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Author Topic:  PSG fret marker guide (decoder ring)
Bob Sykes


From:
North Carolina
Post  Posted 11 Aug 2020 12:19 pm    
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We all know that most Pedal Steel makers have their own unique fret marker designs. Recently I was trying to identify the manufacturer of a pedal steel guitar based on some pictures. I figured this wasn't the first time someone was faced with this challenge and went looking for some type of fret marker "decoder ring" on the forum. I didn't find one but saw that I wasn't the first to search in vain.

I had some free time today, and here's what I came up with. In a perfect world, all of the pictures would be uniform, taken at the same time, from the same perspective. The world is far from perfect these days, but if you would like to make it a little better with a better picture (preferably without strings), please do.

Obviously I didn't get all of the makes, maybe someone can fill in some of those blanks.



BMI (well worn)




Carter (some have all white shields as do all Starters)




Dekley




Emmons




Excel




Fessenden




Franklin




GFI




Marlen




MSA




Mullen




Rains - Better example lower in this thread




Sho-Bud




Sho-Bud White
Seems like most of them were white?
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Last edited by Bob Sykes on 9 Sep 2020 1:49 pm; edited 2 times in total
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Bob Sykes


From:
North Carolina
Post  Posted 11 Aug 2020 12:24 pm     Justice
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I found lots of Justice Pics, but none that showed the fret markers clearly. Got one?
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Frank Freniere


From:
The First Coast
Post  Posted 11 Aug 2020 2:49 pm    
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No Zum?
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scott murray


From:
Asheville, NC
Post  Posted 11 Aug 2020 4:46 pm    
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here's JCH


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Ryan Bramlett


From:
Colorado, USA
Post  Posted 11 Aug 2020 8:01 pm    
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great little project! i do love my BMI, but looking at all these other playful fret markers does make me wish that Beck had taken just a wee bit more creative license with it...colored triangles was the best you could do? sheesh...
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Jim Pitman

 

From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
Post  Posted 12 Aug 2020 3:45 am    
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Infinity is on top is metal but is also came with colored markers and was plastic

Zum is on the bottom.

Both are from 12 string guitars.



BTW, I did the artwork for the Fessy
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Steven Hudson


From:
North Carolina, USA
Post  Posted 12 Aug 2020 8:54 am    
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Sierra
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Dennis Montgomery


From:
Western Washington
Post  Posted 12 Aug 2020 9:05 am    
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Fender (mid 60's and on sunburst finish pedal steels):



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Last edited by Dennis Montgomery on 12 Aug 2020 11:46 am; edited 1 time in total
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b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 12 Aug 2020 9:12 am    
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A very cool topic! Keep 'em coming, folks. Cool

FWIW, most of the Sho~Buds I've seen have black fretboards.
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Eric Dahlhoff


From:
Point Arena, California
Post  Posted 12 Aug 2020 11:15 am     ZB Custom
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ZB's come in white & black...






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Dennis Montgomery


From:
Western Washington
Post  Posted 12 Aug 2020 11:38 am    
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This one's from a 1986 EMCI built during the company transition from MCI to EMCI. Some forum MCI historical experts have told me the original was likely black and white and was replaced with this color version when the mica was refinished.





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Hear my latest album, "Celestial" featuring a combination of Mullen SD12 and Synthesizers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhh6b_xXTx4&list=PLfXm8aXRTFz0x-Sxso0NWw493qAouK

Hear my album, "Armistice" featuring Fender 400 on every song:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2Pz_GXhvmjne7lPEtsplyW

Hear my Pedal Steel Only playlist featuring Mullen G2 SD12 on covers like Candyman, Wild Horses, Across the Universe & more...
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Ian Rae


From:
Redditch, England
Post  Posted 12 Aug 2020 12:37 pm    
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A Williams for your collection


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Barry Coker


From:
Bagley Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 12 Aug 2020 1:34 pm    
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Older Williams 400 series


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Bob Sykes


From:
North Carolina
Post  Posted 12 Aug 2020 2:37 pm    
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Great pictures folks! b0b, thank you for the answer on Sho~Bud colors.

Looks like Sho Pro has monochrome and color versions.







Still seeking Justice... Laughing
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Last edited by Bob Sykes on 12 Aug 2020 4:08 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Brint Hannay

 

From:
Maryland, USA
Post  Posted 12 Aug 2020 3:48 pm    
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Bob Sykes wrote:
Sho-Bud white
Seems like most of them were white?
b0b wrote:
FWIW, most of the Sho~Buds I've seen have black fretboards.

Same here. Also, later ones I've seen (I've got two from '78 and '79) have black with only white markers (still card suits but no red).
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Thomas Stone


From:
San Francisco
Post  Posted 14 Aug 2020 11:11 am    
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And Rains, of course, has...raindrops. Smile


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Barry Coker


From:
Bagley Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 14 Aug 2020 12:12 pm    
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Those not as well known as the Big Builders and harder to identify

The S shape "Simmons"
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Barry Coker


From:
Bagley Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 14 Aug 2020 12:37 pm    
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The old Pedal Master is one from the past.

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Thomas Stone


From:
San Francisco
Post  Posted 14 Aug 2020 2:31 pm    
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Show Pro has "snowflakes," reminiscent of a pre-war Martin -- classy.

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Jameson Koweek


From:
Tucson, Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 14 Aug 2020 4:05 pm    
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Here’s a screenshot of a Justice from one of Aaron at Steel Picking’s videos. I hope they don’t mind my uploading it.
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Jon Light


From:
Saugerties, NY
Post  Posted 15 Aug 2020 8:20 am    
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Williams monochromatic variant.


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Jerry Overstreet


From:
Louisville Ky
Post  Posted 15 Aug 2020 9:37 am    
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Derby

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Michael Greer


From:
Ontario, Canada
Post  Posted 16 Aug 2020 8:35 am    
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Fulawka


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Barry Coker


From:
Bagley Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 16 Aug 2020 1:49 pm    
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Not many out there but Ernie Ball are seen from time to time

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Patrick Huey


From:
Nacogdoches, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 16 Aug 2020 2:36 pm    
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Frank Cowgar’s Cougar PSG
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