R. Gilliam, what is the status?

Mike Ester · Post by **Mike Ester** » 23 May 2007 5:08 am

Hey, Randy.

What is the status of my old Blanton that you bought?

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... ht=blanton

Duane Reese · Post by **Duane Reese** » 17 Mar 2008 6:54 pm

I can tell you what the status is, heh heh!

I know this is an old thread (looks like the order of threads on the forum got screwed up somehow, as a bunch of these threads' last posts are in '07 and all but a couple recent ones are gone) but I might as well make the best of a bad situation, since this thread applies directly to me.

Anyway, I bought it (again) and I have it all torn apart. The pickups are with Jerry Wallace now, and I have it all torn down to just the wooden deck. When my camera batteries are finished charging, I'll post a pic.

Randy Gilliam · Post by **Randy Gilliam** » 17 Mar 2008 7:12 pm

I Bought And Sold It So Many Times I Dont Know. Randy

Duane Reese · Post by **Duane Reese** » 17 Mar 2008 9:06 pm

I met Randy in Temple and snagged it.

So as I mentioned, I have the pickups out being rewound by Jerry Wallace, and I have it all torn down and I'm about to get the refinish under way here soon...

So that color where the black paint isn't is what color it was originally. It is some kind of paint that makes it look like clear lacquer over a blue stain, but it's just the paint. Reminds me of the Marrs-rebuilt Professional I used to have. So it looks like it wasn't robin egg blue after all, but I'm mulling over what color it should be... I think I better get her all down to the wood, see what that looks like, and then decide. This thing should be a sweet machine by the time I'm done - that's the whole reason I bought it again.

Mike Ester · Post by **Mike Ester** » 18 Mar 2008 2:44 am

I'm glad your back is younger and stronger than mine. You'll need it when the project is done.

Any hopes on restoring/replacing the changer fingers?

Duane Reese · Post by **Duane Reese** » 18 Mar 2008 8:57 am

Well, I guess Jerry Blanton doesn't have any of the brass ones left and I don't think I'm up for having any machined right now, so maybe I better see if he as any of the steel ones left - I think he does...

Duane Reese · Post by **Duane Reese** » 19 Mar 2008 10:09 pm

Well, I've got the whole thing stripped (looks like it was clear lacquer on top after all) and looking at it, I think I'm going to go with a solid color, opaque finish. I'm definitely doing the robin egg blue I wanted in the first place. I got to looking at the wood, and there's some lamination happening that would be visible. It's not an indication of low quality or anything, since the pieces are good solid maple and not plywood - heck, who ever heard of a monolithic cabinet - but the joints wouldn't be hidden by binding or endplates, so what are you gonna do...

Do we know if the black paint on the legs was an original thing?

Mike Ester · Post by **Mike Ester** » 20 Mar 2008 2:41 am

Naw, I did that many years ago. The chrome on the legs wasn't exactly up to par. I wet-sanded them, and sprayed them with the black paint. $:\$

Duane Reese · Post by **Duane Reese** » 28 Mar 2008 2:04 pm

So I got off the phone with Jerry Wallace, and he said he looked them over and it appears that the pickup is mounted in that metal frame with epoxy, and it may not be possible to get it out without destroying it...

However, an even better solution may be to make one that will fit in that frame. He's going to get back to me on that, but it may be that we'll see Wallace Truetones in that thing (which are about my favorite sounding anyway.)

More updates to follow...

Duane Reese · Post by **Duane Reese** » 18 Apr 2008 9:43 am

Well, here's the latest...

I have it repainted, but the lacquer turned out a little more eggshell than I like, even after cutting & buffing. I may have this redone at some point by someone with better skills and tools, but it's not terrible. The aluminum polishing is going well.

Jerry Wallace is custom building Truetones to fit in the metal brackets, and they'll be wound at 18.5K. The originals were at 15K and 7K on the two switch positions. I'm not really much of a "tap" guy, so these pickups will be standard singles and I plan on making the old tap switches into tone bypass switches.

The unveiling is not far off...

James Sission · Post by **James Sission** » 18 Apr 2008 5:43 pm

<<<Saving this as evidence that Randy has owned every steel in Texas....Randy....You know I love ya man,..HA HA HA....James

Randy Gilliam · Post by **Randy Gilliam** » 20 Apr 2008 8:56 pm

Hi Duane The Blantons Are Getting Harder To Find They are Great Sounding And Well Built. Good Luck Fixin Her Up. Your Pal Randy

Duane Reese · Post by **Duane Reese** » 26 Apr 2008 10:27 am

No, you aren't not seeing things... Those are brand new custom sized and spaced Wallace Truetones in the original Blanton pickup brackets! We're close now. They're regular 18.5K singles and ready to go in.

