High quality lap steel guitars built by hand from start to finish, blending retro style with master luthier standards
HepCat Steel Guitars is a one-woman operation run by Michele Beardsley. Every guitar is meticulously hand-crafted from scratch to the customer's exact specification.
I have been building, repairing, modifying, and restoring guitars since 1988. This is truly a passion for me. Each instrument is unique and made completely by hand with great care and high attention to detail.
Why choose custom?
Choosing to go custom over an off the rack guitar offers complete control over the features that matter most to musicians.
Tailored to your tastes, in any shape and finish to suit your unique style.
Exotic & Domestic Hardwoods
I work with a variety of woods, exotic and otherwise. I like to create stripes by mixing different woods together. I have a good eye for what woods compliment each other, and am happy to work with your ideas or give input where needed.
Superior Electronics
I use the highest quality hardware and electronics to suit each build. I mainly use Jason Lollar Pickups and Revel Custom Pickups , but I am open to using any kind of pickups.
Custom Inlays
I love doing inlay work using abalone, mother-of-pearl, and various other materials. I’ll do anything from simple shapes and symbols to more intricate scenes. I just need an image that I can copy and re-size to fit the space, and I can make and inlay it in a peghead or fingerboard. Check out some examples in the image gallery below!
Nitrocellulose Lacquer
I spray nitrocellulose lacquer and will gladly do just about any color, color combinations, and sunbursts. I also like racing stripes, and as always, I am willing to get creative in collaboration with you!
Fine-Tuned Setup
I work with you after the build is complete down to the last detail, including getting setup completed to work for your individual needs. This is a completely bespoke service, and every detail matters to me.
Custom Options
Just about every component is customizable, from fingerboards, inlays, hardware, and more—I'll work with you to help guide the process and get your guitar looking and playing exactly how you want.
I make everything from scratch (except bridges, tuners and electronics), and I do my own finishing work. This means I can guide you on every aspect of your build with years of experience as a builder and player.
HepCat Models
Models offered in addition to my custom from scratch builds
The Lap Cat
The Lap Cat is a 6-string 22 1/2″ scale lap steel that is more or less “guitar-shaped”. It features a Lollar Chicago Steel pickup, which is a high-output, high-clarity pickup. The bridge is made by Kluson, and the tuners are Grover Sta-tites. The Lap Cat can be made of any number of different woods and can be finished the way you choose.
Base Price: $1,200
The Lapster
The Lapster is a funky-shaped 6-string 22 1/2″ scale lap steel. It features a Lollar Supro pickup, which is humbucking but sounds like a single-coil with high output and lots of clarity. The bridge and tuners are made by Kluson. The Lapster can be made of any number of different woods and can be finished the way you choose.
Base Price: $1,350
The Wild Cat
The Wild Cat is a 6-string 22 1/2″ scale lap steel that is pretty much guitar-shaped (same as the Lap Cat). It features a Lollar Supro pickup in the bridge position, and a Lollar Gold Foil pickup in the neck position, with a master volume and tone, and a 3-position toggle switch.
The Lollar Supro pickup is humbucking but sounds like a single-coil with high output and lots of clarity. The Lollar Gold Foil is a single coil pickup that’s also very clear and powerful, with lots of harmonic overtones and a wide dynamic range that likes to play dirty. As on the other models, the Wild Cat has a Kluson bridge and Grover Sta-Tite tuners. It can be made of any number of different woods and finished the way you choose.
Base Price: $1,600
Hear it from HepCat customers
My customers satisfaction is #1 in every custom guitar we complete
HepCat Lap Steels are super cool - both looking and sounding! They have been game changers for me - inspiring and reliable through hundreds of gigs. The tonal options are vast - equally comfortable with a warm, clean sound for solo gigs to dirty overdrive to get that Lindley sound. Michele builds amazing instruments and is great to work with. These guitars are special because of the caring approach she puts into her work. I am grateful to know Michele and to get to play these groovy instruments that she builds.
Dan Schwartz
I can't say enough good things about my HepCat. I have owned vintage Supro, Gretsch, and Fender lap steels and none of them hold a candle to my HepCat. If you want a sweet, smooth tone with perfect construction then look no further. All the tone of the vintage lap steels without the scratchy pots and noisy pickups.
Dan Yoon
Played the beautiful new 8-string for a couple of hours. Pure joy! It plays and sounds fantastic. I couldn't be happier. It is particularly special because it is one of your instruments. That means a lot to me. I'm getting more familiar with the tone of the pickup. It is rich and a little darker than the Fenders I am used to. It sounds a little more like Leon McAuliffe and Jerry Byrd, a little less like Herb Remington. I spent a lot of time rolling off the highs on the Fender, and this one has a great sound with less tweaking. Just like a Telecaster (or any guitar) finding the right amp to pair it with is important. I was playing it through a copy of a '60 Deluxe, and that sounds very nice. I'm going to try it tomorrow through an amp with a 15" speaker. I bet it will sound even deeper and richer. I so appreciate the skill and effort you put into this wonderful guitar. Thank you very much!
John P.
As a proud owner of a HepCat lap steel I can’t say enough great things about my Miss Kitty. I started lessons a few years ago on an old Rickenbacker lap steel that was gifted to me (circa 1935). Being a novice I wasn’t sure a new lap steel was in my future until I accompanied my husband to St Paul Guitar Repair and saw some HepCats for sale. Michele was so helpful and knowledgeable and had me try a couple out. I decided on Miss Kitty (a LapCat) after really liking the tone and found it much easier to palm block with the design. AND Miss Kitty is made from an ash tree from Minneapolis so talk about local! I continue to take lessons and practice. My husband and I now play at a memory care place weekly where lap steel music is much appreciated. Thank you Michele!
Beth Jones
How to Start a Custom Guitar Project
What to expect, timelines, and an overview of the process from initial ideas to finished product
Reach out
Contact me! Email, call, or stop by the shop and let me know you're interested and we'll go from there.
Discovery
We'll talk about what you are looking for. I encourage you to share your ideas and ask any and all questions you may have about the process.
The Details
We'll go over what kind of woods, number of strings, scale length, pickups/electronics and all the fun details that set a custom build apart.
Build it
After an agreed upon scope, I will start the build. 25% down payment is required, and I communicate with you throughout the process.
Complete it
A custom creation takes roughly 1 year to complete. I give you a rundown on proper maintenance & care and stand by my work.
The HepCat Process & Philosophy
I love the style and sound of many of the old classics but also want to improve on them by using high quality materials and workmanship, such as real hardwood fingerboards, top-shelf modern electronics, and adjustable bridges. There's no reason why lap steels can't be first rate instruments!
I start with properly dried lumber and cut and shape it to my specs. A lap steel neck runs all the way through the body, so it can be one slab of wood or it can be made up of different woods edge-glued together to achieve a particular look. That provides a platform for a choice of different scale lengths, fingerboards, “frets”, inlays, colors, one or two pickups, controls, hardware, pickguards, and other options.
Throughout the building process I communicate with the customer about preferences, ideas and options. I welcome my clients’ creativity, and view every build as a collaborative creative journey.
Custom Guitar Gallery
A look at some custom HepCat guitars I've built over the years
Click to enlarge
FAQs
Some common questions about starting a custom build
It takes about one year (or less).
I am open to using any kind of pickup. I have used primary Lollar and Revel pickups.
22.5” is most common, but I am open to others. I have done several in 25”.
Yes.
A case is not included in the price of the guitar, but I offer a hard case for $250 and a gig bag for $75.
