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Topic: Speedy West Restoration |
Gerald Keller
From:
Phoenix, AZ
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Posted 29 Jul 2018 8:23 am |
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Before and After pictures of two year 5 day Pedal Steel Guitar Restoration. I drove to Tucson yesterday to pick it up and I was both pleased and surprised to say the least.
I purchased this guitar from an individual on the Forum. When it arrived, the case was shipped "naked". It should have been sent in a basket; the case being unprotected was broken up and fabric torn, guitar had pieces broken and falling off, someone had tried a "mini" restoration with varnish and a brush, bad, and entire guitar had years of accumulated nicotine on everything, smelled like an ashtray and the guitar had basically been "rode hard and put away wet."
Chuck Back (makes the Desert Rose, super guy and PSG Hall of Famer)in Tucson agreed to restore it for me. When he completely dismantled it, it was discovered the guitar had been custom made for Speedy West which was noted under the changer "custom made for Speedy West". It was also discovered that the light wood was high grade Birds Eye Maple and the dark wood was a specialty Walnut along with hand inserted veneers for accent.
Chuck completely sanded the guitar, repaired the inlaid veneer, fixed the electronics, repaired all the mechanics, buffed and polished all the metal and put numerous coats of hand rubbed finish on the guitar which now reflects like a mirror. I was able to locate an original NOS fret boards here on the Forum; which was a major task in itself (not made 50 years). Because of it's construction, heritage and lineage, it is a one of kind and literally a museum piece. Pictures don't even begin to do it justice. This is a guitar which will be displayed and admired. Scared to play it because I don't want to scratch it!
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Justice " The Judge"
Sho-Bud LDG
Desert Rose
Speedy West
Show Pro
Other Expensive "Stuff" |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 29 Jul 2018 9:32 am
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Underside pics?
Marlens (which the Wests are) are such purty things!
Well done, Chuck and congratulations, you!
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Gerald Keller
From:
Phoenix, AZ
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Posted 29 Jul 2018 11:00 am Speedy West
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Chuck did a great job on the underside. Redid the placement of the levers,(2), to the right knee for the E and F and make it an easier play because of pedal placement. As far a pictures, underside completely redone but just rods and springs and I am lazy at this point!
_________________
Justice " The Judge"
Sho-Bud LDG
Desert Rose
Speedy West
Show Pro
Other Expensive "Stuff" |
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Keith Murrow
From:
Wichita, KS
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Posted 29 Jul 2018 12:10 pm
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Gerald, that is an amazingly gorgeous looking guitar. Hope you have a great time playing it!
Does anyone know if the Speedy West guitars had mechanical differences from the Marlen guitars? |
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Bill Ford
From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
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Posted 30 Jul 2018 5:28 am
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Lenard would be proud of this restoration.
_________________
Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
Steeling for Jesus now!!! |
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Joe Cook
From:
Lake Osoyoos, WA
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Posted 30 Jul 2018 7:05 am
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| That is a real piece of PSG history! Beautiful job by Mr. Back. I have one of his Desert Rose creations and can vouch for his workmanship. |
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Gerald Keller
From:
Phoenix, AZ
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Posted 30 Jul 2018 11:23 am Speedy West Restoration
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One thing I have noticed in looking at pictures of other Marlens / Speedy West is that this one has handles on each end of the guitar. This would seem unusual? It is a model 210.
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Justice " The Judge"
Sho-Bud LDG
Desert Rose
Speedy West
Show Pro
Other Expensive "Stuff" |
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Billy Easton
From:
Nashville, TN USA
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Posted 1 Aug 2018 12:11 pm
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Beautiful!! Speedy was my hero, and Chuck Back is my current hero!! Well done. I would love to see this guitar in person! The pictures are great, but it must be even better in person!
Billy Easton
President NTSGA
Nashville, TN
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Billy & Meriul Easton
Nashville, TN |
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Mickey Adams
From:
Bandera Texas
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Posted 18 Aug 2018 6:02 pm
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OMG! So happy to see this guitar again!..
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ARTIST RELATIONS: MSA GUITARS
2017 MSA LEGEND XL D10, S10, Studio Pro S12 EXE9
Mullen G2, Rittenberry S10, Infinity D10, Zumsteel 8+9
Anderson, Buscarino, Fender, Roman Guitars, Sarno Octal, Revelation Preamps, BJS BARS, Lots of Blackface Fenders! |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 19 Aug 2018 8:13 am Re: Speedy West Restoration
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| Gerald Keller wrote: |
| One thing I have noticed in looking at pictures of other Marlens / Speedy West is that this one has handles on each end of the guitar. This would seem unusual? It is a model 210. |
Early guitars had handles, but they'd largely disappeared by the late 60s.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Edward Rhea
From:
Medford Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 19 Aug 2018 9:59 am
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Lane, the ‘71 Marlen D10 I had, had the handles...so I believe they were still putting them on into at least, upto the mid 70’s?
Beautiful “Speedy West†you got there, Gerald!
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“TONESNOB†|
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 1 Sep 2018 9:01 am
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| Edward Rhea wrote: |
Lane, the ‘71 Marlen D10 I had, had the handles...so I believe they were still putting them on into at least, upto the mid 70’s?
Beautiful “Speedy West†you got there, Gerald! |
71? To paraphrase Arthur Dent, "this must be a new definition of the word 'mid-decade' of which I'd been previously unaware."
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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