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Topic: Sho-Bud-style replica knee levers |
Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 17 Apr 2014 11:56 am |
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My old No-name pull-release D10 had only one knee lever when I acquired it (lowering 2 & 8 ). To add more I used some odd bits of tubing left over from a bathroom refurb as it was all a bit experimental. They worked fine but now I feel as though I've outgrown them. I looked into buying some but the shipping wasn't going to be worth it so I decided to have a go myself. Here are before-and-afters of LKR (LKL is the orignal) - I shall replace the other two as soon as I have time.
I might consider producing these if there's any demand this side of the pond.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 17 Apr 2014 1:11 pm
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| very nice! |
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Ryan Quinn
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 17 Apr 2014 5:02 pm
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Great work! Those are sharp.
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Fessenden SD-10, Long-Scale Fender 400, Short-Scale Fender 1000 |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 18 Apr 2014 12:35 pm
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| Good job Ian! I did the same in '72. My new Bud came with only 2 knees, and after playing for a couple weeks, I made two more. Sabersaw, files, sandpaper and a buffer. Well worth the effort! |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 23 Apr 2014 9:00 am
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Got the other two levers made and on. Pleased with the overall look of the guitar now - it looks a bit more authentic. It's also nicer to play. Those levers are a pain to make but they're comfortable. They make me feel in touch with the pioneers!
(I took the opportunity to move the functions around a bit but there's an ongoing thread for that.)
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 23 Apr 2014 9:07 am
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Well done, Ian. I shall be interested to follow your S12 construction.  |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 23 Apr 2014 9:21 am
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That is some really cool inlay. You're doing a great job.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 23 Apr 2014 9:45 am
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The inlay is original - I hope that one day it will serve to identify the maker, who remains unknown.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 24 Apr 2014 11:10 am
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I was thinking - after a knee lever, what else involves grinding a lump of metal and drilling a couple of holes? How hard can it be to make a changer finger? Not hard, as it turns out - steel is a heap easier to work than aluminium.
Still needs a good polish, and the small axle hole is just for manufacturing purposes. Rest of the guitar to follow....
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Fred Layman
From:
Springfield, Missouri USA
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Posted 26 Apr 2014 8:29 am steel changer fingers
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| Has anyone else had experience with steel changer fingers. Is there a tonal difference? I have always used aluminum because the manufacturers do. I have wondered whether steel fingers would have a thin "tingy" sound. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 26 Apr 2014 8:36 am
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| could that steel be a miller? |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 26 Apr 2014 10:50 am
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Fred, the instrument illustrated has steel fingers and sounds fine. It's pull release so they are solid with no splits yokes or scissors. There was no aluminium in the guitar at all when I got it, and it's heavy! But I play it more than I carry it, and the tone and sustain are pleasing.
I daresay modern instruments benefit from modern materials, and people are more health-conscious about their backs these days 
Chris, Miller has been suggested before, but I haven't found any pics that look like mine. There seem to have been a lot of people knocking out Bud copies in the 60s, and whoever built this did a solid imitation of a permanent. It has fixed cranks welded to the shafts, and was 3+5 pedals and no levers with one lever added later, which helps to date it. I wonder how many others like mine (a) were built and (b) survive. Possibly none.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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