Who's still giging with a push-pull?

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 17 Feb 2004 11:34 am

I regularly play a red '80s S12 p/p 3&4. When I bought it for a bargain it was an extended E9. I subsequently got a Fessie S12U and loved the universal so much I decided to convert the Emmons. Before I got a chance to do that, my Fessie was stolen. I had a gig in two days. I tried playing the ext. E9 Emmons, but my thumb had gotten use to the uni and kept hitting the wrong strings. Also, I dearly missed the B6 mode.

So I put a set of universal strings on the Emmons, turned the beast over, added the AB pedal and F lever raises to the low strings, put a 2nd string lower to C# on the E lower lever (like having a D on top on C6), and dropped string 8 to D on LKR. Now for B6 it is like C6 with a D on top and only pedal 6. The B pedal does double duty by raising the 6th to the 7th in B6 mode (Bb on C6).

I now have replaced the stolen Fessie with a '96 S12U Zum 7&5. Because of the extra changes on it, and the ease of experimenting with alternate changes, I will use the Zum for gigs I have backing up singer-songwriters, and for blues, jazz and classical. And I will be putting a nice quiet humbucker on there.

But I intend to keep the Emmons p/p as my main axe for my rockbilly/alt-country band, Gas Money. These guys appreciate vintage equipment. That red guitar with the chevron on front and the atoms on the fret board just has the right look. And there is nothing twangier than an Emmons p/p played through a Twin Reverb. I put a TrueTone pickup on it, hoping it would be quieter, but I don't notice that it sounds any better (or is any quieter) than the great Emmons single-coil pickup that was on there. Eventually I'll add a RKV and 3 or 4 more pedals to make it a full universal. But for now it works good for rockabilly and country. I can play lap steel style B6 stuff that sounds right for the rockabilly. And it's amazing how much basic western swing you can play without all those extra pedals.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 17 Feb 2004 11:58 am

hmmm,

Someone posted recently that if a thread did not have some controversy, it usually dies quickly,

So,,,,,Let's see.....

I just mentally counted a dozen+ current PSG builders. And ONLY one builds a P/P? Why?

Also, how come BE don' hardly evah play one no mo?

carl

A Better Way

Pat Dawson · Post by **Pat Dawson** » 17 Feb 2004 12:04 pm

Me too.

1. It's the only one I've got.
2. You either have a Harley-Davidson or you have something else.

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 17 Feb 2004 1:11 pm

I would love to have one, but they want 3-4K for a nice one. The manufacturers apparently don't know how to reproduce or reissue such an instrument. At least, I assume they don't know how. They can't be that stupid to pass on such a market.

Charlie Wallace · Post by **Charlie Wallace** » 17 Feb 2004 1:37 pm

'65 black single 10 played through a silver face twin with two JBL's, I love the tone.

David Mullis · Post by **David Mullis** » 17 Feb 2004 1:57 pm

Me me me me!!!! 1971 Fat Back, rosewood 8 n' 6 recently restored by Bryan Adams, it just don't get no better

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 17 Feb 2004 5:59 pm

I've still got mine. I'm playing something different the last few weeks but they ain't going under the bed. I might drag this old Sho-Bud out this week to remember how good it sounds. Trouble is I might wind up keeping it.[This message was edited by Frank Parish on 17 February 2004 at 06:02 PM.]

mike nolan · Post by **mike nolan** » 17 Feb 2004 6:40 pm

1974 black mica D-10 through 1973 Pro Reverb or 1973 Twin Reverb....depending on the room. And I gotta haul it around New York City!!!

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 17 Feb 2004 7:31 pm

I switch between LeGrande II's, III's and Push-pulls. I currently have a black D10 '67 Push-pull at the Little O'Opry show in West Fork, Ar. I played a LeGrande III at the last steel NEOSGA jam.
Jerry[This message was edited by Jerry Roller on 17 February 2004 at 09:10 PM.]

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 17 Feb 2004 7:38 pm

I do (1970 D-10) and I also use a Fender 1000...

EVERY week...
Baz
www.waikiki-islanders.com

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Steel players do it without fretting

http://www.waikiki-islanders.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 17 Feb 2004 7:52 pm

I play gigs with mine.

Bob

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 18 Feb 2004 3:25 am

I am gigging with mine.

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1985 Emmons push-pull,S-10 Marlin,Evans SE200,Hilton pedal

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 18 Feb 2004 9:10 am

Thanks guys.Great to hear I'm not the only guy lugging these beautiful things around. I just can't match the sound with anything else! You do see a lot of Zums these days. Just picked up a 72 Vibrosonic with the Cervin Vega. I had one new with an Altec and didn't like it then. Oh well getting retro I guess.

'75 Emmons Red Lacquer D-10 8&6
'79 Emmons Rosewood D-10 8&4
2 Nash 400's sometimes for stereo chorus[This message was edited by Dave O'Brien on 18 February 2004 at 09:11 AM.]

Chick Donner · Post by **Chick Donner** » 18 Feb 2004 9:17 am

I haul one of two D12 PP's I have .. one's a fatback, one's a cutaway. Both heavy. Both best sound I can find. I also haul at least one Webb with me, but usually use either a PA head or an old Cain ShoBud amp as a spare.

john widgren · Post by **john widgren** » 18 Feb 2004 3:35 pm

me too...

joe long · Post by **joe long** » 18 Feb 2004 7:28 pm

For past few weeks I have used my p/p, sn 1934 on my jobs. It has the True Tone pickups and really has a great tone. It's amazing how well in stays in tune.

Rex Wiseman · Post by **Rex Wiseman** » 19 Feb 2004 2:55 am

GUILTY !! If it ain't got the "E" it ain't for me !!

Mark Durante · Post by **Mark Durante** » 19 Feb 2004 4:17 am

I use my S-10 Emmons PP, it's light, travels well and sounds great. I don't think the tone of steel guitars has improved since the 1960's.[This message was edited by Mark Durante on 19 February 2004 at 04:19 AM.]

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 19 Feb 2004 5:18 am

I have for the last 22 years. I've tried other guitars [all-pull] on a few ocasions and went right back to a push-pull. Not only do I love the sound they put out but, I love the way they respond to what I'm trying to say musically.

Mike[This message was edited by Mike Sweeney on 19 February 2004 at 05:19 AM.]

jim milewski · Post by **jim milewski** » 19 Feb 2004 9:00 am

I have two PPs only, nothing else

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 19 Feb 2004 2:12 pm

I do, I have also a black LLG D-10 I keep around the house to practice on but when the gigging gets serious, out comes the P/P.

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 19 Feb 2004 6:11 pm

me too !

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HookMoore.com

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 19 Feb 2004 6:19 pm

Count me in!

Jimmy Campbell · Post by **Jimmy Campbell** » 19 Feb 2004 7:29 pm

1976 Emmons SD-10

Mark Krutke · Post by **Mark Krutke** » 21 Feb 2004 6:51 pm

I use my 76' Emmons on all my bookings.