1950S 4 Neck Wright Custom10 string "Restoration Prog

Bob Gibler · Post by **Bob Gibler** » 26 Jun 2013 3:48 pm

I have been stopped in my progress on the Wright. The last few Thunder Storm's have elevated the Humidity in my Shop to around 86 to 90% and I can not shoot the Lacquer. Just holding out for cooler dryer weather.
Sorry for the delays. Good news is I get to pick up the new Aluminum fret boards in Topeka Kansas tomorrow, so at least I can cut the Rosewood necks to size and shape without any trouble from the weather. I will post some more photos

Bob Gibler · Post by **Bob Gibler** » 29 Jul 2013 5:45 pm

I apologize for taking this long to post updates on the 4 neck Wright Rebuild. Patience has paid off though. And I would like to thank all of you for your patience here on the forum as well.

The Weather has become a real issue in shooting Lacquer in my shop lately. It has been too hot and Humid up until this last week.

I had a small window to shoot the Alder Cabinet with 5 coats in 2 day's. I took time in polishing out each layer between coats.

All of the suggestions that I have received here on the forum on shooting lacquer have been very Valuable. Thanks to all....

When the Opportunity arrives, I will place the lettering on the front Skirt of the cabinet and shoot 4 additional coats. That is after the Monsoon ends that has dropped in on us today....

Also getting the aluminum Fret boards returned to me took almost a month. But it was well worth it.

I am very impressed with the boards, the Fret design is not silk screened on to the Aluminum blanks. THAT'S RIGHT,,, they are lazer etched on to the Aluminum blanks.

I shot the Aluminum fret boards and Wright Custom Blanks with 3 coats of clear lacquer to seal them and give them a deeper black hue like the originals. Sorry about the glare on the aluminum boards, and plaques.

The bottom fret board looks like it has a defect on the first fret, But it is perfect like the others. I still have to true up all of the edges on the boards to get the borders aligned so the tunings will be perfect.

Well here are the results so far. Next I Will be finishing the rosewood furniture and ends. and then the full assembly.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 30 Jul 2013 1:11 am

Hey Bob, all is looking wonderful. The fretboards look incredible, and the body lacquering is superb. So much can go wrong with that aspect of the refurb, but it looks as though you have got it nailed.

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 30 Jul 2013 2:18 am

L@@ks great

Daniel McKee · Post by **Daniel McKee** » 30 Jul 2013 3:36 pm

That is gonna be a really nice guitar.

Bill Ladd · Post by **Bill Ladd** » 30 Jul 2013 4:08 pm

Bob - If you don't mind saying, how much were the fretboards? I have some printed ones that I'm not super stoked about.

Bob Gibler · Post by **Bob Gibler** » 30 Jul 2013 4:57 pm

Bill Ladd wrote:Bob - If you don't mind saying, how much were the fretboards? I have some printed ones that I'm not super stoked about.

Bill, Good to hear from you.... Not at all. These lazer etched aluminum boards cost me $20.00 in Aluminum from a metals fabrication company in Topeka Kansas.

And then $120.00 to have them burned at Westside Stamp and Trophy's in Topeka Kansas.

I loaned them all of the originals with strict instructions that THE REGISTER HAD TO BE EXACT... And returned with the new ones. It took the guy two attempts at it before they got it perfect.

But He did deliver. The first attempt at it the lazer was warping the Aluminum and changed he register. He re sanded the metal and the second time they came out perfect.

You might have some trophy company out where you live that has a lazer engraver also, Check around.

I wanted something that would be durable and appealing.
I sprayed them with clear Lacquer to darken them and protect them when I sprayed the last 3 coats on the Steel Cabinet. Hope that helps.
Bob

Bill Ladd · Post by **Bill Ladd** » 30 Jul 2013 6:06 pm

Wow, that's not much more than the printed ones I got. There are a few trophy shops in town. I'll look into that for whenever I get back up to speed on my Wright.

Thanks and lookin' good...

Bob Gibler · Post by **Bob Gibler** » 18 Aug 2013 10:41 am

I am happy to say that the Wright 4 neck Console finishing is closer to completion. The metal hardware for the cabinet are all cleaned and polished. And the end panels are the only thing left to refinish and assemble with the cabinet pulls.

I have ordered Kluson right and left tuning keys for this beast and the Steel legs to boot. They should be arriving in just a few days.

I decided to just place the metal components on the Wright to see how she would look when finished. What do you think?

The rosewood finish is still hardening with 7 coats of hand rubbed linseed oil over a period of 3 weeks and they look pretty good. I dared not place them on the lacquer just yet, because they are still a tad bit moist.

All of the electric leads on the Potts and switches as well as the rheostats are ready to solder together and place in there respective mounts.

The blond die in the lacquer turned out pretty good I believe, I am not a professional wood finisher, and the tips that I received from members here were used to great extent. in 20-30 years that yellow patina will most likely come out again. I had to hand paint the name graphics on by hand as I am sure was the method Chuck Wright may have used as well.

I really like seeing the Alder wood grain. Here are some pic's before assembly takes place. Again thanks for your patience.

Here is the console before diss-assembly, Notice the yellow color?

Here the console is with the new finish and metal hardware placed on top.

This is a pretty good top photo.

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This shows the tone and figure of the front skirt to effect. I think it is pretty cool. What do you think?

almost complete, More to come.

Roger Guyett · Post by **Roger Guyett** » 18 Aug 2013 11:19 am

Fantastic! You must be feeling pleased Bob.

I wonder how many hours its taken you !? I know it's a labor of love...so maybe it's irrelevant.
The Kluson tuners you've ordered: are they a match to the originals? I assume the originals are worn out.

