3 Simple Ways to
Share What You Make

With Instructables you can share what you make with the world — and tap into an ever-growing community of creative experts.

PhotosPhotos

Share one or more photos of a project, recipe, or whatever you've made, quickly and easily.

Step by StepStep-By-Step

Share your step-by-step photos with text instructions of what you made so others can do it too!

VideoVideo

Share your how-to video. You'll need your embed code from a video site such as YouTube.

Make a lap steel guitar out of a pool cue case

Make a lap steel guitar out of a pool cue case
I made this three stringed, electric lap steel guitar from an old pool cue case I bought at an op-shop. The sound is pretty raw, which kind of suits the whole smoky, seedy pool hall feel of it. Plus, once you're done busking for money to bet on games of 8-ball, it becomes it's own case.

This whole project cost me around $60, but if you can get your hands on the guitar bits (pickup, tuning pegs, pots), it'd work out even cheaper.

 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up
 

Step 1Things you'll need

Things you\
First of all, a pool cue case. I picked this one up for $8 at an second hand shop.
You'll also need:
- a single coil pickup
- three individual guitar tuning pegs
- a couple of chunks of hardwood for the bridge and nut
- a piece of thin wood for the volume and tone mount (I used a section cut from a cigar box lid)
- input socket for a guitar lead jack
- 10k pot for volume
- primer and paint
- some sticky-backed fabric letters
« Previous StepDownload PDFView All StepsNext Step »
74 comments
1-40 of 74next »
May 2, 2012. 5:52 AMwarehouse32 says:
To get your tone pot to function you need either a .022 or .047uf capacitor wired from the left lead of the tone pot (if you're looking at the second picture you have) and the other end grounded on the pot itself. Then just run a wire from the middle lead of the tone pot to the middle lead of your volume pot (this should be the one connected to the output jack). hope that helps!
Nov 23, 2009. 12:23 PM33six says:
 I've just put up a (very bad) video of mine on youtube.

It's not as nice as this one, but will have an amp built into it when I get around to it.
www.youtube.com/watch

Nov 23, 2009. 2:25 PM33six says:
 I'm not sure about that! Maybe I'll get around to posting a video with some better playing and less people talking in the background!

Thanks so much for the instructable, I'd have never thought this up on my own.

I may try and build another one with a more 'polished' feel to it, as mine isn't up to the standard of yours : )
Nov 28, 2009. 2:44 PM33six says:
Feb 23, 2012. 7:55 PMfreeza36 says:
awesome!
Jan 15, 2012. 5:49 PMa splosion says:
What's most impressive about this video is that you can operate a mouth camera.
Dec 13, 2007. 9:52 AMdsaavedra says:
that is cool as hell!!!
Sep 1, 2011. 3:36 PMzeurozek says:
...or put the tuners inside the box (ie horizontaly instead of verticaly.). If I catch one same box, sure I'll try. Nice work though!
cheers!
kik
Aug 26, 2010. 3:03 AMjoeybrocken says:
Sir, This is a very cool instructable. I found this page by coincidence and I decided to make one myself. It's not finished yet but here are some pics to give you an idea. when it's finished I'll upload a video on youtube. Thanks for the idea. Joey
Aug 24, 2011. 1:39 PMelectricfeel89 says:
What do you tune this to? octaves or perhaps a basic power chord? Thanks
Aug 14, 2011. 7:17 AMcbaron3 says:
Fabulous! Great Job.
Sep 5, 2010. 2:06 PMjoeybrocken says:
Jul 16, 2011. 6:25 PMArbitror says:
Damn, you're good!
Oct 16, 2010. 1:16 PMSuperCoPilot says:
awesome music man, i'm just curious what type of pedal effects you're using
Oct 17, 2010. 3:45 AMjoeybrocken says:
I'm using a BOSS ME 50.
With these pedals turned on.

Distortion
Naturel overdrive

Modulation
Harmonist (octave pedal)

and a delay.


