The Steel Guitar Forum

The Power of Positive Thinking.... I got a notice last night from USPS that the guitar will be shipped on 11/28. This one will be going to an auction to support the Wounded Warriors Defense Vision Center of Excellence. All musical instruments will be given to those who lost their sight in combat ope...

Well, it's now three years and nothing. I paid over $600 for a piece of New Zealand Swamp Kauri to be made into a lap steel. He's sent me pictures of it, said he would send it and still nothing. He's logging onto his Facebook page and has active auctions on eBay. I sent a Demand letter to the last a...

I just want my lap steel. He's still selling on eBay and his phone number is still active. I hope he's well and I wish him the best, but this is no way to run a business. I had no choice but to send him a Demand Letter, which is accordance with Montana law. If he fails to respond to that, I don't ha...

I have no idea.
He's done one build for me (Binga Monster) and it was awesome. Not sure what the deal is with this one.

I have---repeatedly. Left messages with contact info. Sent emails, tried contacting him via his auctions on ebay.

Ryan, was it something I said?

I hate to only post here when I'm looking for him, but he is one hard dude to get in touch with. He's had a build of mine for over two years and I'm not getting any responses to email, phone calls, nuttin'. I see he still sells on eBay. Is he in Witness Protection er what? Ryan, please get in touch ...

Ryan, please email when you can.
Brian

I'm stymied. I just got my new Rukavina lap steel and the one person I'd found for lessons has moved to the mainland. I'll travel anywhere on the island.

Thanks
Brian

Joe Barden H/B two tone humbucker.

http://www.joebarden.com/main.php?secti ... %20TwoTone

Well then my suggestion is to try to get ahold of him through an email address or phone number he won't recognize. Other than that, pay him a visit. I sure as hell would. He's back. Got my BingaMonster yesterday. It's frickin' awesome. You can see it on his website. Now, if I could only play... :?

Go to Ebay and look him up. He sold some bridges and nuts recently. His ebay name is rukavina6string. Well, I have his phone number, his address and three email addresses, none of which he responds to, so I'm not sure how eBay's gonna help me out on this. My last email from him in October was that ...

Well, somebody at his address is signing for registered mail, but I can't get a hold of him by any means. If anyone hears from him, please let him know I'm not rushing him with my three builds, but I would like to hear from him. I thought the BubingaMonster was on its way in October and I'm itchin' ...

me neither. No response to emails since late October either.
Hope everything is all right--he seems like a nice chap.

Buried in a bog in New Zealand. This particular piece would be more accurately described as Ancient Kauri as it has been verified by radio carbon dating to be at least 40,000 years old



check out ancientwood.com for the whole story.

yeah, ain't they just!

One of the Swamp Kauri's will be auctioned off this fall to support the USMC Wounded Warrior Battalion. As soon as I get the finished Swamp Kauri's and choose one of them, more information will be forthcoming.

And I believe the wood is 40,000 years old, FWIW.

Ryan, Thanks for getting in touch with me. I almost felt like I was tugging on Superman's cape, but as you can see, you have a strong following here and everyone is wishing you only the best. Hey, is that some good looking bubinga er what? Am working on some speaker cabinets made from the same wood....

Not answering his email or phone. I've got three builds in the works, and while that concerns me a little, I'm more concerned about him. Hope he's ok.

Alan,
I listened to 'em all--great stuff!

Ta muchly!

You know, just for a second I thought "wouldn't it be great if some world class lap steel player took this on as a project and brought it into the public eye?" The obvious choice is Ben Harper and having Bill Asher take it back to playability is just freakin' awesome. It's hard to imagine ...

I almost hesitate to say this, but my main criticism is that he doesn't charge enough for his beautiful work. I love that I can afford an instrument as nice as the one I received. The woodworking is comparable, though, to lap steels I've played that are 2 or 3 times the price he asks. My only theor...

Well, at least you have the makings of a good story:

"One time, at deer camp...."

That looks fabulous. Any chance we could get a sound bite?