Bear Guitars LapTap

This instrument completely slipped my mind even though I had talked to Siggi about it a few years ago.  Shame on me.  Built in 2004, with 8 strings and a 26″ scale length.  One think I always loved about this design is the classical style headstock with the tuner knobs pointing up.  I also dig the lived in look that his instruments have.  Way to go, Siggi, and thanks to Tom for reminding me about this laptar innovator.

Bear Guitars LapTap

Jeff Healey – lap guitar jazz

What the hell, why not. He doesn’t tap (as far as I know), but Jeff Healey is so awesome. What I love about this clip is the way he uses his felt thumb to articulate lines. Definitely something to explore.

Erik Mongrain – Acoustic Lap Tapping

One of our readers (Thanks, tdh20).  Suggested compiling a list of the great laptarists.  If you include guys who are not primarily tappers, Jeff Healey and all kinds of great steel guitarists and others come to mind.  If you limit the field to players you primarily tap the instrument, the list becomes a whole lot shorter.  Especially since the concept is relatively knew.  Still, there is an elephant in the room, and his name is Erik Mongrain.