The Steel Guitar Forum

Bob Gibler wrote: I had a great thought last night around 3:30am. What if I repair the tuning and volume knobs myself.
So I tore up a DVD Case in black and cut two disc's out of it using a compass, and exact o Knife, then I epoxied the disc's into the top of the knob housings. and Boom, they look good. Don't ya think?

NOW on to the sealing and sanding all of the Wood pieces ...

You can't beat a bit of lateral thinking to overcome a problem Bob. Well done!!

Ken, Yeah! I was amazed at how easy it was and permanent to boot. Thanks for checking in.

I cannot remember where folks were asking about volume/tone pedals, but here are photos of a Wright, a Rocco and a Bigsby. Notice how much lower the Wright is. Someone else can answer questions about the Rocco and the matching steels and maybe amps.

Chris,
I was the one asking about Wright, and Bigsby Pedals.
I had no luck finding the Wright or Bigsby. The one that was for sale was gone before I could pull the trigger on it.
Your Wright and Bigsby pedals look very nice. I have never seen one of the Rocco's before this. Very interesting.

Rocco was the first volume pedal, according to most accounts. Definitely the first volume/tone.

Nice. I hope some day to find a Wright Volume/Tone pedal after I get the 4 neck completed. I think it would be the perfect fit for this Steel.
My dad had a Wright when he played the 4 neck, But he must have sold it because all we have now are the SHO-BUD pedals that Dad had for his double neck Steels.

Perfect timing,
My Bolivian Rosewood blanks for the fret-boards have arrived.
I am very Excited to keep on working on the WRIGHT.
Looks like nothing will stand in the way of my work for a while.
I am still sealing the necks, But man look at that figure on those blanks. "WOW" I just love the contrast.
It is hard to keep my hands off of them.

Beautiful wood grains Bob - it's almost a pity to have to cover them up with the fret boards.

Did I miss something? Is that the kind of wood that was on the guitar originally?

Yes Chris this is the same rosewood that was on the WRIGHT, Notice the original blank with plywood? However I will not be putting the plywood back in, it will be solid Rosewood.

Chris I have 3 Wright volume pedals and all are the same height and profile of a Bigsby pedal. I wonder if yours was modified , or built that way. Thats the only one I've seen low.
Todd

Ken, I feel the same way, However the wood grain when polished out really give the Steel a very beautiful look. I think you will like the finished product. Wait and see.

Still working on the finish, Humidity is a factor so far. Will post pic's soon.

Well I have had to work quite a few hours at my Job lately, but I have had time to get all of the Cabinet sealed. and it is smooth as glass. but dull. So tonight I will see if it is temperate enough (Humidity levels) to apply the first coats of Lacquer, Wish me luck.

I believe that the Black pedal was a later model, that's why it is shorter..

Bob, can't wait to see how all is coming along...

Where did you purchase the Bolivian Rosewood at. I'v been working on Wayne Henderson to build me a non pedal steel double 8. Photo's are of a guitar I build using Bolivian Rosewood.

Hey Bob. Is it possible the body of this steel is made from swamp ash? I think you said it might be alder but I have a custom made Tele style guitar made of 1 piece of swamp ash for the body and the grain patterns are very similar. Best wishes, Walter

Mule,
I really like the grain pattern on your Rosewood Guitar very nice. The Gentleman that I purchased My Bolivian Rosewood blanks from is a very nice and knowledgeable man by the name of Mr Boone Bell. He has a exotic woods website Bell Forest Products. Here is the Hyper link.www.bellforestproducts.com He can and will try very hard to help you with what ever you may want in exotic woods if it is available.

Walter,
Thanks for the Heads Up. Yes It is defiantly Alder I have compared the wood grain and end patterns with 4 other samples of alder including My brothers Fender Strat made of alder as well. The material did throw me off seriously when I removed the original lacquer finish from what I thought was distressed Maple. But I was pleasantly surprised...

Today, My Brother Jeff and I found these photos from the past of Dad's Steels. Hope you enjoy them. First the 1948 Kalamazoo Keh Lap Steel.

..

The next one not yet identified, (ANYONE KNOW?).

..

And these are pic's of the one I started on. Playing steel Guitar rag at 2 years of age.........OK maybe just wishing at that time.






Told Ya.



The Wright


The Sho-Bud Baldwin.



And the Pro 11


I can not wait to show off the Wright 4 neck 10 soon. Thanks for viewing.

Is the double neck an Epiphone Electar?

Chris,It may be. We have no documentation on that steel, and I hadn't found one like it anywhere.

Yes it's an Epiphone and the triple neck is too, really, really rare guitar. You come across those D8 Epis but I've never seen a triple neck.

Regarding that Rocco Tonexpressor (volume & tone) pedal... according to Guitar Player Magazine that is the first guitar pedal ever made... 1937. Invented by New York steel guitarist Anthony Rocco. He teamed up with Epiphone and they made a line of Rocco devices, including a Rocco double neck steel guitar, a Rocco signature steel bar, and more.

Bob Gibler wrote:Perfect timing,
My Bolivian Rosewood blanks for the fret-boards have arrived.
I am very Excited to keep on working on the WRIGHT.
Looks like nothing will stand in the way of my work for a while.
I am still sealing the necks, But man look at that figure on those blanks. "WOW" I just love the contrast.
It is hard to keep my hands off of them.

Hi Bob -

Great thread.
Question on the construction detail.
If Im following you correctly here, the original fretboard had a rosewood surround with a plywood insert....did I understand that correctly? And youre now replacing those with a single piece made from rosewood.

Beautiful work. And great pics of your fathers old guitars.

thanks
Roger

Roger,
You are Correct, The rosewood blanks that I will be cutting and shaping to size are solid Fret Boards with no Ply inserts.
David Wright posted that His Father sometimes would use plywood to reduce costs in construction on some of these 4 neck Steels made of wood.

I surmise that two of the cut out blanks were used for the end boards, as they are Bolivian rosewood as well. you can see one of them in an earlier post.
I will be using my planer to size these blanks down to about 7/16", to raise the fret Boards up 3/16" higher than they are now. That will be the only change I have decided to make, to show off the grain of the Fret Boards.

I have just completed the 6th and final coat of sanding sealer on the cabinet, Now I will moisten the wood and Wet/Dry sand one final time and use a Tack Cloth to clean the derbies off the Cabinet in prep for Shooting the tinted clear Lacquer. Here are a couple of Pic's
This is the last coat of sealer


And this is the cabinet assembled and whetted down to check for standing grain.
.....