The original pickups came out in tact, thankfully. If anyone is interested in them, let me know...

Thanks again to Jerry Wallace, the best in the business.

Mike Ester · Post by **Mike Ester** » 26 Apr 2008 10:29 am

Would you look at that? Too cool for school!

Duane Reese · Post by **Duane Reese** » 15 Jun 2008 8:48 am

So here's the approximate result of a lot of hard work getting the old Blanton spruced up. Still some things to do, like replace those rusty fingers...

I need to try again to get a hold of Jerry and see what he has for parts. The 18.5K Wallace Truetones were a massive improvement over the old split 15K/7K pickups that were in it. I assigned the neck switches (from being coil taps) to be independent tone bypasses. I have yet to take it out and gig with it, but heck... Sounds good so far. Nothing like that feather-light, rubber band-like Blanton pedal feel. Well, the pedals are pretty slow and can't be adjusted of course, but I don't mind.

I think it's glory days are still to come!

Oh I still have to look into the re-chrome of the legs and the frame. Looks better than it did though, eh? I'm taking it down to Stephenville on Friday to get a quote on a flight case too.

Here's what sucks: look at that nice little scratch I put on the 18th fret on the E9 fretboard when I was taking it apart.

I need to touch that up now.

Mike Ester · Post by **Mike Ester** » 15 Jun 2008 9:06 am

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ya done good, Duane. I just called my wife in to look at the pictures. She didn't recognize it, at first. I'm sure that the legs can be chromed again.

It sure would be nice if you can come up with some replacement fingers. That old axe served me well for many years, but I just got too old to be hauling it around.

Some "Before" pics:

Duane Reese · Post by **Duane Reese** » 15 Jun 2008 10:28 am

Thanks for putting those up, Mike. Boy this guitar sure does sustain out long, remember? Now it's thicker sounding on top of that - I'll be this would make a great studio axe.

If you ever happen to be up near DFW, you should come and check it out.

Mike Shefrin · Post by **Mike Shefrin** » 15 Jun 2008 10:41 am

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 15 Jun 2008 11:13 am

very pretty blue blanton! i would be proud.

Duane Reese · Post by **Duane Reese** » 21 Jun 2008 10:26 am

The reason I went with that color (peacock) is because it was the closest thing I cold find to robin egg blue. I think it goes well with the silver, black, and white color scheme, because it reminds me of an old car. Remember how a lot of the old Ford and Chevy trucks had that color scheme? Very nostalgic.

Anyway, a case is being made now in Stephenville by Texas Case. I took it down there yesterday to have it sized up, and I don't think they'd ever seen a Blanton before. Then again, most people haven't. It's quite a machine.

Randy Gilliam · Post by **Randy Gilliam** » 21 Jun 2008 10:43 am

Great Job Duanne Your Pal Randy.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 21 Jun 2008 10:51 am

WOW! Hey I'm in need of a Blanton keyhead if you guys find an extra one let me know,Stu

Justin Griffith · Post by **Justin Griffith** » 14 Apr 2009 5:35 pm

WOW!!
Duane that looks great. I would love to hear those True Tone pickups. I always thought the original pickups were part of the magic but it looks like that is not the case.

I have been been taking a "break" from the forum a while and it looks like I missed a bunch.

I finally found one of the later "Prototype" Blantons with the new style key head and the wood apron in the front thanks to Al M. I am in the process of getting it all ready to go. I hope mine turns out half as nice as yours. With 8X6 it is going to be great.
It sounds so good now I am kind of afraid to touch it but it is in need of refinishing and a little tweaking of the setup underneath.

Duane, Would you PM/E-mail me in regards to the case you had made. I need one but may have to do the split cases due to the weight. I sold one of my PP's due to weight but this Blanton sounds too good to leave at home.

Stu: I am still trying to find you a key head. I have a friend who removed his 6th neck to make the guitar lighter but he can't seem to locate the box of stuff he removed. If it comes though I will give you the key head and keep the rest

Best,
Justin

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 14 Apr 2009 7:47 pm

Justin,I'm going to be in Texas in a few days...There's only so long a boy can go without brisket.

Justin Griffith · Post by **Justin Griffith** » 15 Apr 2009 5:54 am

I will be home this week (Austin area) and San Antonio next week. PM me if in the area and I will take you to eat the best brisket you have had.