Chandler Lap Steel

Made in 2002. Solid mahogany body, 1 pickup, made in USA. Case purchased for an extra $99.00. 1 volume, 1 tone control. Strings thru body for added sustain. Tuners seem to be pretty good, instrument looks good.

I play it through a Fender Blues Jr. tube amp, and also an old Silvertone tube amp. I rarely use effects, but I have run it through an old Electro-Harmonix Big Muff and it sounded pretty good. It is perfect for blues type music, as well as some country type licks. This type of instrument does not fit in every song, but is great for adding colors in certain spots.

Right out of the box it was ready to play. I have found nothing wrong at all with the workmanship, finish, etc. This is a rather simple design, but is well-executed.

I have not yet played out with it, but is seems like it could do the job just fine. I'm not sure how well the tuners will last. So far they are fine, but I suspect that they are not top of the line. The instrument does stay consistently in tune, so they are not garbage, either. The finish is thin, but that is often a plus because very thick finish can keep the wood from resonating properly, which kills tone. I expect it should last quite well with normal playing use.

I have not had any need for support or repairs, but I did send them a couple of e-mails and Adrian Chandler answered both of them within 1 day. They seem to stand behind their products and I don't have any doubts about their support should I need it.

I have been playing for many years. I own a lot of guitars and basses, both new and vintage. I have an old Fender lap steel from 1956 and the Chandler is in the same ballpark in terms of tone and quality. I would definitely buy the 99.00 hardshell case. It is a great value and is fitted for the instrument. If it were lost I would definitely buy another. I feel like I got a good value for what I paid. It is a simple design with little to love or hate about it. It does the job well and that's that.

I got this guitar new in Feb. 2001. It's solid mahogany with a natural finish. It's a weisenborn style, solid body with a single coil pickup, single volume and tone knobs. Cheap hardware (for a cheap priced guitar)and the tuners don't keep the strings in tune when I tune it down past an open D tuning. The pearlzed edgeing looked good when I first got this thing, but is now coming unglued. It's got a hardshell case that's pretty good quality.

I play a lot of Ben Harper / Jimi Hendrix stuff which is why I got this guitar. I've also played stuff some heavy stuff like Metalica and Megadeth through it but find that usually this guitar sounds best playing blues based music. I usually run it through a Vox wah, big muff distortion, fender chorus, dod compression, and DOD digital delay through a Polytone Minibrute amp. I usually just play it around the house unplugged and it sounds fine for this type playing as long as I don't tune it down past open D. I don't like the single coil pickup and have been thinking about replacing it. It gets noisey/staticy when I turn the volume knob(it'a piece of crap). I can get some good sounds out of this guitar though, and it sounds pretty good if I leave the volume knob alone, but then when I plug my Carvin V220 in with the same effect settings, I can tell a BIG difference in sound quality. The carvin pickups are so much better sounding.

The guitar came from the factory tuned to an open G. Ready to play. Sounding pretty good. The pearlzed edgeing looked good when I first got this thing, but is now coming unglued.

I've played it with garage type bands and it holds up pretty good considering what all I've said up about it. I think I need to do some maintenace on it though. I don't have a back up and if I could afford one, I would probably use the money to get a better quality lap steel.

This was under waranty for a year, I stared noticing the problems about a year and a month after owning it so I've never discussed my complaints with them. I did send them a letter asking about replacement parts for this model and got a letter back about pick guards for other guitars...not what I was wanting.

I've been playing since 89, I own several other guitars, but this is the only lap steel I own. If this was stolen or lost I would go on e-bay and get me something else (Rickenbacher, Gibson, ect.)

I have a 1998 Chandler RH-4, semi-hollow Koa with tortoise binding, Koa fretboard. This instrument is absolutely GORGEOUS to behold. As mentioned below, the body is based on the classic Wiessenborn shape. The bridge is a solid "dove-winged" shaped piece of what appears to be mahagony, with an aluminum intert. The nut also appears to be polished aluminum. It has a simple set up with volume/tone knobs, and both are very usable and musical. The single pickup is a Charlie Christian style P-90 type p'up that SMOKES! This is a very open an clear sounding single-coil p'up, yet it sounds fatter than what one might expect from a single-coil, at least to my ears. I have to give it a 9 in this catagory though, because its "features" are more it's beauty than for electrical accessories. It's a LAP STEEL, after all. Not much to these puppies - volume, tone, strings and a pickup. The Koa is very nicely grained, and it is quite a looker.

Sounds PHAT! The p'up is great, and combined with the semi-hollow Koa body, it really has a "woody" tone that comes through great, especially with a warmly overdriven smaller amp. I play blues, westernswing, and of course, Hawaiian. I play it through a Fender Deluxe, and just pushing a couple 6V6 tubes at around 6 or so, it sounds incredible. I also have a small 5-watt Crate VC-508 with a single EL84 tube, and it works great through that, too, especially for a more athentic old-time sound for Hawaiian.

