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Author Topic:  Franklin Pedal Steel Guitars ??
Kevin Raymer


From:
Chalybeate, Kentucky, USA
Post  Posted 30 Jul 2014 7:47 pm    
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I have never seen a Franklin up for sale.

Did Paul Senior just not make many or are they just so treasured they never come up for sale ??

Anybody care to weigh in ??
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Kevin Raymer
Zum / Knaggs / Breedlove
Fractal Audio
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Ken Pippus


From:
Langford, BC, Canada
Post  Posted 30 Jul 2014 8:07 pm    
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They do come up for sale occasionally, including on the forum. They are highly regarded, and there aren't a whole lot of them out there.
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Keith Currie

 

From:
Shellbrook, Saskatchewan, Canada
Post  Posted 30 Jul 2014 8:44 pm    
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I think like myself most people that have them like them enough that they hang on. They are very nice steels and play and sound great.
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Lane Gray


From:
Topeka, KS
Post  Posted 30 Jul 2014 9:01 pm    
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Kevin, those who have them rarely sell them. Several years ago they weren't hugely more expensive new than Zum or Fessy, but the used value was up between 8 and 10 for a D-10. Because that was how much it took to make an owner turn loose of one. Then he raised the price on the theory that he should be entitled to some of the profit, if his guitars were more valuable than the cost of production. I'd say that he was fair to do that too. If the market value of something is nearly double the price out the door, I'd rather the maker get it than an arbitrageur.
And I've never met a Franklin owner who didn't think they were worth it.
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Jack Stoner


From:
Kansas City, MO
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2014 2:17 am    
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What Keith said.

I have an 81 Franklin D-10. It plays as good and solid as the day I got it new.
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GFI Ultra Keyless S-10 with pad (Black of course) TB202 amp, Hilton VP, Steelers Choice sidekick seat
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Kevin Raymer


From:
Chalybeate, Kentucky, USA
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2014 1:58 pm    
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HA!!!!!

I post this one day and the very next day one goes up for sale on the forum.

Smile

Priced $10.5 large, but none-the-less for sale....


So... Let me try this....

You know guys 02 09 12 15 20 and 45 hardly ever win the power ball lottery her in KY.

Let see if that works...

Smile
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Kevin Raymer
Zum / Knaggs / Breedlove
Fractal Audio
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Jack Stoner


From:
Kansas City, MO
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2014 3:30 pm    
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Good Luck. Maybe a Franklin is in your future. Very Happy
_________________
GFI Ultra Keyless S-10 with pad (Black of course) TB202 amp, Hilton VP, Steelers Choice sidekick seat
Cakewalk by Bandlab and Studio One V4.6 pro DAWs, MOTU Ultralite MK5 recording interface unit (for sale)
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Fred Layman

 

From:
Springfield, Missouri USA
Post  Posted 1 Aug 2014 1:11 pm     Freamklin Steel Gitars
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My best memory is that at the time Franklin stopped manufacturing 99 pedal steels had been built.
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Jack Stoner


From:
Kansas City, MO
Post  Posted 2 Aug 2014 2:14 am    
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Its more than 99. I've seen serial numbers posted in the 100's and probably much more.

My 81 is S/N65.
_________________
GFI Ultra Keyless S-10 with pad (Black of course) TB202 amp, Hilton VP, Steelers Choice sidekick seat
Cakewalk by Bandlab and Studio One V4.6 pro DAWs, MOTU Ultralite MK5 recording interface unit (for sale)
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Tony Prior


From:
Charlotte NC
Post  Posted 2 Aug 2014 4:10 am    
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it is said that Paul Sr built perhaps maybe 15 Steels in a year., I've heard even less...maybe 10ish...do the math..not many around so we won't see many around...
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Lane Gray


From:
Topeka, KS
Post  Posted 2 Aug 2014 5:06 am    
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127 was made 25 years ago. If I had the money....
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Jim Cohen


From:
Philadelphia, PA
Post  Posted 2 Aug 2014 6:30 am    
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Does anyone know if the S10's and D10's ran in the same serial number series? IOW, I have a D10 which is #093; is that the 93rd D10 he made, or the 93rd guitar of any configuration he made?
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Manfred Schall

 

From:
Langenfeld, Germany
Post  Posted 2 Aug 2014 7:10 am     Franklin s/n
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Hi Jim,
They run in the same serial number serie. I have both and there is no difference.
The total number of Franklins is pretty close to 220.
I guess (not sure right now) the black one Paul played most recently is # 213. And I was told by Paul Sr. that he made a few after that. FWIW He slowed down in the last years maybe due to health condition (??). Great people anyway.

