Dart

Ben Harper- Bowl Back Slide

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bowl back
This special lap style steel guitar came from an order from Ben Harper. Ben wanted a unique lookingand sounding instrument that would have it's own voice. Dave Dart and Ben decided on a lute back or bowl-back design. The apex of the bowl is almost flat so that the guitar doesn't roll off the lap.

slide, weissenborn, bowl back, Ben Harper
Ben Harper
Los Angeles, CA
photo by Todd Burke
slide guitar, weissenborn
Ben Harper
Folk Music Center, Claremont, CA

Click on thumbnails below for larger view:

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We have been contacted by a number of Ben Harper fans asking us about Hawaiian style or steel guitars.  Harper now has three Dart Steel Guitars.  He played the Hawaiian style 1 on the song Glory and Consequences on the The Will to Live CD. The other two are unique bowl back guitars, as featured here.

The first bowl back was mentioned in Guitar World Acoustic no. 60, in the interview with Ben Harper- and played on the song When it's Good on Harper's Diamonds On The Inside CD. This one of a kind instrument is also featured in Guitar World magazine, June, 2003.

The second bowl back was delivered at Christmas time 2003 as an instrument for Ben to take on the road. The Bowl-back Steel Guitar has been written up in several articles -see below

Dart Bowl Back 1
Dart Bowl Back and Hawaiian Guitars
Dart Bowl Back 2


Slide Guitar Magazine Interview with Ben Harper:
“ What is that ringing acoustic slide in “When Its Good”   That is a custom bowl-back...”

Ben Harper Guitar Collector's Magazine Fall, 2003,
”Lap Steel Lute ”Harper's custom, bowl-back acoustic steel is made by David Dart, a California luthier who specializes in lute-inspired construction techniques. The back ofthis 6-string is made from strips of wood that run from the headstock to the tailblock. To prevent the guitar from rolling in Harper’s lap, the bowl’s apex is kept flat, as is the back of the hollow neck. Dart used a spruce cello top for the soundboard, which extends up to the nut. “ -Guitar Player Magazine, June 2003—AE  
Please see our  Hawaiian Steel  page for a standard Hawaiian (similar to a Weissenborn style) Guitar

Pick ups installed- extra option

Bowl Back Lap Steel Guitars start at $6,000

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