For most jobs, the Deluxe on 6 or more is just too much volume, so I use an Ernie Ball volume pedal, into a Fulltone Fulldrive 2 pedal, into my Deluxe. For variety, I sometimes put a Dunlop 535Q wah pedal after the Fulltone. Sounds WICKED with the wah! I intend on putting delay in there at some point, but need a good analog delay first. My digital delay just makes the tone too sterile.

What can is say about action? It's a lapsteel -- action is HIGH. They only made about 20 of these, and it was a special order, so they took their time in constructing it. There were a couple small, tiny dings when I got it, but you have really look for them. The bookmatched Koa looks stunning, both front AND back. According to Paul Chandler, they stopped building them, because getting GOOD larger pieces of Koa was becoming next to impossible. I was really lucky to get this one, expecially used in such great condition. The vol/tone controls are nicely voiced and turn "like buttah."

This guitar is SOLID, and you could take it out to play with confidence. THAT IS, if it weren't so rare, and beatiful. I really want to play it out, but it's just too nice. I may have to get an RH-2 standard guitar to play out, and keep this one in my living room for home playing, recording and display to guests (I get endless comments on it when people come over, since I keep it in a stand in my living room). The integrity of the guitar is excellent, and I would gig without a backup with confidence.

Paul and Adrian Chandler have been SOOOO helpful! They answer my email, and gave me good, useful information before I bought this guitar sight unseen (a friend in another state spied it in a music store he frequents, and called me about it).

I'm 41, and have been playing bass, guitar, and singing professionally for over 25 years. I currently play with a funk/blues/swing/westernswing band called The Lap Dawgs (there's another lap player, and the two of us swich between bass and lapsteel), using either a '56 Fender Triple neck steel or a 1960 Double neck (both non-pedal), and a Melobar SLS six-string lapsteel. I also play Hawaiian, either in a duo or trio, and sometimes with hula dancers and fire jugglers here in the Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida area. This Chandler is a great instrument, and though they don't make the RH-4 anymore, I HIGHLY recommend them. I use my Koa SOMETIMES (and with trepidation) with the Hawaiian group, just because it LOOKS so Hawaiian, and generates a lot of attention and comments.

RH-2 Model made in USA/2001. Simple controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone, 1 CC-90 single coil pickup. Mahogany Body bound with pearloid. Appears to be unfinished. Weissenborn style body. Simple chrome plated nut and string through body bridge. Kluson style tuners. Ordered hardshell case separately.

I like western swing, blues/rock and ambient style playing with an instrument like this. I run the lap steel through an Ernie Ball volume pedal into a Boss MT-2 Distortion and into a Line 6 DL-4 Delay. Amplification is 2 Fender Pro Juniors in stereo.
The sound is wonderful. Bright and loud. The single coil does justice to this guitar. Needs to be strung with flat or half flat wound strings to avoid the grittiness of wound strings. I was impressed greatly with the sound. This is the second lap steel I've owned. It can cover alot of ground as sounds and style goes. Utilizing the volume pedal and judicious note choice it soars on it's own without effects. Add the delay and it really sweetens up. Kicking in the distortion and gain you can sustain your growling to no end.

This is where I digress. The lack of finish and sloppy wood joining, evidenced by a messy glue line on the back of the instrument brought some dismay. The nut was a poor fit, somewhat crooked in the slot. Granted, the instrument was not exorbently expensive but a little quality control and pride in workmanship would go a long way here.
Adding a paint finish would have added $200.00 to the manufacturers price which was more than what I spent through the store it was purchased from.
The design and concept of this guitar is really good and Chandler is to be commended for offering it. Of all the makers out there that I am aware of this one is my favorite for affordability and style.

This guitar would certainly hold up to live playing and gigging. The hardware is not top grade but will work. I would depend on it easily but would have a back up never the less.

I have emailed Paul Chandler and received prompt response. I believe they stand behind their products and would repair if need be without difficulty. There isn't much to break on this instrument though.

I have been playing for around 20 years off and on. I own the gamut of guitars and effects. I would buy this guitar again if lost or stolen, in fact I'd like to buy another with a nice finish/paint job on it. I really like the shape and design of this guitar. Chandler would do well to capitalize on this design and offer many custom options. It would be nice to see models capped with a figured wood in nice finishes. The pickup design is perfect for the guitar as well. I failed to mention how nice the fret marker is too. Very nice indeed. The case is a must.

The Chandler is a well made great sounding steel that is as hot as fire.The pickup is out of sight.The guitar is great for any type of music.The Chandler looks like a $$$ very high end guitar because it is well made but a great deal.

The sound is better than any lap steel made in the USA.There is alot of cheap looking guitars out there but a Chandler is tops.

The guitar comes ready to play.

I can say this baby really does hold up.

I have been playing many years.I would buy it again.