Cheers,
Manfred
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Keith Currie

 

From:
Shellbrook, Saskatchewan, Canada
Post  Posted 2 Aug 2014 9:35 am    
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My Franklin is # 197 got it from Paul in 2002.
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Andy Eder

 

From:
North Florida, USA
Post  Posted 24 Aug 2015 8:09 pm    
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I have an S10 #185, anybody know what year it is?
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Glenn Demichele


From:
(20mi N of) Chicago Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 24 Aug 2015 8:34 pm    
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I have a 1995 D10 #161
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Franklin D10 8&5, Excel D10 8&5, homemade buffer/overdrive, Moyo pedal, GT-001 effects, 2x BAM200 for stereo. 2x GW8003 8" driver in homemade closed-box. Also NV400 etc. etc...
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Andy Eder

 

From:
North Florida, USA
Post  Posted 24 Aug 2015 9:13 pm    
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I spoke to Paul Sr. today and he verified this red S10 is a 1998 year model. It is red mica, 4/5, with Paul Jrs. copedent and it's immaculate. Paul told me the last D10 he sold went for 15K just last year and that he has been offered as much as 20K by others which he turned down for various reasons.

I will consider selling it for the right offer.










Last edited by Andy Eder on 26 Aug 2015 10:56 am; edited 1 time in total
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Henry Matthews


From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
Post  Posted 25 Aug 2015 6:57 am    
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I still don't understand why Franklins fetch such big bucks. JCH guitars are just as good and just a rare and they don't bring big bucks. Emmons push pulls are what every maker tries to sound like and they don't draw big bucks. I don't understand this Franklin thing. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they are great guitars and do seem to be somewhat rare but no more so than some other makes, why 10 large?
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Henry Matthews

D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
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Andy Eder

 

From:
North Florida, USA
Post  Posted 25 Aug 2015 7:03 am    
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Other than the reasons you stated, I'm not sure but I have heard that they are going higher than 10K in some cases.

There are many other countries that will pay higher because of the exchange rate, it's more to us but less for them.

Recently I located one in a country with the reverse exchange rate problem and it was a great deal by US standards even with very high shipping, but the seller did not want to ship out of his country.

Think of the exchange rate as being like the old movie "Gulliver's Travels".
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Dustin Rhodes


From:
Owasso OK
Post  Posted 25 Aug 2015 7:46 am    
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Is there something special going on with the Franklins mechanically to make them so smooth playing or are they just well made?
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Henry Matthews


From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
Post  Posted 25 Aug 2015 8:57 am    
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Dustin, I've never played a Franklin but have looked at one and inspected the under carriage up close. Yes they are well made but no more so than any other of the modern steels, like, Zum, Mullen, Rains, JCH Ritt, Fessy and on and on. And the people that play them don't sound any better to me than someone else playing another brand. I think that maybe it's because who they were made by just like any painting by Monet is worth a fortune whether you like it or not. Mr. Franklin is considered a master at what he did and we know his son is master at playing so therefore, the guitars bring big bucks.
To me it's just like Emmons or Day pedal setups. Most play Emmons just because Buddy started it, therefore that setup caught on but Day setup makes much more sense but that's another thread.
_________________
Henry Matthews

D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
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steve takacs


From:
beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)
Post  Posted 25 Aug 2015 8:58 am     Franklins do come up for sale
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Kevin, Franklins do come up for sale on The Forum. Do a search under using FRANKLIN in the For Sale section.

Ronnie Parker sold this D-10 for $7500 in May 2015

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=284229&highlight=franklin

Ricky Davis had a D-10 one listed $10 000 for June 2015 which sold. I assume he got that price.

There are others that sold also. I personally would pass on one as there are other fish in the sea which I feel, are as tasty and less costly. Of course, Iam aware there are those who disagree and buy them. "If it makes you happy" …...


Last edited by steve takacs on 25 Aug 2015 9:13 am; edited 1 time in total
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chris ivey


From:
california (deceased)
Post  Posted 25 Aug 2015 9:08 am    
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i've seen quite a few for sale over the years.
that red one is very plain looking. i always wished they could have had colored fretmarkers at least.
someone posted recently that paul had built 300 steels. that doesn't seem like very many in 30 years or so.
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Dustin Rhodes


From:
Owasso OK
Post  Posted 25 Aug 2015 9:58 am    
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chris ivey wrote:

that red one is very plain looking..


I've never seen one that knocked me out looks wise. Not that that is important really but they're not really a "pretty" instrument, more workman like.
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Glenn Demichele


From:
(20mi N of) Chicago Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 25 Aug 2015 10:19 am    
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They get prettier after you sleep with them... Mine's purple btw.
_________________
Franklin D10 8&5, Excel D10 8&5, homemade buffer/overdrive, Moyo pedal, GT-001 effects, 2x BAM200 for stereo. 2x GW8003 8" driver in homemade closed-box. Also NV400 etc. etc...
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