Gretsch
The pickup really sounds fine, it's just not as great as some other ones. Other than that, it's a really great instrument. Yes, you can really help the tone with a good amp. You can hear all three of the instruments that I tried in the video, and they honestly don't sound super different.
To me, the SX sounded the best, followed by the Rogue. Interesting dynamic range on the Epiphone, but the sound was weak, like you said. How do you get great intonation with the Rogue conversion kit since you lose the adjustability?
Most steel guitars have a set straight bridge and not a guitar-style adjustable bridge. It's good to get in the practice of using your bar and your ear to make subtle intonation changes, because that's what you'll have to do when you get a better guitar. I do like the idea of compensated bridges on steel guitars, but in reality your bar control makes a way more significant difference.
Why buy a cheap Chinese lap steel, on ebay I just bought a 1957 gibson br-9 in supreme condition with the p-90 pickup for $400.00 I replaced the tuners and strings and ive got a quality guitar that will last, not just a junker. But that's my opinion ❤
What I now remember that I did was I added a piece of wood (about 1/8") in the pickup cavity, screwed that into the guitar, and then screwed the pickup into the new piece of wood.
What type of an amplifier do you use I've been trying to find a good lap steel amplifier for a while I tried a Peavey renowned 400 which has a more of a plain guitar sound and currently I am playing through a fender mustang DSP amplifier and I'm getting more of a steel guitar sound but not quite what I'm after I have two lap steel guitars that I play a 1960s single next six string Harmony lap steel and then I have a double-neck eight-string Teisco brand lap steel guitar and I'm trying to get that early fender triple neck bigsby triple neck steel guitar what do you recommend and thanks for the video you play very well
@@texas_swing awesome thanks a lot because I was just blown away by the sound that you were getting out of the rogue the SX and the Epiphone and I will do some shopping around and see if I can find a fender blues Jr amplifier and hopefully I will get the same steel guitar twang that you do and thanks a lot for all of your steel guitar videos you wonderful job take care and have a wonderful day
You used to be able to get all kinds of them pretty cheap, but I know the market has gone up. Gibsons and Nationals can still be a pretty good deal, but the national 8 strings are not much more expensive than the six, and that's probably a better instrument if you want to get seriously into steel.
I only got to check one out very briefly, but it seems like a solid steel. I would say it is most comparable to the Epiphone, and the pickup is maybe a little better. That is one I definitely wish I had to include in this video. Not as cheap as the rogue or the SX, but a little nicer.
I have an SX 8 like that....i paid 100 bucks scratch and dent sale because the bridge cover had a ding in it lol. I tool it off anyways and installed a certano bender. I think it's better than the Epiphone. I don't see how they get 350 out of those.
@@cacaloca5434 .... I have Both of them.... The SX-6 will save you you nearly a $100.!! However... they're both great Steels for the money... and the Electar (Epiphone) is of slightly better quality, in the tuning machines and it also comes with USA made (Ohio) strings from SIT (Stay In Tune - semi-flats).
The Rogues are hot garbage. They were useful back when they were $65. But now they're around $165. The SX lap steels are vastly better and not that much more expensive.
I just started lap steel and got a used Rogue in excellent condition for $50. It’s working great for me to learn the basics. Thanks for the tip on the GeorgeBoards kit!
I just had those three to compare, but the Gretsch looks nice, too! It is definitely more expensive than the Rogue or Sx, but comparable to an Epiphone.
@@texas_swing.... The string spacing on the Gretsch is unusually Narrow.... I ditched mine, with my large hands and fingers. This has been an ongoing "complaint" by commenters on the Gretsch for years... but they haven't bothered to change the spacing. Also, to keep the pricing where it is... they have "cheapened" the wood used in the 5700/5715.... they Used to be solid Mahogany. The change showed up in the spring of 2023.
I've listened to other good steel guitarists play the Epiphone Electar... define why you say the pickup is "weak"? Rogue is cheap & junk, FX is okay maybe, the tuning machines are crap. Epiphone is made in Gibson's shop in China. I'd rather have Gibson & Epiphone influence than the others. Bottom line as always...you get what you pay for! The Epiphone is worthy of a pickup up grade if it really needs it.