Mar 14, 2011. 3:58 PMSearchin4succubi says:
Built one myself, its currently hung in an art gallery with a few other instruments I've built.

Very good instructable.
Mar 18, 2011. 11:20 AMTruthHunter says:

LOL! what did you do with the pool sticks? Make a slide trombone?

Your instrument made me think of the Music Man warning the people about
Pool in order to sell musical instruments


...some of the lines from the song Ya Got Trouble:

"By the presence of a pool table in your community.
Ya got trouble, my friend, right here,
I say, trouble right here in River City."
Mar 6, 2011. 5:01 PMROBOCOP603 says:
awesome! You should try making a wider one w/ 6 strings and 2 or 3 pickups.
Jul 18, 2010. 12:47 PMfrightened rabbit says:
can you make it with a violin case? i bought one a flee market and i tought it also would be cool
Jun 30, 2010. 1:44 PMApe Mandune says:
This is pretty epic, I must say. I was wondering what tuning your strings are in.
Feb 8, 2010. 4:13 PMsilversocket says:
I made one, although I had a d'addario pick up and used that instead of wiring my own pickup. It's got a buzz.
Aug 5, 2009. 4:45 PM33six says:
built mine, looks a bit different but the idea is the same - will post pictures when i get around to wiring in a preamp and on/off switch with LED. I used broom handle cut-offs for the nut, bridge and the slide itself. works brilliantly. Thanks again for this instructable
Jul 30, 2009. 9:14 PMbrianbf1986 says:
"You'll also need to carve a channel along the bottom of the bridge, for the wires from the pickup to run along." It doesn't seem like this last carving isn't visible in any of these photos, can you add one and post it up please and/or send it to my email at brianbf1986@gmail.com ? If not, which photo shows it and where is it ? I'm really intrigued at this project and am interested in doing it on my own, thanks for your work on putting it up online to share.
Jun 29, 2009. 8:37 AM33six says:
I've ordered all the parts, but am going to build a tiny amp/speaker where you have the tone pot. Awesome instructable - I'll post pics of my hustler inspired guitar soon.
Jun 2, 2008. 1:06 PMbillytwix says:
EXCELLENT IDEA! LOOKS GREAT AND IS BROKEN DOWN TO WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE AVERAGE LEVEL OF INSTRUCTABLES READER. THIS IS NOT OVER COMPLICATED AND ACHIEVES CREATIVE RESULTS THAT WILL CATCH EYES. AND MY FAVORITE PART, ITS PORTABLE. L
Jun 2, 2008. 2:08 PMclark says:
LETS TURN THE CAPS LOCK OFF. thank you
Jun 20, 2009. 6:24 AMmollusk says:
LETS TURN THE BORING OFF. thank you
Jun 2, 2008. 9:27 PMbillytwix says:
sorry dude, my company uses caps lock in the programs, so whilist taking a 5 second break, i decided to lend some praise to my fellow instructable's individual. sorry if you can't handle it.
Jun 20, 2009. 6:22 AMmollusk says:
Superb. I'm especially a fan of the 'hustler' decal under the strings. Do you sell these instruments...and if so, do they come in kits; complete with a half-pack of unfiltered Camels, iron-on bourbon stains for my shirt, and some yellowing teeth, a shifty gaze?
Apr 4, 2009. 7:59 AMrocktheproject says:
dude, please tell me you have recordings available of you playing this lovely instrument. i just priced out pool cue cases on ebay, i'm gonna freaking build one tonight. i want to hear what you've done on it. awesome idea!
Apr 1, 2009. 1:11 PMThe_Roadie says:
Best place for Wireing diagrams for any pickup configuration is here
Jan 26, 2009. 11:39 AMillrockanduroll says:
hey i have all the parts and am working on building one of these but i am kinda unsure on the wiring . any tips or places to look . i have a diagram , i guess i was just looking for tips .
1-40 of 74next »

Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

All Steps Viewing
View all steps of an Instructable on the same page when you're a Pro Member.

Upgrade to Pro today!
12
Followers
2
Author:Lach