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Post new topic Joaquin Murphey's last guitar
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Author Topic:  Joaquin Murphey's last guitar
chas smith


From:
Encino, CA, USA
Post  Posted 27 Sep 2018 2:24 pm    
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Joaquin Murphy’s last guitar, S-9, 4&3, and this is the guitar Joaquin used for his last recording.

Back in 1995 Joaquin wanted to play again and Mike Johnstone, who was working with him, contacted me to get a guitar built to his specs. 9 strings evenly spaced 3/8” apart changer to nut, fret markers on the frets, volume and tone controls (he didn’t use a volume pedal), pedals for both feet including 3 knee levers and a very particular “guitar sound”. Danny Shields wound a Bigsby copy 9 string pickup.

Because the tone of the guitar was so important to Joaquin, the neck is not separate from the top plate of the body, they are machined from the same piece of maple. The end plates are not cast or welded (welds add stress which can damp the vibrations), they’re machined from 6061-T6 billet, as are the changer and keyhead, which also extend and are bolted into the end plates. The idea was to build the guitar as a solid unit. The fingers in the changer are Sho-Bud birdcage fingers.

I’m selling this guitar for $7500. The guitar is at Steel Guitars of North Country.

Please contact Jim Palenscar:
Email SteelGuitars@cox.net
<mailto>
Steel Guitars of North County
3375 Mission Ave. Suite D
Oceanside, California 92058
760-754-2120
Hours: Tues-Sat 10AM-5PM

Tab:

       < >  1 2  <   3  4
G
E             F  Eb
C      D C#
A                        Bb
G                     F#
E             Eb
C#          C
C#(8vb)     C
B (hi)







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Godfrey Arthur

 

From:
3rd Rock
Post  Posted 28 Sep 2018 2:03 am    
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Nice work-around on the sympathetic vibrations factor.

Any audio clips of Mr. Murphy on this guitar?
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ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7
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Abe Levy


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 28 Sep 2018 8:27 am    
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Why Chas, why???
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Mostly Pre-1970 guitars.
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chas smith


From:
Encino, CA, USA
Post  Posted 28 Sep 2018 9:37 am    
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Godfrey,
http://goodold.pl.ru/retro_grooves/hawaii/vintage/joaquin_murphey_murph/
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chas smith


From:
Encino, CA, USA
Post  Posted 28 Sep 2018 9:50 am    
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Abe, I have to pay the bills and in particular, the medical expenses. My brother, who lived in London, was dumbfounded at what it cost us and so it continues.
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David Weisenthal

 

From:
Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 28 Sep 2018 9:25 pm    
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Thanks for the Post Chas, beautiful guitar.
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Derby SD10, Peavey Session 400
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memphislim


From:
Austin, Texas
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2018 7:24 am    
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Do you have any undercarriage pics we could see?
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chas smith


From:
Encino, CA, USA
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2018 8:53 am    
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I'll see if I can get Jim to send me a few. In all of the confusion of driving back to LA, first to Norman's then down to SGNC, it didn't occur to me to take any.
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Abe Levy


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2018 3:26 pm    
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Sorry to hear that Chas. I've seen this guitar in person and it is nothing short of a work of art. If you know Chas' work at all, you know he is an immaculate craftsman. Not to mention, Jeez, it's JMs guitar!!!!! Insane.
_________________
Mostly Pre-1970 guitars.
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Michael Hardee

 

Post  Posted 30 Sep 2018 7:10 am    
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The photo of Mr. Murphy at this steel shows six floor pedals and it looks like the guitar was later modified to four floor pedals. Are the extra parts included?
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Jim Palenscar

 

From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2018 9:43 am    
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Here is a pic of the undercarriage- please don't hesitate to contact me if you want additional pics~
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chas smith


From:
Encino, CA, USA
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2018 9:12 pm    
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Michael, Originally there were 6 pedals and he was having difficulty with them, so we switched it over to 4 and 3 knees. Keep in mind that he didn't have a guitar for 14 years and he loved having knees. The pedals are standard Sho-Bud pedals and the pedal board can accommodate them. I may have the pedals somewhere out in the boxes, but back in 1999 I got the guitar back and I kept it in it's case so as not to disturb the mojo.
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John McClung


From:
Olympia WA, USA
Post  Posted 2 Oct 2018 9:44 am    
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Wow!
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E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net
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Andy DePaule


From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
Post  Posted 2 Oct 2018 10:17 pm     Needs the right home
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Sorry you need to sell this one of a kind you built and owned by such a very special player.
Sure hope it finds a very nice home where it will be kept as is.
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project.
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John Goux

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 3 Oct 2018 10:58 pm    
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Best wishes Chas!
John
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chas smith


From:
Encino, CA, USA
Post  Posted 29 Oct 2018 9:32 pm    
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