Anapeg Guitars

Brad Malone · Post by **Brad Malone** » 4 May 2009 4:07 pm

Steve Takacs, Thanks you for your very good request..I also would like to see a close up shot of the Anapeg changer...from the present vantage point Tom's changer sure looks like a Williams changer...but if we have a close up we can better judge.

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 4 May 2009 10:17 pm

The only comparison that I know of is that both changers utilize the same idea about not bending the string over the changer finger too much to avoid breakage. After that, other than both being all-pull~ there are very few similarities. The Anapeg changer fingers move toward and away from the nut and have eliptical holes in the fingers themselves to accomplish this and it is my belief that the Williams changer does not function in this manner but in more of a standard all-pull changer manner.

Colin Goss · Post by **Colin Goss** » 4 May 2009 10:57 pm

Winnie Winston had a website with a lot of information about the Anapeg. This is the picture he used of the changer

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 4 May 2009 11:15 pm

Thanks, Jim for the mention of how the actual changers work themselves. I guess my question dealt more with the the shallow angle at which both guitars pull the strings over the changer. To quote myself: "how about a few close-ups of that "bird's beak" in the changer in your photos?"

Brad Malone · Post by **Brad Malone** » 5 May 2009 5:45 am

Mr Jim P. I know Bill Rudolph has a patent on his changer and he had to get a cease and desist against one of the builders who tried to use his style changer. It does seem strange that Williams and Anapeg are the only ones that use (in your words)>>the same idea about not bending the string over the changer finger too much to avoid breakage.<< Maybe Anapeg and Williams both thought of the idea at the same time and both builders hold their own patents on their changers that look the same from the top view...kinda strange but who knows?

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 5 May 2009 5:55 am

I believe that Noel has been using the actual string angle part of his changer design since the late 90's and the elliptical part for quite a bit longer than that.

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 5 May 2009 6:27 am

Any chance that someone who knows how the Anapeg changer works could post a drawing, or drawings, to illustrate it? I've stared at the photo for quite a while and can't figure out what parts move in what direction, and where the pivot point(s)is (or are). How does the finger move "toward and away from the nut"?

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 5 May 2009 7:05 am

Jim according to Steve Schmidt, a Forum member, Bill Rudolph has used this "parrot's beak" shallow angle over the changer at least since 1991 on a 400 changer prototype. See his recent link in the For Sale section:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... t=williams

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 5 May 2009 7:50 am

Steve e-mailed me about this when I asked about the guitar being a -91 with a 400 changer. He said that Bill retrofitted a 400 series changer on his guitar to test the prototype. Way later than -91.

Gary Cosden · Post by **Gary Cosden** » 5 May 2009 7:53 am

This changer seems to be similar (to me at least) in function to the new optional Excel changer described in this post.
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... ight=excel
If I am incorrect please fill me in!

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 5 May 2009 11:56 am

Let's get this thread back on track....

Back on February 1, 2007, Roger Rettig said

Vegemite is, as you say, pretty nasty stuff...

Marmite, however, is nectar for the Gods!

So, in the interest of substantiating Roger's claim, we have this YouTube review from two "yanks". Enjoy

:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itOBMaY6f6U

Mr. Rettig, I have only one question to ask: What is your opinion of "spotted dick"?

Sorry, I couldn't resist that last question....

For those who aren't familiar with spotted dick... From Wikipedia:

"Spotted dick is a steamed suet pudding containing dried fruit (usually currants), commonly served with either custard or butter and brown sugar. Spotted refers to the dried fruit (which resemble spots) and Dick may be a contraction/corruption of the word pudding (from the last syllable) or possibly a corruption of the word dough. Another explanation offered for the latter half of the name is that it comes from the German word for "thick," in reference to the thickened suet mixture. There are many nicknames for a Spotted Dick including "Spotted Richard", "Dick in a box", "Dotted Lloyd", "Mixey Dick", "Dick with a dot" and "Dickie Burton" as well as many others. It is a cultural part of English Cuisine...."

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

jay thompson · Post by **jay thompson** » 5 May 2009 1:25 pm

I lost most of these changer pictures from a computer crash. This is the only remaining one I had on a flash drive showing all the various parts of the Anapeg changer. Not much similarity to the Williams changer here.

