THE BLACK PEARL HAS ARRIVED

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 6 Jun 2007 6:10 am

Announcing the arrival of my newest lap steel. In fact my first solid cast lap steel. Not just ‘another’ cast lap steel but a Rick Aiello creation (one of his personal instruments) THE BLACK PEARL.

22.5 inch scale length, superior combination volume tone pots activated using one split knob for easy swells and tonal changes. THE BLACK PEARL is powered by a unique and custom built MRI pickup. Rick’s explanation of the MRI pickup as well as his email address is noted at his web site (see below).

The quality of craftsmanship is superb. The mass of the casting allows for lengthy sustain. The MRI pickup produces beautiful tones, overtones, and I must admit tones I never even heard before I started playing this hand built work of art.

I imagined that when the first notes left my music room’s window and traveled to the 900 acre vineyard next door, dozens of employees fell to their knees in repentance and wonderment thinking the voice of angles was descending from above. The tone is fine enough to make a pirate go straight.

The best news for anyone reading this is; Rick has two more steels for sale!

From Rick's web site;

"Around The Strings" (ATS)

The MRI Pickup & various Magnet Assemblies that I have created ... produce a uniform magnetic field ... bathing the strings and coil ... in tone generating "juice". The flux density of "vintage" surround the string units ... varies greatly depending on where in the unit you are measuring.

Because of the unique construction of my magnets ... the flux density is constant in any plane that runs parallel to the strings. So the first string "sees" the exact same flux density ... as does the 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th or 12th string.

This is standard in conventional below the strings pickups ... but until now ... never seen in pickups that engulf the strings. The ultra-high magnetic fields found in my magnet assemblies are produced by exploiting the incredible magnetic properties of Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NIB).

Contrary to "logical thinking" ... the strength of the field vs the strength produced by the number of windings in a bobbin is VASTLY different in the production of the signal ... i.e clean vs dirty (distorted).

As you increase the magnetic flux density ... the signal gets richer (overtones more pronounced) and clearer (greater signal to noise ratio).

http://www.horseshoemagnets.com/_sgg/m2_1.htm

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 6 Jun 2007 7:01 am

Very nice, love that bead blasted texture

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 6 Jun 2007 7:39 am

wow. that looks like one 'dangerous' tone machine.

Danny James · Post by **Danny James** » 6 Jun 2007 9:30 am

That's a guitar that anyone would be proud to own.

Rick does outstanding work on his guitars and pickups.

I know he has done a tremendous amount of research in developing his technique in building them, and it shows.

Will Holtz · Post by **Will Holtz** » 6 Jun 2007 9:59 am

This lapsteel is a solid mass of ~1" thick steel? How much does it weigh?

Danny James · Post by **Danny James** » 6 Jun 2007 10:43 am

Will,

If you checked Rick's Web site it does say "Cast steel guitar." In fact most steel guitars are made of wood. (not all)

Because we play them using a steel bar they are called "Steel guitars", not because they are made of steel.

The pictures of Rick Molding them was done at the City Folks Festival last summer in Dayton Ohio. We were fortunate enough to be there when he demonstrated his pouring technique.

They are cast from molten Aluminum. Not steel. He does cast some out of Bronze though. I hope he will jump in here and fill you in better on his weights, etc.

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 6 Jun 2007 10:54 am

Check out the casting process..........much thicker than 1"

http://www.horseshoemagnets.com:80/_sgg/m3_1.htm

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 6 Jun 2007 10:54 am

They weigh just enough to sit firmly on your lap without moving around any. They have 'heft' to them. Not enough weight to make it uncomfortable but enough for that 'substantial feeling.

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 6 Jun 2007 12:14 pm

Looks absolutely great!

Can you please set up some mics in that vineyard and share some of those sweet sounds?

Fred

Jason Dumont · Post by **Jason Dumont** » 6 Jun 2007 12:49 pm

Man, I love that steel!
Congrats! Doesn't get anymore "top shelf" than Rick's.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 6 Jun 2007 1:57 pm

Arrrggg ...

Now me knows how Capt. Jack felt as he watched Barbosa sail away with his Pearl

But when ye ol' Ball and Chain says ... bring in some booty or no more booty ...

It's time to reach an accord ...

I just hope that scalawag Davy Jones comes after ye now ...

