Fessenden SG News Story

John Brabant · Post by **John Brabant** » 22 Feb 2006 12:29 pm

Folks, a great write up on a Vermont made product other than maple syrup and snowballs:
http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060222/NEWS/602220354/1002

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 22 Feb 2006 1:03 pm

Great Article, thanks for sharing it.

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 22 Feb 2006 1:08 pm

SO glad to see Jerry get some of the recognition he so deserves. Proud to be a part of the family...

Dr. Hugh Jeffreys · Post by **Dr. Hugh Jeffreys** » 22 Feb 2006 1:26 pm

For Jim Cohen: Jim after seeing your photo with a Fes in our New York Newsletter, I want to ask a couple of questions about the Fes - How does it compare with a Sierra or Excel---can they be more or less customized? I'm thinking about getting a new axe. Would appreciate your thoughts......thanks, HJ

Dean Cavill · Post by **Dean Cavill** » 22 Feb 2006 1:28 pm

I like the shirt

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Steelin' for the Dark Side
Carter-U12, a Bar, and some Finger Picks

Scott Swartz · Post by **Scott Swartz** » 22 Feb 2006 1:47 pm

Here's a big thank you to all the steel builders (I won't list names so I don't leave anybody out).

If you calculate the gross revenue of making 30 guitars a year you can see these guys are not getting rich making these complex gizmos and selling them to a very picky customer base (Its too light, its too heavy, too much cabinet drop, the lever is in the wrong place, why don't I sound like Buddy or Lloyd- it must be the steel, .........)

I am personally blown away by how accomodating all the steel makers are compared to almost every other product.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 22 Feb 2006 1:56 pm

Buddy Cage, Robert Randolph, and Tommy White play them for a good reason. They have great tone! Jerry worked for ZB. He's been around a long time and he knows what he's doing. A nicer person you'd never meet.

Fred Justice · Post by **Fred Justice** » 22 Feb 2006 2:01 pm

A big Amen Scott, most all of the builders will turn wrong-side-out to make a customer happy, you just don't find that in any other field of products.

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Fred Justice,
Fred's Music www.fredjusticemusic.com
Rains Steel Guitars

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 22 Feb 2006 2:15 pm

So glad to see Jerry get this recognition. Yes, I'm one of "Jerry's Kids" and proud of it.

Dr. Hugh, I think I'd better let others answer your comparative question, since I have very little experience with either Excel or Sierra. But I can say that Jerry is very accomodating and will bend over backwards to provide what you need, if he can. Maybe a phone call to him would be a good starting place.

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 23 Feb 2006 5:07 am

Interesting article. There of a couple of errors though. It maintains that all pedal steels are made in the United States which is wrong. Promat steels are made in Europe, Anapeg is made in Australia, Excel in Japan I think. And Fulawka steels are made in Penetanguishene, Ontario which is actually a lot closer to Monpelier, Vermont than is Burlington, North Carolina. But when did a newspaper ever get all the facts straight anyways? It's still nice that Jerry Fessenden got the recognition for his fine guitars.

Tyler Hall · Post by **Tyler Hall** » 23 Feb 2006 6:22 am

Great story. I'm proud to be a Fessenden player. Mine sounds so good, the little longhorn sheds a tear every now and then.

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"The Kid"
D-10 Fessenden, Nashville 112, Session 500, Goodrich LDR

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 23 Feb 2006 7:54 am

I sure LOVE his fretboards!!!

Erv

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 23 Feb 2006 10:59 am

If he's building guitars in VT, Jerry's just a phone call away. Can't say that about Fender, Gibson, Whirlpool, Ford, etc.

If you're a Fessy player, send me a pic of you and your axe and I'll put it in the players section of Jerry's website.

http://www.fessendensteelguitars.com/

cheers,
Drew

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Drew Howard - website - Fessenden guitars, 70's Fender Twin, etc.

Joseph Meditz · Post by **Joseph Meditz** » 23 Feb 2006 11:05 am

One thing I really like about my S-10 is the way the instrument resonates up around the 20th fret. I'm working on Winnie's version of Shenandoah and always get a kick out of that aahhh oooo eeeee oooo ending on the 19th fret.

Joe

John Davis · Post by **John Davis** » 23 Feb 2006 11:33 am

Jerry hows that blonde comin along?????

never did get a peek at it

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 23 Feb 2006 12:04 pm

I've been playing for a long time and have always held on to my best sounding guitars but like to have a newer guitar for the reliability factor. I had a ZumSteel for 20 years and my standards are very high for mechanically solid guitars that sound great.

I have the two vintage brands that most appeal to me: a push-pull Emmons and a Sho-Bud. Both are great guitars and have that great old guitar vibe. I was playing a stage show with low lighting and had to change a string on the Bud and realized that it was not easy to do in the dark. I decided to change guitars so I packed up the Bud and took it home and brought my Fessy. I knew I could change a string on the Fessenden in almost no light at all, but what I didn't realize was HOW GREAT IT SOUNDS when directly compared to my Bud or my Emmons. IT IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH THE VERY BEST.

I never make apologies for bringing my Fessenden guitar. For all 'round performance and sound quality IT IS THE BEST GUITAR I OWN.

Thanks Jerry -- you are always there for me when I need something and that's important. Jerry is one of the most savvy pedal steel builders in the business and he will bend over backward to please those who play his guitars.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 23 Feb 2006 12:55 pm

Jerry is one of the most savvy pedal steel builders in the business and he will bend over backward to please those who play his guitars

Why, jus' the other night, he made me tacos. What other steel guitar comes with tacos, huh?

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 23 Feb 2006 3:17 pm

yeah, but did ya get beans 'n' rice

Now THAT'S REAL SERVICE.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Silvio Bello · Post by **Silvio Bello** » 23 Feb 2006 11:26 pm

O.K. , Jim , I've heard you play in Mesa...
WoW !...Maybe I should change my diet !
Best regards,
Silvio
[This message was edited by Silvio Bello on 23 February 2006 at 11:32 PM.]

John Davis · Post by **John Davis** » 23 Feb 2006 11:34 pm

From what I seen...Jerry has to eat his food real quick before it burns a hole through the plate...........the table......
....and the floor .......AGHHHH! MY CHOPS hurt for a week!

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 24 Feb 2006 6:27 am

Thanks for the link, John.

I noticed Jerry is wearing a Tee Shirt from Wayne Link's Mid-Canada Steel Show.

Ron Sodos · Post by **Ron Sodos** » 24 Feb 2006 7:32 am

I always knew Jerry would be famous one day. I realized that when he used to melt coke cans for the end plates back in Tucson in the 1970's.....LOL.....

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 24 Feb 2006 8:00 am

I noticed Jerry is wearing a Tee Shirt from Wayne Link's Mid-Canada Steel Show.

Yeah, but did you notice it has salsa stains all over it?