Slide Show

A newly refreshed lap steel from Gretsch, with bags of style

- Dave Burrluck

FIRST PLAY

GRETSCH G5700 LAP STEEL £495

WHAT IS IT? Solid mahogany bodied 28-fret lap steel with 'low noise' single-coil pickup

Back in the 1930s, the 'electric Hawaiian' guitar pretty much beat the 'electric Spanish' instrument to market. Post-war, the Spanish style began its ascendency and the lap steel became more niche. It differs from the later pedal steel in numerous ways, not least that it doesn't have any pedals. As its name suggests, it's simply played on your lap (table or keyboard stand), and while console steels - one or more necks in different tunings with legs had their day, the lap steel remains devilishly simple for today's musician.