Surely some one has copies of the changer photos from Winnie Winston's Web Site.
Best regards, Jay Thompson

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 5 May 2009 2:57 pm

According to Noel, interestingly enough both he and Bill Rudolph came up with the same low string angle at the same time and spoke to each other about it at Scotty's in 1993. What a coincidence from opposite ends of the world. Just goes to show~ great minds think alike

.

Brad Malone · Post by **Brad Malone** » 5 May 2009 3:10 pm

According to Noel, interestingly enough both he and Bill Rudolph came up with the same low string angle at the same time and spoke to each other about it at Scotty's in 1993.<<

Jim Palenscar, Thank you very much for the above message. I knew there was communication between the two men on the subject but without anthing but memory about a conversation I did not want to mention people who may have not wanted to be mentioned. Jim, I like your GMTA quote..you made my day.

tom anderson · Post by **tom anderson** » 5 May 2009 6:54 pm

The changer parts picture above looks like the one I have-don't have a clue how they all go together. I agree that the bird's beak string holder looks like pictures I have seen of the Williams. When I step on the pedals, those fingers don't rotate on an axis, but pull out from or in toward the guitar. None of that seems important now that I have the guitar & normally I love all these technical details. It just plays really smooth.
When I first contacted Noel about getting the guitar, I decided that for as many years as I had loved the instrument, I deserved owning the best one I could buy & then I would not have to buy another. While I was waiting, I bought most of the other brands we discuss on the forum except for a couple that I have no interest in. This was to see if any were brands I could not live without. While most are fine guitars, I always found something that wasn't quite right. Not with the Anapeg. Of course we all feel that our new guitar is the best, but I don't see any reason to own any other guitar. This is a guitar I can't live without. (too serious

)

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 6 May 2009 5:57 am

Brad, The Williams and the Anapeg are NOT the only changers that do not rotate,,,LAMAR COLVIN makes a straight pull changer that is available on his guitars. In 3 years I never broke a string. It is a fantastic concept,,as far as I know there is no patent.

Clyde Lane · Post by **Clyde Lane** » 6 May 2009 7:11 am

The Williams finger rotates on a shaft, the Anapeg doesn't.

Marvin Born · Post by **Marvin Born** » 6 May 2009 7:16 am

Does anyone actually know what an Anapeg guitar costs?

Are they just a little more than a Zum, Emmons, Etc or are there five figures involved?

Marvin

Brad Malone · Post by **Brad Malone** » 6 May 2009 8:51 am

Thanks, Sonny but like Clyde says, the Williams finger does rotate but both the Anapeg and the Williams have the bird beak shape finger so the string bend is less...great concept.

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 6 May 2009 9:16 am

The Lamar doesn't bend at all,,,the block just moves back and forth a minute amount as necessary. Seems like a great concept to me.

Brad Malone · Post by **Brad Malone** » 6 May 2009 10:56 am

Yeah, Sonny, from what you say the Lamar does have a great concept..wonder why it has not caught on?

Bill Fisher · Post by **Bill Fisher** » 6 May 2009 11:00 am

Hi, Sonny. In the photo you provide above (which is a Lamar, I guess?), the string DOES bend a little. It can clearly be seen. When the string is dropped down to hook in the back of the finger, is what causes the bend. It couldn't possibly be straight, unless the end of the finger was higher than the plane; then I'd be afraid it would come off.

Bill

Bill Fisher · Post by **Bill Fisher** » 6 May 2009 11:09 am

Sonny. Does the block tilt? If not, I stand corrected, though the minute bend remains ONLY to hook the string.

Bill

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 6 May 2009 11:33 am

Does not tilt,,pulls straight. I guess it does bend about the same amount as the bar would bend it when you press to clear,,,,very minimal.

tom anderson · Post by **tom anderson** » 6 May 2009 11:41 am

I don't think it matters anymore how much an Anapeg costs. Noel has told me he doesn't intend to make any more several times. He was supposed to make 4 this year but only got two done. I guess he will still make the other two, but don't know for sure. I hope he reconsiders & continues building, but he has health issues.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Anapeg Guitars

a closer look requested.

Who knows?

Check out this link

Anapeg Changer

Gmta

Anapeg

bends the strings less

Great but little talked about concept..Lamar?

Anapeg price