Update on 10 String-Hardware Installed and Strings

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 16 Dec 2016 3:13 pm

I think this will be the last coat of finish,,,ready to install hardware and electronics. I'm very pleased with this project so far,,,the pics don't do it justice.

Will Houston · Post by **Will Houston** » 16 Dec 2016 3:36 pm

The wood and finish look great, what kind of wood?

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 16 Dec 2016 3:37 pm

Really lovely.

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 17 Dec 2016 5:36 am

Hey ,,thanks guys! Wood is figured maple and dark walnut,,,finish is 5-6 coats of tru-oil. The hardware has turned out nice,,,undecided between high polish or satin finish,,,it is high polish now,,,but I may put a satin finish on it. I'll post more pics when I get the hardware installed.

David Weisenthal · Post by **David Weisenthal** » 17 Dec 2016 5:52 am

Pretty slick Sonny.

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 17 Dec 2016 10:25 am

Hardware pic

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 18 Dec 2016 1:41 pm

What tuning are you going for?

We E13 players need you.

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 18 Dec 2016 3:08 pm

Stefan,,,I'll put whatever tuning a buyer wants,,,,I've made 25-30 of these keyless lap steels, sold them all over the world. I, like all other builders I'm sure, try to make every one of my guitars better than the last one. I think the future owner of this one will be very pleased with it.

Daniel McKee · Post by **Daniel McKee** » 18 Dec 2016 3:24 pm

Looks great so far! Don't see many keyless lap steels around.

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 19 Dec 2016 8:39 am

Thanks Daniel,,,like I said,,I've built about 25-30 of them. This particular guitar is actually about 3" longer,,overall, than the scale length!

I also have a wrist lever activated pitch changer mechanism, that I came up with and built prototype back in 2009 that changes the tuning of an 8 string C6 to an F9 that works very well. I built one guitar with the changer but, try as I might, I can't remember or find record of who bought it!

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 20 Dec 2016 12:10 pm

Hardware installed,,strings. Almost ready to "convert to cash",,,must say, I'm gonna hate to see this one go,,,but,,,need cash to build another one,,,LOL. Still need to hook up electronics and make a few adjustments.

David M Brown · Post by **David M Brown** » 20 Dec 2016 12:20 pm

So the strings both attach to and are tuned by the hex screws?

Looks very interesting.

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 20 Dec 2016 1:59 pm

Yes David,,,much more positive that regular machine heads,,,stay in tune unbelievably well,,,don't have to worry about bumping the keys.

I always say I'm keyless to the core,,,with the exception of buying and selling a few keyed guitars, keyless is all I've owned the past 15-20 years. I play E9/B6 universal pedal steel,,,I've owned every brand of keyless,,,but always come back to Kline. The Kline I have now was owned by Jeff Newman,,,he played it on the 1983 ISGC show.

As you can see from the pics it takes very little movement on the fingers to bring it up to pitch,,,seldom more than 3/4" from finger to nut,,,,usually less than 1/2".

Will Houston · Post by **Will Houston** » 20 Dec 2016 4:04 pm

pretty damn cool

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 21 Dec 2016 9:25 am

That came out nice Sonny!

David M Brown · Post by **David M Brown** » 21 Dec 2016 11:57 am

Sonny Jenkins wrote:Yes David,,,much more positive that regular machine heads,,,stay in tune unbelievably well,,,don't have to worry about bumping the keys.

I always say I'm keyless to the core,,,

Thank you - and I'm asking because I have been convinced that other options for tuners work since I got a Yamaha BX-1 bass in the 80's. It had a very clever tuning system built much like yours, but on a scale for bass strings.

I appreciate you taking time to answer my question. That's very good use of technology there, while still looking like a wooden, organic artist product.

And I bet it plays really well.

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 21 Dec 2016 1:19 pm

Hey Tom,,thanks a million,,,you set the bar for all of us!!

Thanks David,,,yes, I have built a 4 string bass with this type of tuner.

This is a little late,,but I think I'm going to offer a Christmas special on this guitar. Please see my ad in the "For Sale" section.

Larry Lenhart · Post by **Larry Lenhart** » 21 Dec 2016 1:54 pm

PM sent

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 21 Dec 2016 2:09 pm

Still available,,,,

Steven Black · Post by **Steven Black** » 28 Dec 2016 2:54 pm

What are you asking for this 10 string?

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 28 Dec 2016 7:27 pm

ooppps,,,forgot to post,,,,this little guy has found a new home. I'll be starting on a couple more,,,probably 8 string,,,maybe one 10.

Thanks for the interest!!!!!

David Ball · Post by **David Ball** » 30 Dec 2016 6:56 am

I'm the new home Sonny is talking about. This is a sweet little guitar and Sonny was a pleasure to deal with. It's obvious from the instrument that Sonny loves what he does. The guitar definitely has its own character as one of a kind handmade instruments do. The keyless system works remarkably well. It's small enough that I can play it while lazily sitting in an arm chair. A very nice addition to the herd.

Thanks Sonny!

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 30 Dec 2016 2:53 pm

whooaaa,,,thanks for the kind words,,,,glad to hear you're well pleased!! My wife says she calculates that I make somewhere between .77 and .85 an hour on these things. I've just started on an 8 string.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Update on 10 String-Hardware Installed and Strings

Update on 10 String-Hardware Installed and Strings

A question from Steve Black