My first Pedal Steel Build

[Andy DePaule]

I've been planning this PSG build for a long long time.
I made the sound board a couple of months ago.



This is Western Red Cedar core with vertical grain and a veneer of 1/8" Flame Figured Koa.
These are both popular woods for guitar makers because of their great tone.
It is 3/4" thick and will nestle in the frame with the soundboard protruding 3/8" above the frames top edge.
It will be attached to the surrounding aluminum frame with four screws in the corners.
Rubber washers above and below to help prevent mechanical noises traveling to the pickup.

Spent the last few months gathering and making all the parts I'll need.
Now have almost everything but the pickup.

Today was the big finger biting day that I'd get the frame welded up from 1/8" 6061 aluminum.
I still need to round over the welded ends and other sharp edges, but will do that when I get back to Saigon next week.




It did warp inwards just a little in the long front and back sections as I kind of expected it might.
Not a big deal, but it will need a brace in the center to hold it straight.

Now what is ahead is to sand and polish this frame to a mirror finish and then start the assembly.
Not really looking forward to all that will require!

It will be a 10 string with 5 pedals and 5 knee levers.
Thinking I will tune it to a slight variation of B0b's D6/9th semi universal.
All in all I'm happy with the progress. I expect it will be another 6 months or so before I have it ready to play.

[Jim Palenscar]

What fun Andy!

[Andy DePaule]

Thanks Jim.
Yes it has some frustrating moments, but I'm enjoying the project.

One reason I'm doing it is to have wider 3/8" spacing on the strings.
I have that thing the doctors call Essential Tremors that are getting worst with age.
That makes playing my normal spacing on PSG's a problem.
I can do much better on lap steels with wider spacing.

But really I've been wanting to do this anyway since 1979 when I visited the Sierra company and was blown away by the design work of Chuck Wright.

[Stu Schulman]

Awesome!

[Gary Patterson]

I look forward to following your progress.

[Ian Rae]

I can assure you there's no bigger thrill than playing an instrument you built yourself. I wanted to since I was a kid and it only took me 60 years! Worth the wait.

[Andy DePaule]

I look forward to following your progress.

Thanks, Me too!

[Jack Hanson]

Ambitious project! Good for you, Andy. Best of luck with the assembly.

[Andy DePaule]

I can assure you there's no bigger thrill than playing an instrument you built yourself. I wanted to since I was a kid and it only took me 60 years! Worth the wait.

Thanks Ian,
Yes thats a fact for sure. I've been building instruments since 1969.
However I can't play them all, but fun building anyway.
60 years old is no problem and may be an asset? I'm 71 and still getting a kick out of it.
This is my first PSG complete build so it's a real big step for me.

Photos of some of my guitars and other instruments over the years.
Andy








This is in my workshop in 1975...

[Richard Sinkler]

I've been following the posts on the instruments you build. Awesome is the only word I can muster up right now. Can't wait to see this project when it's done.

[Andy DePaule]

Thanks to Richard and all others for the nice comments.

I remember years ago Tom Bradshaw warned against building your own and I think he had some good points. Some of us just refuse to learn.

[Larry Dering]

Andy, what an impressive body of work. You are indeed a craftsman and artist. I believe the steel will exceed your expectations. I'm anxious to see the finished product.

[Bobby D. Jones]

Good Luck on this project Andy. The start is very interesting. The Aluminum frame and wood sound board is a unique set up. I play a S12 U GFI and it is very similar in design of the body.
Where are you going to attach your cross rods, pedals and knee levers??

To the sound board or to the aluminum frame.
I like your design, If the sound board was allowed to float with nothing hooked to it should allow for s great sound and tone.
Good Luck and Happy steelin on your new toy. BDJ

[Andy DePaule]

Andy, what an impressive body of work. You are indeed a craftsman and artist. I believe the steel will exceed your expectations. I'm anxious to see the finished product.

Thanks Larry,
Yes I love building instruments. Had to lay off building during the last 19 years as I was building our inlay business and had no time.
luthiersupply.com

Now two of my son's have taken over a lot of the business and I'm semi retired so back to building is better than bingo at the old folks club!

Sorry to say that a few years ago when I thought I'd never have time to build again I gave away most of my tools collected over decades to other luthiers.
Now I've been rebuilding my working tools again.

