The Weissenborn style acoustic lap steel and Kona style resonator lap steel, both of these body styles were first introduced in the early 1910’s by 2 different luthiers, Herman Weissenborn and Chris Knutson. Herman Weissenborn built the best of both the solid neck Kona style and the more popular hollow neck “Weissenborn style” acoustic lap steel guitars.

Each style came about due to the popularity of Hawaiian music at the time. The Weissenborn shop was the more enduring of the two and built instruments until the mid 1930’s. The development of the resonator guitars pretty much killed the Weissenborn acoustic lap steels because they were much louder and could be heard in a band situation.

The Dopyera brothers designed and patented the cone used in the resonator guitars they were building and doesn’t seem to be any indication that Weissenborn attempted to develop their own. Weissenborn’s slipped into obscurity until the late 60’s when some were being found in flea markets at give away prices; but, didn’t really gain in popularity until the last 20 years. Even today, though gaining in popularity here, America lags behind Australia, New Zealand and Europe. With artist such as Ben Harper, David Lindley and the great Dobro player, Jerry Douglass playing Weissenborn style lap steels will help spread the word of these amazing sounding instruments. 

My Kona style resonator is a marriage of the solid neck Kona style body and the Dobro resonator guitar. I always loved the sound of the Dobro but wanted something uniquely different. I  will still make a Kona style acoustic lap steel as well as the  hollow neck Weissenborn style acoustic lap steel guitars. 

The following follows the process of the making the Weissenborn style guitar:

October 20, 2020

Started the build on a Weissenborn style hollow neck acoustic lap steel on . The top, back and sides will be Tasmanian blackwood (a relative of Hawaiian Koa). The fingerboard will be ebony. The rosette will be figured maple with black/white/black purfling.

November 12, 2020 Update

Update on weissenborn style acoustic lap steel. Bracing for top and back laid out and braces made and glued, sides bent, and sound hole rosette inlaid. The peghead is made with Tasmanian blackwood headcap. The braces still need final shaping. Working on getting the sides completed so back and top can be glued. The fingerboard and bridge still need to be made.

November 30, 2020 Update

Update progress made on the Weissenborn style acoustic lap steel. The Tasmanian black wood, ebony fingerboard with curly maple inlaid frets have been completed.

December 14, 2020 Update

Update on progress on the Weissenborn style acoustic lap steel. The body has been routed for binding and purfling…ivoroid binding and black/white/black purfling glued on…pearl fingerboard position markers inlaid…..tomorrow body will be sanded…fingerboard glued on…get it ready for the spray booth….then make the ebony bridge.

December 31, 2020 Update

Finishing has begun. The sanding sealer applied, the filler poured, and  3 rounds of lacquer so far. The Tasmanian blackwood is awesome. The bridge is just sitting on the top to get measurements. It won’t be glued until all the finishing is done.

Conclusion

On February 23, 2021 the Tasmanian blackwood Weissenborn style acoustic lap steel is finished. We put on the final touches by stringing it up with d’addario flat top medium gauge strings.

Our Weissenborn style lap steel guitars start at $3200.