Richard Hawley

Hello Richard and fans alike,

Firstly, apologies for a self-serving thread, I'm not exactly the most frequent forum user (This is my first post! it won't be the last though).

Last year I purchased a cheap Jagard lap steel which, I must say, I've
gotten along with very well. It looks a bit like this, except it's not
red - http://www.email-advantage.co.uk/assets ... _Stand.jpg

Anyway, I'm going to get it serviced (there's an annoying buzz on the
1st string), and I'm also going to put a new pickup in it, to simply
make it sound better. This is where I need your help. It sounds
an obvious thing to say, but I want a mixture of clarity and bite
with warmth and richness. I love Mr Hawley's lapsteel sound, and
I also love the steel guitar on Paper Wings by Gillian Welch.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSuD4tSsnow) I know, my
lap steel isn't the best design in the world, but I'd like to work
with what I've got in order to get the best tone I can.

At the moment
it has what looks like a strat-shaped pickup, so I could put a
Strat pickup in, like a Fender Lace Sensor Gold. But perhaps
that would be brighter than what I'd want.

But I'm curious to know how difficult it would be to fit a pickup
in that's a different shape to the current one? how much
work would be needed?

I've also heard good things about soapbar P90s. And I've heard
great things about Jason Lollar Chicago Steel for lap steel pick
ups. Apparently their designs are based on 1940s supro lap
steels (I believe Mr Hawley is a supro fan?). Trouble is, they're
a little expensive. And also, they seem to be a bit of a mission
to get hold of.

Anyway, any pick up recommendations for my lap steel would make
me massively grateful!