[Andy DePaule]

Good Luck on this project Andy. The start is very interesting. The Aluminum frame and wood sound board is a unique set up. I play a S12 U GFI and it is very similar in design of the body.
Where are you going to attach your cross rods, pedals and knee levers??

To the sound board or to the aluminum frame.
I like your design, If the sound board was allowed to float with nothing hooked to it should allow for s great sound and tone.
Good Luck and Happy steelin on your new toy. BDJ

Yes all the underneath parts will be connected to the frame and not touch the sound board. Thats because of the influence of what Ross has been doing with the new Sierra Pedal Steels and his design ideas. He is an amazing guy with a fully functioning brain.
Only the keyhead*, Bridge Block and Pickup will be mounted on the sound board.
The fretboard will also be mounted on a 1/8" aluminum neck suspended between the Bridge and nut without contacting the soundboard at all.

*I know all the good reasons for a keyless steel, but I'm old school and like the look of a keyhead.

I'm even toying with my idea of mounting my eBow under the steel. It would be just a tad below the strings and be raised to touch the surrounding strings by a locking lever that would also connect the battery when engaged. It would be in an opening in the neck. Not sure yet if there will be enough room for that!

I want to have as much tone as possible going from the soundboard into the pickup to get the best possible.... Hope it works as I imagine!

[Ian Rae]

Andy, you're in a league that most people aren't. My grandfather was a craftsman but I didn't inherit his patience so I'm just an amateur engineer. The steel I built was an ugly thing but it sounded surprisingly good so I was happy.

Buying new tools is a declaration of intent. I just bought two new trombones. Insane? No - it's a fact that the ones I had weren't going to see me out!

Sorry, back to the matter in hand...

[Richard Sinkler]

If you haven't checked out Andy's website, you should, especially if you like inlays. His work is second to none. I occasionally go to his site to drool over the inlays.

[Andy DePaule]

Andy, you're in a league that most people aren't. My grandfather was a craftsman but I didn't inherit his patience so I'm just an amateur engineer. The steel I built was an ugly thing but it sounded surprisingly good so I was happy

I think my building was best in the mid 90's. Now not able to do the same quality with less steady hands. Aging has it's downside.
I became a self taught luthier because as far as musicianship goes I'm a little below average on my good days.
Wish my steel playing was even half as good, but I do love the sound.

[Ian Rae]

I've decided you don't have to be Buddy Emmons to enjoy the sound. Simple stuff can be rewarding!

[Andy DePaule]

Me too, I also stay well within my abilities when playing out at a gig.
Try to work out stuff as best I can at home and only use the things I can manage.
Keeping simple is safe will be a far better sounding a lot better than a complex run or lick done badly.

[Andy DePaule]

Thanks to Richard and all others for the nice comments.

I remember years ago Tom Bradshaw warned against building your own and I think he had some good points. Some of us just refuse to learn. I should have listened!

[Andy DePaule]

Just got home a few hours ago and couldn't resist seeing how it looks with the legs and how stable it is... So far, so good.
Almost looks like a pedal steel now!

Funny to see it now near the old mid 50's Blankenship. Worlds apart, but still so related

Got almost everything I need to finish the assembly while I was in the USA.
Not really looking forward to the work of rounding over the welded corners and then the really tedious job of sanding and polishing out the aluminum.
After that the rest is not so hard, I hope!

[Ross Shafer]

Can't wait to see your progress and hear some first notes. Sand and polish that whole frame!? You sure know how to have fun!

Good luck Andy!

[Andy DePaule]

Can't wait to see your progress and hear some first notes. Sand and polish that whole frame!? You sure know how to have fun!

Good luck Andy!

I've been wanting to build one for years, but seeing what you have done has been my inspiration. Your now in my list of favorite PSG builders, Paul Bigsby, Chuck Wright and now your the third! Ahead of Stradivari in my fiddle list! Funny but true.
Yes I'm planning to polish the entire frame. Maybe thats the "M" in "S&M"?
Thanks for all your help and the pedals,
Andy

[Dale Rottacker]

Andy, I’ve always enjoyed looking at the guitars you’ve worked... works of ART...

I’ve been taking care of the saws used to cut WRC, for most of my life... we cut it mostly for fencing, paneling, decorative stuff and Acoustic guitar’s.... I don’t think I’ve ever heard of it being used for Pedal Steel.... curious how it will sound, but know it’s gonna smell good