You Got To Look At This

John Ford · Post by **John Ford** » 10 Nov 2018 12:20 pm

Hi, I a newbie to the forum. I'm not a steel player, but Ive played with some good ones. This belonged to one of them. Never seen a model like this. Any one else??

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 10 Nov 2018 1:27 pm

R. E. Miller · Post by **R. E. Miller** » 10 Nov 2018 1:27 pm

I've no clue what it is, but it's an impressive, if unintentional, steampunk design. Does it function, currently?

Looks like a Flintsone's version of Speedy West's guitar...and it appears to be missing it's carburetor.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 10 Nov 2018 1:48 pm

John Ford wrote:Never seen a model like this.

License plates under the... fingers? You win the opening post photo award. Welcome.
Never seen anything like it.

Johnie King · Post by **Johnie King** » 10 Nov 2018 2:27 pm

Heavy duty is a understatement wow.

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 10 Nov 2018 2:31 pm

The letters â€œP Aâ€ has me wondering. Could it be?

John Ford · Post by **John Ford** » 10 Nov 2018 3:00 pm

The hardware says PA tone raisers. One of my friend collects vintage guitars suggested it might be PA Bigsby, who made steels and other guitars before his tremolo became so popular.. Pickups seem to be Rickenbacker horseshoe.

J R Rose · Post by **J R Rose** » 10 Nov 2018 6:30 pm

Hey John, What an interesting guitar you've got your hands on. Welcome to the forum. That is a one of a kind. Do you have any back story on it. Any info at all would help. Their are guys on here that know about everything. Names of previous owners you might know, where from, anything at all. Paul Bigsby influenced, Leo Fender pickups maybe. Also David Wright might know something about this. Who Knows? But I would like to know the story. J.R. Rose

J R Rose · Post by **J R Rose** » 10 Nov 2018 6:33 pm

John. Are those knee levers hanging down with padding on them? Thanks, J.R.

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 10 Nov 2018 7:04 pm

Spooky. That looks like something from the Addams Family mansion.

Maybe P.A. stands for Pugsly Addams.

Dave Meis · Post by **Dave Meis** » 10 Nov 2018 8:18 pm

I'd be sure I wasn't grounded when I played it!

John Ford · Post by **John Ford** » 10 Nov 2018 9:56 pm

I'm helping my friends widow with this. I know nothing. Took a few quick pics. but will look closer. No story. He was a good steel, guitar and harmonica player.
JF

John Goux · Post by **John Goux** » 10 Nov 2018 10:43 pm

Almost looks like a double neck modified Gibson Elecroharp.
Frets and phone cord!
J

Dan Beller-McKenna · Post by **Dan Beller-McKenna** » 11 Nov 2018 3:43 am

Just needs some new strings and a squirt of triflow.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 11 Nov 2018 8:37 am

Never seen a model like this. Any one else??

It's in worse shape than Trigger.. That Frankensteel belongs on Antique Showcase on PBS.

Pete McAvity · Post by **Pete McAvity** » 11 Nov 2018 9:56 am

Absolutely terrifying.

I love it.

Pete McAvity · Post by **Pete McAvity** » 11 Nov 2018 10:07 am

Tenor guitar necks for fretboards?

J R Rose · Post by **J R Rose** » 11 Nov 2018 11:27 am

Perhaps it is just odds and ends, bits and pieces put together? J.R.

John Ford · Post by **John Ford** » 11 Nov 2018 1:06 pm

Yes JR 4 pedals 4 knee kickers.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 11 Nov 2018 1:09 pm

Whatever that is, its body design looks borrowed from the later Art Deco period in the 30's..
First off, its very well constructed indeed .

I know little of Paul Bigsby but is it possible this was some sort of early prototype, one off, or limited production of his??.. Its does not look cobbled from pieces to me... Looks like a primitive yet well thought out design, and that P.A lettering thats visible has me thinking its something he made early on for some one.... bob

Bob Muller · Post by **Bob Muller** » 11 Nov 2018 5:18 pm

Interesting, what does the front and underside look like?

Bobby D. Jones · Post by **Bobby D. Jones** » 11 Nov 2018 9:17 pm

Very interesting primitive specimen of a steel guitar.
The Knee Levers are interesting, They look as if they may have been carved out of wood, By the scratches on them in the photo.
Or are they Metal Castings?
Would be an interesting project to get it cleaned, lubed, new strings and see if can actually be played.
Pictures of the under side would be interesting to see.
Good Luck on this project.

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 12 Nov 2018 8:53 am

Pugsly Addams..LMAO...that's great Lee.

John Sluszny · Post by **John Sluszny** » 12 Nov 2018 10:34 am

How much ? PayPal ?

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 12 Nov 2018 11:16 am

I've never seen a steel where the pickups are on the same side as the tuning pegs.

The Steel Guitar Forum