Really awesome ! Before too long you'll be playing that wonderful guitar!

Bob Gibler · Post by **Bob Gibler** » 18 Aug 2013 1:56 pm

Roger Guyett wrote:Fantastic! You must be feeling pleased Bob.

I wonder how many hours its taken you !? I know it's a labor of love...so maybe it's irrelevant.
The Kluson tuners you've ordered: are they a match to the originals? I assume the originals are worn out.

Really awesome ! Before too long you'll be playing that wonderful guitar!

Hey Roger,
Actually the vintage Klusons I have are in pretty good shape. I just don't want to use them as They just need extensive cleaning as some have rust on them.

I am soaking them in solvent and then I will clean and grease them to sell to anyone who needs vintage Kluson tuners. The ones I have on order are the ones with the "safety posts" and are perfectly identical to the ones I have except that the new ones have a split post on the ends to aid in easier stringing.

OK that said it has taken quite a bit of time to get this far in the resto about 200 hours so far. Trying to find some of the major parts has been a challenge, however I have been blessed to find everything I need, And or have been able to repair things that I can not find elsewhere.

All in all I think it is coming together pretty good.
Thank you for inquiring.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 18 Aug 2013 9:13 pm

Bob Gibler wrote:..................All in all I think it is coming together pretty good.
Thank you for inquiring.

Bob - that is an understatement. It is way better than 'pretty good', and is superb. It has been an outstanding project, and the painstaking attention to detail that you have displayed has been well worth the effort. You must be proud beyond belief.

Bob Gibler · Post by **Bob Gibler** » 19 Aug 2013 3:18 am

Ken,
Wow those are very Humbling words, Thank you very much. I guess this rebuild has and still is a labor of Love and Admiration of My Dad, and Respect and Admiration of the builder Mr Chuck Wright.

This instrument has indeed been a pleasure to work on. I hope that others will have a chance to play this fine Steel, even after I am gone.
I have some plans in mind in the next few weeks that should bring this project full circle, of which I will post later after the completion.

The end boards have been finished last night and all of the hardware is now ready to install as soon as the tuning keys and legs get here.
I will post more then. Again Thank You Ken for your Humbling words of approval.

Bob Gibler · Post by **Bob Gibler** » 20 Aug 2013 4:41 pm

The WRIGHT is coming along nicely. The assembly is going very well indeed.
I have decided to use the original end pulls and installed the new legs in the old sockets. Now to get the Rosewood fret boards shaped and oiled and then install the pickups, Volume and tone controls and switches. I can almost hear her singing now...
We are getting her down to the final stretch... Stay tuned.

I know, the glare is pretty serious, But that Lacquer is "AWESOME"

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 22 Aug 2013 2:20 am

Bob,
Looking Great!!..

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 22 Aug 2013 4:23 pm

That is one super fine piece of work you're doing there Bob..Bill

Fred Bova · Post by **Fred Bova** » 22 Aug 2013 10:42 pm

Boy, would I Love to have one of those pickups. I had a double 8 Wright Custom Pedal Steel once, and I loved the sound.

Bob Gibler · Post by **Bob Gibler** » 23 Aug 2013 3:18 am

Fred Bova wrote:Boy, would I Love to have one of those pickups. I had a double 8 Wright Custom Pedal Steel once, and I loved the sound.

Fred, Yes these Old Pickups still work great and give a beautiful rich tone. I still do not know what model of pickup they are. But they are going back on the Console. I hope you can find some like them somewhere. You might see if anyone on the forum would have any for sale.

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 23 Aug 2013 4:17 am

My Dad wound all his own pickups

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 23 Aug 2013 4:24 am

Another example of why Chuck Wright should be considered a genius.

Bob Gibler · Post by **Bob Gibler** » 23 Aug 2013 2:11 pm

David,
Thanks, I thought he might have built all of his own pick ups, But I was wondering if he had put a model # to them so he could rebuild or replace them as Customers might want em?

And Yes Ken, The man was indeed a genius.

On another note,,,,MY KLUSON'S have just arrived...
YYYIIIPPPPEEE!!! Sorry, I need to get to work.
Here they are....

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 23 Aug 2013 5:00 pm

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 23 Aug 2013 5:01 pm

He had his way of remembering things he would use certain gage and so many with winds o. A pickup. Knowing him he was always trying to make it better ...as a young boy I remember watching him wind them on a machine he built it has a sewing machine motor with a foot feed to control the speed . and a lever he moved back a and forth to layer the pickups wire. And a way to keep tension to keep the winding tight.

Bob Gibler · Post by **Bob Gibler** » 24 Aug 2013 3:04 am

David,
Like I said,,,,, Your Dad was a genius. I am starting to feel like I am getting to know him in this rebuild.

A Sewing Machine motor and foot pedal, How cool. You know after looking at all of the Wright and Sierra Steels on this site.

It is easy for me to see that Chuck did not let the dust settle in on the innovation of His products. His mind had to have been working overtime constantly to make his Instruments better.

The Wood choices, the Aluminum castings, the hardware, The pedal linkages and pulls every design change and material choices.

I am convinced that He put just a little piece of himself into each new instrument that he built.

Bob Gibler · Post by **Bob Gibler** » 24 Aug 2013 3:57 pm

Tuners installed now for the Rosewood, the electronics and the final assembly Stringing her up and tuning.
Keep in mind one of the Wright Custom plaques will be pinned to the front apron as was before, and the other will stay just below the 2nd fret board as was before.

The Steel Guitar Forum

1950S 4 Neck Wright Custom10 string "Restoration Prog

Humidity Woe's

Back on Track Build.

Getting closer to the finish line

End boards and cabinet pulls and Legs.