Enjoy ...

PS: The Pearl weighs about 15 lbs. The Bronzepan weighs 42 lbs.

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 6 Jun 2007 2:19 pm

EXQUISITE!!!!!

AND I SAY DITTO

The Pearl weighs about 15 lbs. The Bronzepan weighs 42 lbs

The Pearl is used for steel playing and light exercise. The Bronzepan is used for steel playing and heavy workouts.

Aloha,

Don

Michael Papenburg · Post by **Michael Papenburg** » 7 Jun 2007 10:56 pm

Rick -

I was wondering how much you are selling these for. I tried e-mailing you but got a message saying that my e-mail had not delivered. I'm fine with you sending me a private message if you prefer.

Thanks.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 8 Jun 2007 4:59 am

I just checked my email account ... seems fine ...

Anyway ... I just sent you a PM

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 8 Jun 2007 5:29 am

The Black Pearl!

Aye, what a lucky dog you are, Gary, to have such treasure!!!

I got to see and play that one at the HSGA convention. Great sound and tone...the black crinkle looks awesome, too.

Grreat catch, matey!

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 8 Jun 2007 6:14 am

The shape of the neck on the Black Pearl allows it to sit firmly on your lap. The heft of the instrument is enough not only for great sustain, but it does not move at all. I can really attack the strings and it stays perfectly in place. I have become a believer in solid metal bodied lap steels especially if you want pure tone without using any effects from pedals/boxes or any other distortion equipment.

I assume the only reason there are not more manufacturers of this style of instrument is because of the equipment, materials, time, and cost it takes to cast and finish them.

One more note; Don't try boarding my ship and making off with the Black Pearl. My first mate (my watch dog) is trained to savagely attack the area between your legs. Look for the flag at sea with a six string dustpan on it.

Rick has a 25.5" for sale.........

oj hicks · Post by **oj hicks** » 8 Jun 2007 7:42 pm

My word, Rick! ! !

I won't be able to go to sleep tonight for slobbering! ! ! Drooolll!

oj hicks

Mike Ihde · Post by **Mike Ihde** » 8 Jun 2007 10:49 pm

Looks like the strings taper from the bridge to the nut but the neck doesn't. Is that true? Looks like they're hanging out in space from around the 10th fret higher. Also, are the stirngs higher above the fretboard than usual? That might take some getting used to for intonation.

Just curious. It's a very cool looking axe.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 9 Jun 2007 2:45 am

You are correct ...

The string spacing is 7/16" at the bridge ... and 5/16" at the nut.

The neck is a consistent 2" from pan to headstock.

The strings are 5/8" off the fretboard.

It was designed that way ...

I had Terry Farmer make the wooden "mothers" (positive molds)... just for me.

I like to look down at nuttin' but "strings" ... with just enough fretboard to keep me from getting too lost

This same model, that Bobby is playing above ... was sold to pay back the money I owed for the throwing The Shenandoah Valley Steel Guitar Summit ...

I wasn't thrilled about selling the Black Pearl ... but I bought too much new stuff for my new pickup production ...

So to appease my better half ... the "Pearl" had to find a new "Port of Call"

PS: I've made several different 6 and 8-12 string models ... that have much wider necks.

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 9 Jun 2007 4:50 am

Rick these guitars looks so good one can almost sense how good they must feel to play. Fantastic work!

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 9 Jun 2007 6:31 am

These have some features that I really like.

1. Strings high off the fretboard. By the way, these are not fretboards but position boards. No one frets these. I like ample space under my strings.

2. Great string spacing at the bridge. Many steels have too narrow spacing back there for clean picking.

3. I find the 'sweet spot' to be halfway between my bar and the bridge when playing. That is for that unreal harmonic blessing from the MRI pickup.

4. These produce a much more complex tonal range than my Ric's. It takes a dozen hours of playing to understand what the heck is going on. At least it did for me. Once you figure out how to play them, there is no mistaking their abilities.

Almost forgot one important feature that I have come to really like and wish was on all my steels. That is, one knob for both volume and tone. It is a split knob. The bottom ring works the tone and the upper portion of the knob is the volume. This is way cleaner than two knobs and for those that like to change volume and tone while playing, it's a piece of cake with this set up.

That's my opinion and I'm sticking with it.