Why Black?

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 6 Jan 2010 5:37 pm

I must admit black is beautiful, but the best kept secret for mica finishes on the pedal steel guitar is:
ZANZIBAR EBONY - GLOSS of course

#2 BLACK - GLOSS
#3 DARK GRAY - GLOSS

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 6 Jan 2010 6:38 pm

When I bought this album way back when, I thought it was a black guitar, so I thought that was the way to go. Turned out to be the Blade, Rosewood. So now I've got one of each and they sound the same.

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 6 Jan 2010 6:51 pm

When I bought this album way back when, I thought it was a black guitar, so I thought that was the way to go. Turned out to be the Blade, Rosewood. So now I've got one of each and they sound the same.

Yes, C#.
But, if one is played in the key of C# and the other in D flat, do they still sound the same?

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 6 Jan 2010 7:27 pm

After exhaustive testing of wavelength, frequency, amplitude, speed and velocity of the sound waves from both guitars I've determined that they are enharmonically equal.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 6 Jan 2010 7:37 pm

Cal
I'm sure the two guitars sound so similar as to be indistinguishable from each other, but for some reason, behind the black guitar you look more trim, more buff, younger, and, well, just... HOTTER!

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 6 Jan 2010 8:39 pm

Funny, Herb, Lynn says the same thing.

Marke Burgstahler · Post by **Marke Burgstahler** » 7 Jan 2010 8:15 am

Wow...I like Bill Lowe's black one with the pearl trim. Sharp! Does the pearl trim help the upper midrange cut through?

I also like the wood grain one in the middle of Larry's stable.

Me? I have a black Carter with chrome trim. I keep trying to make it sound better.

Bill Lowe · Post by **Bill Lowe** » 7 Jan 2010 8:43 am

sounds terrible without the pearl

Bill Lowe · Post by **Bill Lowe** » 7 Jan 2010 8:43 am

To me this is classic sound....and it is black
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJf2GWDWeGg

Someday I'll buy one!!!!!!

Shaun Swanson · Post by **Shaun Swanson** » 7 Jan 2010 10:52 am

Since PSG is basically box shaped, I'm surprised no one has made inter-changeable "skins" for them.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 7 Jan 2010 11:42 am

Rusty Rhoads was playin' a Jackson Blackjack steel guitar in a video at the 2008 International Steel Guitar Convention and it sounded incredible! He was playin' theRonnie Milsap song 'I'd Be A Legend In My Time". The Blackjack is a glossy black color, and it looks very pretty!

Brett

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · Post by **Jim Lindsey (Louisiana)** » 7 Jan 2010 12:09 pm

With lacquer guitars, I've really become partial to a two-tone ... black top with natural apron ...

... even my dog's eyes light up with that combination!

Now, when it comes to a mica guitar, there's only one color for me ... solid black.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 7 Jan 2010 12:23 pm

How about Black, Pearl and two tone !!!

Jim Mathis · Post by **Jim Mathis** » 7 Jan 2010 12:36 pm

I just happen to like black. I have a black car, I always wear black pants and shoes. And I usually wear a black shirt and hat, accept in the summer when I am more inclined to wear Hawaiian shirts. Of course, I have a black guitar.

I must have been thinking of the Buddy Emmons cover when I shot this photo.

Jim

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 7 Jan 2010 12:39 pm

Paddy, that V front is beautiful! Wow! Glad I don't have to choose between that one and Bill's G2

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 7 Jan 2010 1:10 pm

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 7 Jan 2010 2:14 pm

Very interesting stable Chas. You can't get off that easy though, some descriptions are in order, particularly that dual resonator and the D12/8 if you please. Thanks.

Gerry Simon · Post by **Gerry Simon** » 7 Jan 2010 2:51 pm

Humph! When you talk black, this is about as BLACK as it gets!! Pedal rack, rods, end plates, screws,tuning fingers, changer ...only the strings are still a reflective potential target for dis-satisfied patrons!

http://gasimon.blip.tv/file/367827/

Jim Wilson · Post by **Jim Wilson** » 7 Jan 2010 6:25 pm

Here are my two Franklins. Both look, sound and play great. But I lean more toward the black one.

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 8 Jan 2010 5:44 pm

Jerry, back around 1987, I was playing on the film score for The Lost Boys and I needed complicated sounds. I cut the necks on my Super Pro and added 2 pickups down around the 3rd fret. This way I could "prepare" the guitar by weaving drill-rods, springs and all sorts of detritus in the strings and hit them with hammered dulcimer hammers or bow them with various things. Each end of the neck would "hear" different things and that is what got recorded.

The idea of the Simese, the guitar with the 2 mixing bowls, was to see if I could re-create something like that acoustically. It didn't work very well, that being another "great idea" that ended up as a wall hanging. And those are Dobro bodies, another story.

The titanium framed guitar was built to replace Guitarzilla, shown here at a recording session. I did a one-nighter in Berlin, a few years ago, with Guitarzilla and in the case it weighed 110 lbs. After slogging that thing through a few airports, I said never again.

This is the Replicant, that bolts onto the front of the guitar to re-create what the rods can do.

Danny Hall · Post by **Danny Hall** » 8 Jan 2010 6:18 pm

Jim Wilson wrote:Here are my two Franklins. Both look, sound and play great. But I lean more toward the black one.

Left leg shorter by an inch Jim?

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 9 Jan 2010 9:41 am

Chas, sometimes I think of you as a more modern Harry Partch!

Daniel Morris · Post by **Daniel Morris** » 9 Jan 2010 9:57 am

Fantastic as always, Chas! Harry Partch indeed!
It would only be a novelty to see such inventions, if it weren't for the fact that you utilize these instruments to such unique ends. I just ordered this disc domestically - you shoulda been in this concert!
http://www.atoll.co.nz/catalog_detail/a ... alatos.htm
And surely you should be listed here:
http://oddstruments.com/
So glad the steel community has you as one of its own.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 9 Jan 2010 10:13 am

My hat's off to you Chas. You are clearly an innovative musician. I salute your creative mind and determination for designing instruments that fit your requirements. Where can one hear some examples of the music you created with these unusual designs? Thanks again.

[Sorry guys, didn't mean to sidetrack the black theme. Here's a black beauty [Ebony lacquer/pearl] I'm currently playing.

]

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 9 Jan 2010 11:19 am

Looks a lot like mine, Jerry:

(The blue streaks are reflections of my jeans.)

The Steel Guitar Forum

Why Black?

What color PSG do you prefer

Black Williams