Now greater than 90 years previous, the lap metal was the earliest instance of an electrical guitar and stays a stringed instrument each guitarist ought to strive, largely as a result of it’s so accessible. In actual fact, a lap metal is about as simple as you will get – it’s a plank that sits in your lap and is fitted with a bridge, nut, tuners, and pickup. All you want is your slide of alternative.

Eastwood’s MRG has a stable mahogany physique/neck slab, rosewood fretboard with block markers, and a scale size of twenty-two.5″. The bridge is an adjustable hardtail, whereas the tuners are chrome and side-mounted. It’s completed with a black-to-amber sunburst and a translucent-gold pickguard. The only pickup is a Höfner-style staple humbucker, accompanied by Quantity and T knobs. Like most laps, it’s the quintessence of simplicity.

Out of the gig bag, the MRG is able to play, although oddly arrange with light-gauge strings; most sliders will put a medium or heavy set on there ASAP, as most well-liked for many bottleneck enjoying.

Subsequent, twist these machine heads to your tuning of alternative; Eastwood recommends C6 (reminiscent of C-E-G-A-C-E), but additionally dig into open E, D, or G, normal, or your favourite chord mixture.

Going right into a solidstate follow amp, the MRG sang like a chook. Lap-steelers already know to palm-mute strings, however when you’re new to the sport, maintain the slide below your thumb, index, and center fingers and mute together with your ring finger and pinky. The humbucker retains issues properly quiet, and rolling again the Tone knob a hair lets the Eastwood’s pure tone shine forth. The MRG effortlessly delivers sonic textures from David Lindley to David Gilmour, prepared to enhance a vocalist with fills or add a searing solo.

With a stable construct, mandolin-influenced appears to be like, and killer tone, the MRG Lap Metal can be simple on the pockets. Undoubtedly value a run. – Pete Prown

This text initially appeared in VG’s March 2025 challenge. All copyrights are by the writer and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.