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Author Topic:  1950's Lewis Blankenship steel $1700
Todd Clinesmith


From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
Post  Posted 17 Sep 2017 7:31 pm    
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Very Rare classic 1950's instrument. Built by Lewis Blankenship. Beautiful Birdseye Maple guitar. Great tone . Needs some pedal set up work. It has 6 pedals and 1 knee lever . Missing neck selector switch.

The story I heard was Blankenship has seen a Bigsby come thru town in the 50's and built something similar. the guitar features some cool castings and a nice sound.

Would make a classic sounding 50's guitar for non pedal or pedal steel.

There is no case with the guitar.

This is one of a few personal and vintage guitars I am offering for sale. After a few are sold I will keep the remaining.




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face book page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clinesmith-Instruments/1457245817911268?ref=bookmarks


Last edited by Todd Clinesmith on 19 Sep 2017 8:28 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Todd Clinesmith


From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
Post  Posted 19 Sep 2017 7:33 pm     Lewis Blankenship
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It apears this instrument is not a Blankenship and Wheeler but just a Lewis Blankenship. I imagine this is before Lewis and Mr. Wheeler became partners. It is serial #00005.
I have not tested the pedal set up, but this is what I gather from checking the pulls. All the rigging is set. But I am selling the guitar as is . An excellent non pedal guitar that can be made to be a sweet pedal instrument with a classic sound and look of early American Craftsmanship. If it does not sell, I'll set it up at a later date and possibly relist it.

The outside neck appears to be for a Mooney type E9, and the inside is set up for a 6th tuning.Here is what the string pulls are in C6 and E9:

C6 P1 P2 P3 P4
G -F#
E -Eb
C +D
A +B
G -F#
E -Eb
C
A

E9 P5 P6 kL
G# +A
E +
B +C#
G# +A
F#
E
D
B

Here are some photos of the underside , and the stamping in the end plate.

Ask any questions.



_________________
face book page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clinesmith-Instruments/1457245817911268?ref=bookmarks
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Todd Clinesmith


From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
Post  Posted 19 Sep 2017 7:38 pm    
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It looks as though my copedent did not transfer as I typed it.

Inside neck 6th tuning
P1 lowers strings 2 and 6
P2 Lowers strings 1 and 5
P3 raises string 4
P4 raises string 3

Outside neck I would assume E9

P5 raises strings 1 and 4 (G#'s)
P6 raises string 3 ( b to C#)
Knee lever raises the 2nd string ( E to +)
_________________
face book page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clinesmith-Instruments/1457245817911268?ref=bookmarks
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